Our environment is a major factor in our health and affects how we live our lives daily. Environmental toxins, pollutants and toxic chemicals that make their way into our air, water and other hosts can severely damage our well-being and, in some cases, cause chronic illness. These chronic illnesses range from acute diseases to life-threatening conditions.
However, we can combat these toxins through methods of detoxification. Daily practices that we implement to improve our health can aid in detoxifying these unwanted, harmful toxins from our systems. Dr. Christina Rahm, scientist and founder of DRC Ventures, offers her insights on detoxifying to avoid chronic illnesses so you can live comfortably.
Understanding Environmental Toxins
Environmental toxins show up in a collection of ways. Tulane University’s Celica Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine describes environmental toxins as “substances and organisms that negatively affect health.” They encompass poisonous chemicals, material waste and pathogenic organisms.
When thinking of environmental toxins, one may think of man-made materials that make their way into our environment. However, naturally-made organic materials can be just as harmful. Mold is a common organic organism that is dangerous for humans and causes a multitude of issues. Other naturally made toxins are animal venom, mushrooms and cyanobacteria, a blue-green algae commonly found in ponds or lakes.
Man-made toxins are manufactured and created in factories as a by-product of consumer goods. These chemicals, Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAs), are found in some everyday products that we may not even realize, such as food and food packaging, cleaning products and personal care products. As a result of being heavily manufactured, PFAs make their way into other environmental elements like our water systems and soil.
The Link Between Environmental Toxins and Chronic Illness
Source: oecd.org
We can see how our environment affects our health daily. The difference in how your body feels after eating a healthy, balanced meal and a heavily processed meal demonstrates that what we put in our bodies affects overall well-being. The same can be said for the air we breathe or how much water we drink. “Everything we consume influences our health, for better or worse,” says Dr. Rahm.
Chronic health conditions can show up in all areas of the body. Most commonly, chronic illness affects the cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, neurological, and metabolic systems, along with causing cancer and autoimmune diseases. Some of these life-threatening illnesses can be linked to specific external toxins, as found in a study conducted by the Journal of Environmental and Public Health.
For example, dioxins, flame retardants and other organic pollutants can damage thyroid function and cause metabolic issues or obesity. Connections to toxic metals, such as lead, can deeply harm our vascular system, and exposure to heavy metals and pesticides can cause neurological impairments ranging from acute to chronic. There are still many environmental toxins that haven’t been fully discovered or researched, leaving some effects widely unknown.
The Detoxification Process
Source: cfhh.ca
Our bodies have detoxification processes built in. We naturally detoxify damaging toxins through our liver, kidneys, digestive system, skin, and lungs. Our liver is our “chief detoxer,” acting as a filter for toxins that flow into the body, go through the kidneys and exit the body. Our lymphatic system is another key player in detecting toxins and getting rid of them. Similarly, the lungs, skin and digestive systems do the same, taking the bad and flushing it out.
These detoxifying processes are vital to our health and help support immunity. All of these organ functions rely on our body’s health, so we must take proper care of ourselves to ensure the top performance of these important detoxifying systems.
Detoxifying Methods
Since our bodies naturally detoxify, we can show ourselves a little extra love by implementing simple steps in our routines. These tips can help promote the healthy function of our organs and avoid harmful external toxins.
Diet
It’s no surprise that food affects our well-being, especially since some foods can have dangerous chemicals and toxins in them. We should strive to eat whole foods as much as possible to avoid our food touching multiple contaminants before reaching our plates. “Eating a balanced diet also helps us get enough fiber, prebiotics and probiotics, which help us keep a healthy stomach microbiome, ensuring our gut is toxin-free,” says Dr. Rahm.
Hydration
Source: lovinglifeco.com
Proper hydration is essential to all of our bodily functions. Drinking enough water promotes proper kidney function and helps continuously flush out toxins.
Movement
Daily exercise aids our body’s overall function and keeps important systems circulating and functioning properly. Sweating can also help us expel small amounts of unwanted substances.
Supplements
Daily supplements can help aid our bodies’ detoxification processes. Supplements such as milk thistle, probiotics and vitamins B and C can help support proper immunity and detoxifying functions.
“I always recommend a holistic approach to addressing any health concern,” says Dr. Rahm. “Our bodies require care and attention, and addressing our environment can be the first step in taking control of our health.”
Environmental toxins can sometimes be unavoidable, but we can take the necessary steps to help our bodies eliminate unwanted substances with small actions. Healthy habits and awareness of our environment’s harmful toxins are crucial in keeping ourselves and those around us healthy.
