Why is Your Body Toxic?
How You Can Easily Remove and Stop Absorbing Toxins!

Thanks to the industrial revolution, there are now more than 85,000 chemicals registered with the U.S. government, and about 1,000 new chemicals are added every year. These chemicals, it’s becoming increasingly clear, have found their way into the most pristine and isolated corners on Earth — even the snow atop the Andes Mountains is no longer pure.

You try to eat healthy and exercise, but is that enough to keep toxic environmental chemicals out of your body?

But it’s not just the oceans, mountains and air that are suffering from chemical overload, of course. Your body, too, is likely circulating a chemical cocktail through your cells as we speak, a cocktail the likes of which has never been experienced by the human body.

You Probably Have Hundreds of Chemicals in Your Body

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently released its Fourth National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals, 2009, the most comprehensive assessment to date of the exposure of the U.S. population to chemicals in the environment.

Chemicals were measured from blood and urine samples of about 2,400 people participating in CDC’s National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), an ongoing survey that samples the U.S. population every two years.

Researchers found 212 chemicals in people’s blood or urine samples, a staggering 75 of which had never been measured in the U.S. population before. Among the new chemicals detected were:

• Acrylamide
• Arsenic
• Environmental phenols, including bisphenol A and triclosan
• Perchlorate

According to the report’s Executive Summary, researchers found widespread exposure to the following industrial chemicals as well:

• Polybrominated diphenyl ethers, which are fire retardants used in certain manufactured products. These accumulate in the environment and in human fat tissue. One type of polybrominated diphenyl ether, BDE-47, was found in the serum of nearly all of the participants.
• Bisphenol A (BPA), a component of epoxy resins and polycarbonate plastics that may have potential reproductive toxicity, was found in more than 90% of the urine samples representative of the U.S. General population exposure to BPA may occur through ingestion of foods in contact with BPA-containing materials, the Summary reports.
• Several of the perfluorinated chemicals, including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which is created through the manufacture of Teflon and other non-stick materials. Most participants had measurable levels of this environmental contaminant.

The 75 new chemicals detected in humans, which have never before been found, are as follows:

Acrylamide Adducts
Acrylamide
Glycidamide

Total and Speciated Arsenic
Arsenic, Total
Arsenic (V) acid
Arsenobetaine
Arsenocholine
Arsenous (III) acid
Dimethylarsinic acid
Monomethylarsonic acid
Trimethylarsine oxide

Disinfection By-Products (Trihalomethanes)
Bromodichloromethane
Bromoform (Tribromomethane)
Chloroform (Trichloromethane)
Dibromochloromethane (Chlorodibromomethane)

Environmental Phenols
Bisphenol A (2,2-bis

[4-Hydroxyphenyl] propane)
Benzophenone-3 (2-Hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone)
4-tert-Octyl phenol (4-[1,1,3,3-Tetramethylbutyl] phenol)
Triclosan (2,4,4′-Trichloro-2′-hydroxyphenyl ether)

Non-dioxin-like Polychlorinated Biphenyls
2,2′,3,3′,4,4′,5,5′,6,6′-Decachlorobiphenyl (PCB 209)
2,2’3,5′-Tetrachlorobiphenyl (PCB 44)
2,2′,4,5′-Tetrachlorobiphenyl (PCB 49)

Perchlorate

Perfluorinated Compounds

Perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBuS)
Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDeA)
Perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA)
Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA)
Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS)
Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA)
Perfluorooctane sulfonamide (PFOSA)
Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS)
2-(N-Ethyl-Perfluorooctane sulfonamido) acetic acid (Et-PFOSA-AcOH)
2-(N-Methyl-perfluorooctane sulfonamido) acetic acid (Me-PFOSA-AcOH)
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)
Perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUA)

Phthalate Metabolite
Mono-(2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl) phthalate (MECPP)

Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDE) and Polybrominated Biphenyl
2,2′,3,4,4′,5′,6-Heptabromodiphenyl ether (BDE 183)
2,2′,4,4′,5,5′-Hexabromobiphenyl (BB 153)
2,2′,4,4′,5,5′-Hexabromodiphenyl ether (BDE 153)
2,2′,4,4′,5,6′-Hexabromodiphenyl ether (BDE 154)
2,2′,3,4,4′-Pentabromodiphenyl ether (BDE 85)
2,2′,4,4′,5-Pentabromodiphenyl ether (BDE 99)
2,2′,4,4′,6-Pentabromodiphenyl ether (BDE 100)
2,2′,4,4′-Tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE 47)
2,3′,4,4′-Tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE 66)
2,2′,4-Tribromodiphenyl ether (BDE 17)
2,4,4′-Tribromodiphenyl ether (BDE 28)

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
Benzene
Chlorobenzene (Monochlorobenzene)
1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP)
Dibromomethane
1,2-Dichlorobenzene (o-Dichlorobenzene)
1,3-Dichlorobenzene (m-Dichlorobenzene)
1,4-Dichlorobenzene (p-Dichlorobenzene, Paradichlorobenzene)
1,1-Dichloroethane
1,2-Dichloroethane (Ethylene dichloride)
1,1-Dichloroethene (Vinylidene chloride)
cis-1,2-Dichloroethene
trans-1,2-Dichloroethene
Dichloromethane (Methylene chloride)
1,2-Dichloropropane
2,5-Dimethylfuran
Ethylbenzene
Hexachloroethane
Methyl-tert-butyl ether (MTBE)
Nitrobenzene
Styrene
1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane
Tetrachloroethene
Tetrachloromethane (Carbon tetrachloride)
Toluene
1,1,1-Trichloroethane (Methyl chloroform)
1,1,2-Trichloroethane
Trichloroethene (Trichloroethylene)
m- and p-Xylene
o-Xylene

Even Babies are Toxic!

In an Environmental Working Group (EWG) study of the umbilical cord blood of 10 newborn babies in the United States, researchers found an average of 200 industrial chemicals and pollutants in babies’ cord blood, including pesticides, consumer product ingredients and wastes from burning coal, gasoline and garbage. Also found in the babies’ cord blood samples were:

• Eight perfluorochemicals used as stain and oil repellants in fast food packaging, clothes and textiles
• The Teflon chemical PFOA, which has been called a likely human carcinogen by the EPA’s Science Advisory Board, was among the eight perfluorochemicals detected.
• Dozens of widely used brominated flame retardants and their toxic by-products
• Numerous pesticides

Further, out of the 287 total chemicals detected in umbilical cord blood, EWG reports that:

• 180 cause cancer in humans or animals
• 217 are toxic to the brain and nervous system
• 208 cause birth defects or abnormal development in animal tests

“The dangers of pre- or post-natal exposure to this complex mixture of carcinogens, developmental toxins and neurotoxins have never been studied,” EWG’s report stated.

Is it Possible to Reduce Your Exposure?

Environmental toxins are becoming increasingly pervasive, and likely play a large role in a wide variety of disease, including cancer.

David Servan-Schreiber, a founding member of Doctors Without Borders in the U.S. and a cancer researcher and survivor, said in a Popular Science article, “Reducing exposure to many of the well-characterized chemical carcinogens abundant in our modern environments (pesticides, estrogens, benzene, PCBs, PVCs and bisphenol-A from heating liquids in plastic containers; alkylphenols in cleaning products; parabenes and phthalates in cosmetics and shampoos, etc.) would contribute to lessen the cancer risk.”

That said, is it really possible to reduce your exposure to these widespread toxins?

Yes! There are many strategies available to help you keep your chemical exposure to a minimum, both in the immediate future and the long term, and we’ve listed the key steps you can take here.

Six Top Steps to Reduce Chemical Exposure … and Detox Toxins

1. Buy Organic, But Eating Fresh Whole Foods Does NOT Mean Necessary Nutrients Will Be Absorbed.

Aid Your Bodies Necessary Nutrients Absorption! 

Buying organic produce, meats, eggs and dairy products as much as possible to reduce pesticide exposure.

However, it is believed that many if not most fresh healthy foods and nutrients are being expelled faster and more often today than ever before. This is due to the body’s effort to protect itself from the toxins in processed foods and unhealthy foods it is most often exposed to daily since childhood.

Even vitamins and most supplements are NOT being absorbed to the levels your body needs in many if not most cases. Otherwise there would not be the continued high deficiencies found following regular daily dosages.

To absorb the nutrients in healthy food and most vitamin supplements today requires aid to the digestive system with natural health supplements. This is to better assure the absorption of healthy fresh nutrients your body craves and needs and to pass through the lining of your gut to stay healthy and ideally free of disease.

You are only as healthy as what you absorb, so along with reducing the toxins in your food, you want to make sure you’re absorbing the beneficial nutrients as well.

Having the right type of enzymes available will also help reduce stress on your organs and systems involved in detox efforts.

As your body absorbs more of the vital nutrients and antioxidants needed, along with having the right mix of probiotics, the process of detoxification will be more effective including the final intestinal elimination.

If toxins sit in your intestines too long they can be reabsorbed into your bloodstream to cause further problems.

Processed foods also contain preservatives, artificial colors and flavors and many other additives that are not good for your body. To really give your body a break, cut back on processed food and focus on whole, natural foods instead.

And as much as possible, choose foods free of pesticides, genetically modified ingredients and other additives.

If you must budget, choose organic animal products (meat, eggs and dairy) since animal products accumulate toxins fastest. This should be followed by purchasing organic produce, especially that produce which tends to consistently have the highest number of pesticides. See the “Dirty Dozen List” at www.organic.org

2. Purify Your Home’s Air

A study conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found significantly higher concentrations of 20 different compounds right inside your home, not outdoors. You can help keep the air inside your home pure by:

• Whenever possible, open your windows to promote circulation of fresh air in your home

• Run your exhaust fans in your bathroom, kitchen and attic for outside ventilation
• Invest in an air-circulation system to help circulate the fresh air into your house and get rid of stale air

3. Remove Toxins From Your Drinking Water

Drinking pure water helps flush toxins from your system while helping your cells function more efficiently. But be careful not to drink just any water. A recent Environmental Working Group study found 141 unregulated chemicals, and 119 regulated ones, in U.S. drinking water supplies. And bottled water, which typically comes in BPA-containing bottles and may in fact be nothing more than bottled tap water, is not a safe alternative.

4. Use Natural Cleaning Products in Your Home

Using typical cleaning sprays and air fresheners at least once a week can increase your risk of asthma by 30-50 percent.

Instead of using these toxic chemicals, which you breathe in and which linger in your home (in your carpets, fabrics, household dust, countertops and more), opt for antimicrobial cloths, mops, dusters and mitts, which are used by leading hospitals and other healthcare organizations, for all of your cleaning needs. Antimicrobrial products contain built-in antimicrobial protection and are made of ultramicrofibers that are only 3 microns in size, which is even smaller than many bacteria. Because of this unique ultramicrofiber construction of such products, you can reduce the amount of chemical cleaners you use, or even eliminate them altogether.

So, unlike ordinary cleaning rags and sponges, you don’t need to use chemical cleaners to achieve the deepest clean, which makes them perfect for anyone who’s looking to keep toxic cleaners OUT of their home.

5. Leave Toxins at Your Door

You’d be surprised at the number of bacteria, germs and chemical contaminants you pick up and track around on the bottom of your shoes. This is why taking off your shoes and leaving them at the front door when you come in is key to keeping your home as germ-free as possible.

If you have toddlers who crawl on the floor, or if you like to walk barefoot, this is especially important.

And here’s something you may not know: Dirt in your home has been verified as one of today’s top health risks and one of two primary counter-measures to the risks (the other is proper home cleaning) is to use high-quality mats and rugs at your doorways and in other key high-traffic areas.

Consider investing in high-quality commercial-grade doormats for your home that trap soil and liquids in the mat so they don’t drain or track onto your floors.

6. Use Safe Soaps for Your Body and Your Laundry

When you slather on personal care products, you could be slathering on chemicals that are easily absorbed by your body. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) found hat 57 percent of baby soaps — certainly considered to be among the most pure and gentle soap there is — contains 1,4-dioxane, a probable human carcinogen that readily penetrates your skin!

You should know that the government does not regulate what “natural” means in soaps labeled natural either, so commercial soaps can freely claim to be natural while still using the synthetic compounds discussed above — and they do.

So finding safe and toxin-free soaps and body washes is not as simple as looking for the “all-natural,” organic” or even “hypoallergenic” label, as these products can still contain dangerous ingredients. The term “hypoallergenic” can actually mean whatever a particular company wants it to mean, according to the FDA.

A general rule of thumb? The fewer ingredients listed, the better. Some generally safe and gentle ingredients are organic oils (such as olive oil), essential oils, castile soap, aloe vera, plant extracts.

How to Expel the Mercury Toxins in Your Body Right Now

You probably already have toxins in your body, and while you can take steps to reduce your load in the future, there’s really no way to stop all absorption. This is why we highly recommend detoxing toxins from your body on a regular basis.

There are many ways of removing toxic chemicals such as heavy metals from your body, but most of them involve expensive treatments where a doctor injects you with drugs or vitamins intravenously via a drip. Many of these drugs will also strip the good minerals from your body, something that is not recommended since it is difficult to replenish (or replete) these important substances.

Like other chemicals, heavy metals can accumulate in your body from silver dental fillings, contaminated seafood and other foods, cosmetics, pollution, contaminated water, vaccines and other sources, so it would be wise to disarm this potential “time-bomb” now before it causes serious illness in the future.

Please take the steps you can to help detoxify your body, and stop absorbing toxins now. The world can be a dirty place, but with the recommendations above you can keep your body as pure as possible!

Sources

CDC’s Fourth National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals

Popular Science