~by Michelle Tonkin ND
It’s a New Year and with many looking to make positive changes in the upcoming year being healthy tops most people’s lists. An important key for health and well-being is supporting our body’s organs of elimination such as our: kidneys, lymphatics, bowel, spleen, liver, and skin.
Unfortunately, we live in an environment even from birth, where toxin exposure is common.
In a study done between 2010 and 2011, mothers from “Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center (ZSFG)” (Kurtzman, 2016, para 1, line 1-2) examined how the exposure of these mothers to environmental toxins resulted in those same toxins being found in the blood of the umbilical cord connecting mother to baby. (Kurtzman, 2016).
They measured 59 synthetic substances, collecting samples from 77 mothers and then after delivery gathered samples of umbilical cord blood “from 65 of these women” (Kurtzman, 2016, para 2, line 7).
The result of the study?
“Almost 80 percent of the chemicals detected in maternal blood samples were also detected in the umbilical cord blood samples, indicating that they passed through the placenta and entered the fetal environment” (Kutzman, 2016, para 2, line 7-9)
What does this mean for us?
We are living in unparallel times, where we are exposed to more toxins on a daily basis, then I believe are ancestors were before. As such the children of the future are much more likely to be dealing with environmental toxins and chemicals from the very start!
We ourselves were probably also exposed to toxins from the womb and beyond.
So, how do we support our body to live a healthy and well-balanced lifestyle?
1. Eat a balanced diet of quality proteins, complex carbs and good fats.
Diet is an essential key, there are a lot of different diets to choose from. What I find works best is a diet that is balanced and full of good fats, quality proteins, and complex carbs (sweet potatoes, quinoa, whole grains etc.- minimal sugar- bugs love sugar. And load up on the veggies for the fiber.
Forty, fifty years ago, candida overgrowth was unheard of as our grandparents ate relatively non-toxic food that was not treated with pesticides, genetically modified, stripped of nutrients- like naturally occurring minerals, vitamins, and good bacteria.
They didn’t need to have organic food because it was already organic. Their idea of a hamburger and fries was grass fed meat with real potatoes on a wheat bun that was not genetically modified. So, diet is huge but what also is huge is what we do to supplement our diets so that we can get the nutrition we are now often lacking.
Some of the ways we can supplement that diet is with plant-based enzymes to help us digest our food, probiotics to replenish the friendly bacteria in our guts, Adaptogenic herbs to help us deal with stress, and whole food supplementation like – whey protein from grass fed cows etc. Whey protein has shown to be one of the best ways to get glutathione in the body naturally, and this antioxidant is one of the best ways to help support the liver in detoxification and also to help protect it.
2. Drink water!
How many of us struggle with getting enough water in our diets?
Important fact about water: More than half of body is in fact water! Scientists say about 60% in fact! (Water Science School, 2019).
“According to H.H. Mitchell, Journal of Biological Chemistry 158, the brain and heart are composed of 73% water, and the lungs are about 83% water. The skin contains 64% water, muscles and kidneys are 79%, and even the bones are watery: 31%” (Water Science School, 2019, para 2 line 1-4)
Why is Water so Important?
Listed Below are the Vital ways in which water is important to us. This list comes from the USGS Science Information Servies website: (Water Science School, para 4, line 2-9).
“A vital nutrient to the life of every cell, acts first as a building material.
It regulates our internal body temperature by sweating and respiration
The carbohydrates and proteins that our bodies use as food are metabolized and transported by water in the bloodstream;
It assists in flushing waste mainly through urination
acts as a shock absorber for brain, spinal cord, and fetus
forms saliva
lubricates joints”
Many people are chronically dehydrated, and you want to be drinking spring water, distilled steals minerals from your body, and tap water contains a lot of heavy metals, parasites etc.
A Recommended amt is between 1/2-1 oz for each lb. of body weight. For me that would be about 65-70 oz of water or eight 8oz glasses of water. You may also need to add electrolytes to your water to increase hydration and help your cells to be balanced. Coconut water, green drinks, and various electrolyte mixes are available on the market.
3. Cleanse your bowels regularly.
It’s important to get rid of waste, if you are going to the bathroom at least 1-2x a day then you have a backup of toxins in the bowel and that can get recirculated in the body. The gut is considered the second immune system of the body with up to 80% of immune health directly correlated to gut health.
Suggestions for different cleansers can be: Magnesium oxide, aloe vera, smooth move, or even colonics if needed in cases of chronic constipation etc. The best types of Colonics are open systems like Libbe or angel water as they are both open water systems and are much better at cleaning the entire colon and eliminating waste.
Chronic constipation usually requires a series of colonics depending on the condition (consult with a colonic therapist to see what works best for you.)
4.Take Clay Detoxification Baths regularly.
Cool fact about Bentonite clay has been around for thousands of years. In fact, some people believe that the clay that Jesus used on the blind man’s eyes was bentonite.
Bentonite has a drawing action on toxins and when used in a bath or footbath it is able to help draw out years of heavy metals, radiation, pesticides etc. from the body via the skin. You want to make sure however that the kind of bentonite you get has been tested for heavy metals…
I like to use the clay bath after I’ve been to the dentist or a day or two after I’ve gotten my hair colored to help pull out those toxins in the body. I’ve had friends who were firefighters or smoked cigarettes, and they could actually see and or smell the tar or smell the cigarette smoke in the tub after taking the bath and they hadn’t smoked in over a decade! It just goes to show you how the body can hold onto toxins and how powerful bentonite clay is for removing them!
5. Exercise
One of the big New Year’s resolutions is of course exercise. Going to the gym, working out, getting up from the couch! LOL. The thing about exercise is that almost any activity can be counted as exercise. The key is to keep moving. Walking is a great exercise, gardening, cleaning the house, swimming, playing golf, going for a hike in the woods, playing basketball with the boys, tennis, the gym, rowing machine, etc. Exercise doesn’t just have to be the gym. The key is incorporating activity into your everyday life.
What are some benefits of exercise?
Improved Mental Function
· Decrease in Depression and or Anxiety
· Better Sleep
· Maintaining Healthy Weight
· Heart Health Reducing Risk of Diabetes
· Immune Support Strengthens Bones and Muscles (CDC, 2021)
30-45 minutes at least 3-4 days a week – boosts immune system, your mood, and helps to keep you fit
6. Take supplements that support your body’s overall health
There are many to choose from, but you want to look for supplements made from food sources or are high quality pharmaceutical grade.
Important organs to support are the liver, adrenals, endocrine system, gut, and of course your immune system. Hair Analysis may also prove useful to show you where your current levels are of metals, and nutrients, and make suggestions for dietary as well as supplements to help balance out the body. Analytical Research Labs is a good one to check out and their brand of supplements they suggest are from Endomet Labs.
FOR MOST PEOPLE THESE ARE THE TOP 5 YOU SHOULD BE TAKING:
ENZYMES (to aid in digestion and break down what you are eating, you are what you absorb! Great also for indigestion, nausea, acid reflux etc.)
PROBIOTICS (essential for maintaining healthy gut, keep the good bacteria in balance in the gut and helps prevent bacterial overgrowth and gut issues like Gi issues, diarrhea, constipation, IBS etc.)
VITAMIN/MINERAL (is essential as we don’t have these in the same amts from even 50 years ago hard to get from diet alone, great ones are those either pharmaceutical grade of food based)
EFA’S (Efa’s help with hormone production, inflammation in the body, joint health, brain health, heart health- good sources include flax, borage, primrose, fish oil, acai berry, hemp etc. I have a great one I like called TOTAL EFA on our site.
PHOTOTHERAPY (helps support your body’s stem cell production, overall health and wellness, manage stress, immune support, anti-inflammatory, hormone balancing.)
7. Consider Therapeutic Massage, Chiropractic Care or Acupuncture.
These are all therapeutic. Acupuncture helps with balancing the energy in the body and unblocking areas in the body where stagnation has occurred. Chiropractic helps the body to get into the right alignment for optimal function of the nervous system which affect the entire body.
8.Drink a Green Drink every day.
These are made from plants and are great for alkalizing, detoxing, and providing the body with minerals and vitamins in an easy to assimilate form. You can drink a powdered form in your smoothie shake or separately in water, if you do decide to juice make sure you use the whole plant with the fiber as the fiber helps to keep your blood sugar more stable.
9. Get at least 8 hours of sleep a night.
Your body needs sleep to detoxify, heal, etc. Also, you may not be aware but during the day/ night our body detoxifies different organs so it’s important to get a good night’s sleep. Try to go to bed before 11pm if possible. Those who struggle with insomnia, diet changes, adding supplements to support your overall body health, exercise, drinking water, etc. will all help to balance your body and aim it for a more sleep pattern. Magnesium can also help if you suffer from insomnia or restless leg syndrome. Magnesium is a major mineral that the body uses and many times we can be deficient. It’s a relaxing mineral also helps relax muscles etc.… but unfortunately taken orally can often result in stomach upset etc. A great brand is ancient minerals magnesium gel or oil. If you do take magnesium orally, its best to get it in a form such as in a multivitamin or in a powder like stress calm. The multi taken during the day and the stress calm before bed.
10. Have a positive outlook. You are what you think…your mind if very powerful. Your thoughts, turn to your beliefs, and those beliefs turn to action. See yourself as well, visualize yourself doing things that you want to do.
The pictures below show a Japanese scientist named Dr. Emoto who did studies based on water and frequencies. In these pictures, Emoto spoke negative or positive things over the water and then took photos with a darkfield microscope. He even did this by just thinking either negative or positive thoughts over the water. The pictures showcase the power of our thoughts and words! Remember that our body is mostly made up of water, so our thought life and the words we speak do have tremendous power over our health.
Pictures from: Water Crystal Gallery | Emotopeaceproject
As the Bible shares in Proverbs 23:7 “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.”
Also Proverbs 18:21,
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”
Health is a journey, take it one step at a time. Start doing one positive thing today that could make your life better, whether that’s making some better food choices, going for a walk, drinking more water, taking a supplement, or even booking a massage for some much-needed R&R.
“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
~Lao Tzu
REFERENCES
CDC (2021, November 1st) Benefits of Physical Activity https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/basics/pa-health/index.htm
Kurtzman, L. (2016) Study Finds Wide Exposure to Environmental Toxics in Cohort of Pregnant Women. UCSF OBGYN & RS Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Toxic Chemicals in Pregnant Women and Their Newborns | Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences (ucsf.edu)National Library of Medicine, (2022, January 12) Toxins, Medline Plus Trusted Health Information for you
https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002331.htmNew International Version 1978/2011
Tonkin, M (2012) Lyme and Co-infections, the Road the RecoveryLu Lu Press, Raleigh, NCWater Science School (2019, May 22), The
Water in You: Water and the Human BodyUSGS Science Information Services https://www.usgs.gov/special-topics/water-science-school/science/water-you-water-and-human-body
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