How are you all doing?
Days 3-4 can be the toughest, so stay strong and focus on your sleep, hydration, movement and eating well. This programme is an investment in your own health and well-being.
Some of the symptoms you may be feeling can be moving of toxins which have been stored, into the bloodstream ready for elimination.
Remember that every little change you make will have positive benefits for you by reducing your toxic load.
During this programme we focus upon removal/avoidance of toxins (permanent if possible) from our personal environments.
In our world of increasing toxicity, the best-quality foods are organic, because they expose your body to fewer man made chemicals.
Many of these chemicals play havoc with your hormones and other important bodily systems. Health implications may start early in life. The younger the child, the more “risk” they have for a higher toxic burden which can affect their health. In fact the newborn has approximately 270 chemicals in its body from exposures picked up from it´s mother and some of these have been linked to an increase in childhood diseases being reported.
By eating organic food can you be certain that what you eat is more nutritious, free from artificial chemicals (which have been linked with cancer, hyperactivity, insomnia, birth defects, anxiety, asthma, and allergies), and grown without pesticides or fertilisers, as well as without genetic modification (the notorious GM foods.)
Research from Denmark and Germany shows that “organic crops” have a measurably higher level of vitamins and minerals, which debunks the myth that organic foods are no more nutritious than normal food.
Whenever you can, eat local organic produce. You’ll be supporting your local economy and keeping yourself as healthy as possible.
Toxins are internal and external substances that are harmful to the body and are capable of causing disease or numerous imbalances.
Sources of common toxins include:
Internal toxins: The majority of toxins originate from the digestive system, the products and byproducts of digestion, stress oxidative stress, gut dysbiosis, bacterial, fungal or viral infection, hormones and inflammatory chemicals (e.g. histamine) can become harmful if allowed to accumulate External Toxins:Pharmaceutical drugs, Smoking, Alcohol, Diet: high sugar, trans-fats etc., food chemicals, refined foods, herbicides, pesticides, air pollution, household detergents, cosmetics, radiation, water (chlorine and fluorine), mould, pollen and certain algae, heavy metals (aluminium, lead, mercury etc.). Don´t be fooled by clever marketing that states “BPA or phthalates free”. See what is replacing these chemicals and if possible stop using the item with these ingredients.
Phillippe Grandjean an epidemiologist at the University of Southern Denmark and a professor of environmental health at Harvard states:
“We have a history of substituting one hazardous chemical with another that may not be any better”
We can control our own exposure to many of these external sources, and by focusing upon nutrients that support the liver and other detoxification organs, we can ensure that our internally produced toxins don´t sit and become stagnant, but flow through the body and get removed.
How Does the Liver Process Out Toxins?
Your liver serves as a sort of “weigh-station” for your blood – inspecting, separating, and processing the compounds floating around in your bloodstream. Your hepatocytes (liver cells) identify nutrients, break them down into a more bioavailable form if necessary, and then ship them back out to the bloodstream to be utilised by the rest of your body. And when a toxin or waste product is detected, your liver will flag it, break it down if needed, and prepare it to be excreted through either your digestive system or your kidneys.
There are hexagon-shaped lobules that make up your liver. Each of those lobules is connected to a network of ducts that transports cellular waste and toxins to be emptied into the gallbladder, where bile and the liver’s waste products are stored and eventually excreted when you have a bowel movement (the gallbladder is important, despite what a surgeon may tell you if he removes it).
Any waste products that aren’t sent to your gallbladder are instead directed to the kidneys, where they are further filtered and eventually excreted through your urine.
So your liver essentially functions like an efficient and highly specific filter. Letting certain nutrients and compounds pass through while simultaneously collecting and eliminating toxins and other waste products.
DID YOU KNOW? Salmon contains selenium. Selenium is a potent detox compound which can bind to mercury and make it inert. Salmon is also ruch in omega 3s which offer anti-inflammatory protection.
One easy place to make a little difference is washing and preparing your fresh produce well: Here are 5 Ways to Remove Pesticides From Fruits and Vegetables.
Organic and non-organic producers use insecticides to control pests — the difference is that organic farms use natural pesticides instead of chemicals. Regardless, you’ll want to wash off any pesticide residues.
- Rinse Under Warm Water
The first approach to removing pesticides from produce is to rinse it under warm water for one minute or longer — this will help to eliminate residues attached to the surface of the fruit or vegetable.
Keep in mind that this method may not remove all pesticides. Studies show that rinsing tomatoes with water reduces chlorpyrifos residue by 41%, rinsing asparagus this way only removes 24%. However, placing cabbage under warm water eliminates 93% of carbofuran — all common pesticide chemicals.
- Soak in Warm Water
Filling a large bowl with warm or cold water for a veggie and fruit soak is another effective way to remove pesticide residues and dirt — it’s also an easier way to wash strawberries and blueberries that tend to roll.
Allow the produce to soak for a few minutes. You might come back to find the bottom of the bowl has sand or dirt accumulation. Carefully remove them with your hand or a strainer to avoid disturbing the dirt, and give them a final rinse.
- Use a Scrubber
Some fruits and vegetables require a little more elbow grease to get them clean — a scrub brush can help with this.
Some foods you want to use a scrubber for are potatoes, carrots, celery, bok choy, apples, and pears. Scrub the produce under running water to remove pesticides and grime effectively. Always clean the scrubber afterward, too, so you can use it again next time.
- Cut the Peel
Cutting or pulling the skin and leaves away from your fruits and vegetables is another way to reduce pesticides. Of course, while it isn’t practical for all types of produce, you can do this method for apples, pears, and potatoes, among others.
Just be sure to wash the peel before you start trimming it back. Otherwise, you risk transferring pesticide residues to the part of the food you plan to eat. Washing your hands after cleaning off residues is another precaution to remove pesticides from fruits and vegetables.
- Use Baking Soda
Baking soda is a miracle ingredient in natural cleaning solutions and for cleaning produce, too. Previous studies have shown that baking soda removes 67-99% of pesticides.
Mix one teaspoon of baking soda with every two cups of cold water. Douse your fruits and vegetables for a minute, rinse, and enjoy without pesticides.
Remove Pesticides From Fruits and Vegetables Before Eating
Always wash your fruits and vegetables thoroughly before consuming them — even if they’re organic. Doing so can prevent potential health implications brought on by dangerous chemicals. Additionally, you should buy organic produce whenever possible for easier pesticide removal.
