Cathal BarryWays to decrease the amount of toxins in daily life
It's not possible to avoid all the toxins in our environment. Toxins are in the air we breathe, the food we eat, the water we drink or bath in, and in the products we put on our skin.
Many of these chemicals affect our endocrine system, adversely affecting hormone balance, which is why they are also called endocrine disruptors.
These endocrine disruptors can interfere with the normal function of naturally occurring hormones in our body.
Fortunately, there are many practical ways to decrease the amount of toxins in daily life. Ensuring proper detoxification is also necessary, but for now letís focus on decreasing our exposure to toxins in the following four categories:
Fruit & vegetables
If you can, choose organic as much as possible. This will help you avoid many of the nasty pesticides out there. The key thing here is proper washing.
You need to use a good quality dishwashing liquid that has good surfactant capabilities, in other words, a product that can separate grease really well. This will allow the pesticide residue to be lifted from the food. Just put a few drops in a bowl of water and let the fruit or vegetable soak for 15 minutes. Rinse well and enjoy!
Cleaning products
Cleaning products can be highly toxic and detrimental to your health. Avoid using harsh chemicals on surfaces where you prepare food and where you eat or bathe, or where young children crawl and play on the floor. The cheapest, most effective and healthiest way to clean is by using a solution of diluted vinegar.
Drinking water
The number-one reason you should avoid drinking tap water is chlorine. Chlorine is used to kill any bacteria that are in the water. And the same goes for the good bacteria in your gut. They get killed too.
Fluoride, along with other heavy metals, is also present in tap water but is not easy to get out ñ not just any filter will do that. The best filters to use are reverse osmosis, though they tend to be on the expensive side.
If you are away from home and have to buy bottled water, make certain you get water that has been filtered by means of reverse osmosis. Spring water doesnít necessarily guarantee that it is contaminant free.
You also want to pay attention to the quality of the plastic bottle. The firmer the plastic, the better; also, don't let the bottle sit in your car. The extreme heat or cold will cause the BPA to leach from the plastic into your drinking water.
It's alarming to realise that toxins are everywhere today. Although it is impossible to avoid toxins completely, every little step matters, no matter how small.