We hear it all time, from all those weird real food people and those hippies at the health food store. Avoid Toxins! But why? Why should you avoid toxins, really?
Interestingly, according to a 2006 study published by the Lancet, we have very little data about the impact of chemicals on our health and even less on the health of our children. According to Dr. Martha Herbert in book The Autism Revolution “currently there is no requirement to screen chemicals for their impact on the developing brain; as a result only twenty to thirty chemicals have undergone such testing before hitting store shelves”. That is a very scary concept when you consider we have upwards of 85,000 chemicals being produced!
Things you need to know about chemicals and toxins:
- exposure at even extremely low levels may have an impact on our genetic and cellular molecules. Scientists are finding there is no lower toxic threshold.
- Toxins (even at low levels) can change which genes turn on and off (called gene expression)
- toxins can damage genes
- toxins can seem similar to our own body’s chemical signals and can confuse the body (endocrine disrupters)
- toxins have not been tested singularly, let alone in combination, and they may be effecting the body in unpredictable ways
- toxins can interfere with metabolism, nutrient absorption and cellular activity.
Some endocrine disrupters to consider are DDT, PCBs, PBDEs, bisphenol A, and phthalates. Avoid toxins in your food by avoiding preservatives, additives, and pesticides. Buy or make your own natural cleaning supplies. Filter your water, even the water you use for bathing, or consider a whole home filtering system. Leave your shoes at the door to avoid spreading toxins around the home. Stop using non-stick cookware and opt for stainless steel, ceramic or cast iron. Store food in glass containers and check out stainless steel for lunch boxes. Never allow “silver” amalgams to be used by your dentist. Avoid GMO foods. Buy low or no VOC paint. Vacuum frequently to remove toxic dust that settles to the floor.
No, you can’t completely stop your exposure to toxins, not in our current world. But you can make better choices and help lower your toxic burden. And by lowing your toxic burden you can actually lower that of your community. Remember that everything you ingest has to be eliminated and most of us have municipal water. That water is “cleaned” and recycled, to be used later. If you clean up your home, you do make an impact on those around you. Stay Well.
much of this information can be found in The Autism Revolution by Dr. Martha Herbert.
