Originally published January 12 2008
Detoxify to Lower Your Body Burden
by Sarah Aitken
(NaturalNews) Toxins?! In my body? Never! Unfortunately, the body has become a dumping ground for many toxic chemicals. We as a society are eating a diet full of acrylamide, sodium nitrate, phytic acid, and hydrogenated oils. Some of our bodies have chemicals that should never have been in there, such as rocket fuel, mercury, lead - among the many others.
We know very little about what this body burden does to us. In fact, in a recent CBC news article, it has been found that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention standards for lead in the blood of children, which is 10 micrograms per deciliter [mcg/dl], still results in a five-point drop in IQ (intelligence quotient) .
Richard Canfield, a senior researcher in Cornell University's Division of Nutritional Sciences and senior author of the study, said that the safe amount for lead levels in the blood of children are closer to 5 mcg/dl. A total of 194 children were tracked from six months to six years, after which the children had their IQs tested. The group measured the concentrations of lead in the children's bloodstreams at six months, 12 months, 24 months and three, four, five and six years of age.
What they found may not be a surprise. Their conclusion: the higher the lead concentration in the bloodstream, the lower the children's IQs. Considering the high volume of toys recalled lately for lead contamination, this does not bode well for young, developing minds. Over 600,000 products including children's jewelry, pacifiers and paint brushes that violate the allowable lead limits were recalled in the U.S. Wednesday, November 20, 2007.
The Canadian Government is taking a leading role in finding out the body burden of its citizens. It is launching a $3.9-million study to track the environmental chemicals to which pregnant women and their babies are exposed.
They will be looking for such things as phthalates, fire retardants and bisphenol A. Breast milk will also be tested for nutrients and chemicals. Some researchers will be looking at the impact heavy metals, such as lead and mercury, can have during pregnancy.
The Sainte-Justine Hospital in Montreal will co-ordinate the research, which will take place over a five-year period. The results will be released in 2012. The study is funded by Health Canada, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and the Ontario Ministry of the Environment. This may not end the onslaught of the chemical burden for some consumers, but it will give many people definitive proof about what is in their bodies and how it is affecting the next generation.
What can you do about your body burden?
You can do something right now if you believe your blood stream has become a toxic waste dump. The answer is to detox! A detox period is one where you first eliminate all the nutritional bad guys, which then helps facilitate your body to renew itself and remove the build-up inside. Some things like fat-soluble toxins or heavy metal are not always easy to be rid of in your body. A natural chelating agent, like chlorella and cilantro, are great ways to help rid your body of heavy metals.
One of the best ways to detox is to fast. Fasting comes in many forms; most popular is by eating only vegetables and fruit and they can be raw or juiced. Fasting is not always easy!
The intent of fasting is to give your digestive system a break, while the rest of your body heals itself. I would first suggest doing a colon detox before embarking on a liver detox, or any other type of detox. The best way to start a colon cleanse is by eating only fresh fruits and vegetables (juiced or whole). Just a note � if you choose to detox by juicing, you'll need to add fiber to your diet.
You will be helping your body rid itself of the chemical burden by fasting, and those with lower caloric intake do live longer lives. A short fast, a few times a year will only help you live a longer, more vibrant life. If you choose to fast, or to remove some of the many chemicals that have invaded our lives, you will be helping your body. And if someone asks you about your body burden of chemicals, you can honestly answer, "Toxins?! In my body? Never!"
About the author
Sarah is a Chemical and Materials Engineer by education. Through years of focused self-study, she has come to see the benefit of whole food nutrition and allowing the body to heal itself. A Field Center Certified Facilitator, Sarah is passionate about being helpful to others, in any venue, in their quest for a better life.
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