Environmental toxicity – Sydney naturopath discusses what you need to know
Environmental toxicity is something that Sydney naturopath Hayley Stockbridge has to help her clients with everyday
The human body hasn’t changed for over 10,000 years but the environment we live in has drastically, particularly over the last 100. Toxicity is now one of the most serious issues facing both the planet and our health. Toxins come in a myriad of forms such as air borne pollutants produced by the burning of fossil fuels, chemicals we spray on our foods and put in our water, toxic gases emitted from the synthetic materials we use to build our shelters and furnishings, the solvents we clean with and worst still put on our skin, artificial colourings, flavourings and preservatives in our foods, you name it. There does not appear to be a part of our lives that have been left untouched. Read on to hear what leading Sydney naturopath Hayley Stockbridge has to say….
We absorb these toxic substances through our skin, lungs and digestive systems. Toxins are also produced internally (these are called endotoxins) as a natural by product of our normal bodily processes and increased during periods of stress and physical exertion. Our bodies have been designed to cope with a certain amount of exposure to toxicity. It is when the load outstrips our ability to eliminate that things go wrong
Signs and symptoms of toxicity can include things such as headaches, hay fever, mood imbalance, fatigue, insomnia, and bad breath, loss of appetite, depression, nausea, indigestion, constipation, poor immunity, skin rashes or muscle and joint pain. On the other hand it can just be as subtle as not feeling your best.
Environmental toxicity is a big deal
We allow over 10,000 food and chemical additives into our food supply
There are 22 known carcinogens that are banned in European countries that are allowed in Australian foods
That the bones of modern humans contain 1000 times the levels of lead found in pre-industrial humans
That when showering and bathing you absorb 60% of the chemical substances you would if you were drinking it
That in 1900 cases of cancer were 1 in 30 and now it is moving beyond 1 in 2
Air borne pollution kills more people than car accidents
What tests should you consider?
It is always important to target your approach as much as possible. While a general detox can never do you any harm testing can help direct your efforts to those issues that need the most attention. Tests such as hair mineral analysis for heavy metal toxicity and live blood cell analysis to better evaluate how organs such as your liver are coping are invaluable in formulating the best strategy
Here are some suggestions on reducing toxicity
● Go organic and natural for your food, cleaning products and cosmetics
● Go “Green” where possible. If it is good for the earth it is probably better for you too!
● Choose natural floor and wall coverings. Carpets and paints leach large amounts of toxic gases. Carpets also retain a lot of particulate matter so consider floorboards
● When it comes to food, the longer the shelf life, the worse it is for you.
● If you can’t pronounce it, don’t eat it, clean with it or make yourself beautiful with it
● If it wasn’t here 10,000 years ago, don’t eat it.
● Filter your drinking and showering water
● Buy the best vacuum cleaner you can afford. Vacuums are one of the worst offenders when it comes to indoor pollution.
● Grow some indoor plants. The greener and the leafier the better.
● Open your windows as often as possible (outside air quality permitting)
Yours in Good Health,