How Toxins Affect Your Weight

Research shows that there are 80,000 chemicals in use, but less than 1% are safely tested.

Environmental toxins poison our mitochondria and short circuit the body's ability to function. It reduces basal metabolic rate, and can lead to insulin resistance/diabetes.

Some typical toxic symptoms include:

• Fatigue
• Depression
• Brain Fog
• Balance problems
• Poor memory
• Headaches
• Tremors
• Allergies
• Hives
• Eczema

The worst environmental toxins include:

• Aromatic hydrocarbons
• Arsenic
• Cadmium - increased risk of Prostate cancer
• Mercury
• Dioxins - increased risk of Diabetes
• Organophosphate pesticides (most commonly used class)
• Perfluorocarbons (PFCs)
• BPA (Bisphonel-A) - increased risk of Diabetes

The worst food toxins include:

• Sugar
• High Fructose Corn Syrup
• Artificial sweeteners
• Hydrogenated Fats = Trans-fatty acids
• Refined grains
• BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole) - Endocrine disruptor; found as preservative, also in make-up
• MSG (monosodium glutomate) - excitotoxin, makes food taste better
• Bisphenol-A (BPA) - Endocrine disruptor (estrogenic effects)
• Caffeine (excessive)
• Alcohol
• Pesticides

The Dirty Dozen (highest in pesticides) - Be sure to buy organic when consuming these 12 foods.

1. Apples
2. Celery
3. Strawberries
4. Peaches
5. Spinach
6. Nectarines (imported)
7. Grapes (imported)
8. Sweet bell peppers
9. Potatoes
10. Blueberries (domestic)
11. Lettuce
12. Kale/collard greens

Here are ways to get toxins out of your kitchen:

Water Sources (e.g. lead, drug metabolites, acidic)

• Carbon-Filtered (e.g. Britta filtration system)
• Reverse Osmosis Systems: only way to remove drug metabolites from water
• Distilled: no electrolytes, may be good to drink during heavy metal detox
• Electrolyzed - also removes heavy metals and drug metabolites from water, alkaline water has anti-oxidant properties

Cookware (e.g. toxic non-stick ware)

• PFOA (Perfluoro-octanoic acid)
• PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene)
• Best substitutes for non-stick cookware:
  • Ceramic titanium or
  • Porcelain-enameled cast iron

Microwave Oven

• Exposure to EMFs (electromagnetic forces)
• Never microwave food in plastic containers

Plastic Wrap (e.g. Saran Wrap = polyvinylidine chloride)

• Choose wrap made with polyethylene (Glad Cling Wrap or Handiwrap)

Avoid BPA (bisphenol-A) - canned food, plastic bottles

Dish washing detergent

• Avoid triclosan (anti-bacterial agent)

The key is to begin reducing your toxic load. Here are some suggestions on how you might do that:

Improve Excretion of Toxins

• Bowel Movements: 1-3 per day
• Optimize nutrients for liver and kidney excretion
• Sweat

Avoid Toxins

• Put your home on an elimination diet
• Avoid harmful cosmetics/sunscreens

Clean Up the Diet

• Remove hidden food allergens
• Remove harmful additives
• Reduce sugar & alcohol intake

Detoxing

• Reduce exposure to harmful substances
• Allow cellular detoxfication

If you're ready to give detoxification a try, here's a sample 3-day weekend plan to get you started:

• Short enough that it can simply be a juice fast with a variety of freshly pressed vegetable and fruit juices.
• Increase water intake to 64 oz. daily
• Be sure to include detox nutrient support (chlorella, green tea, fresh cilantro or dandelion greens help to aid in body detox by pulling toxins out of the body)

Remember to...Take Care of You!