What Makes Us Toxic? {part 1}

What Makes Us Toxic?

In addition to the air we breathe, the stress we live under and the foods we ingest, here are some other things that can make us toxic. (Not that we are able to TOTALLY avoid all of them)

–Margarine and other hydrogenated fats (like Canola Oil)
-Tap and Chlorinated Water
-Antibiotics (not always, but in many cases)
–Aspartame and other sugar substitutes
-Table salt
-MSG – Mono Sodium Glutamate
–Pesticides -Growth Hormones added to milk, meats, poultry, fruits & veggies
-Food additives
-Refined sugar, sweeteners
-Processed foods
–Soft drinks -Mercury Fillings
-Personal care product ingredients
-Household cleaning products
-Vaccines
-Heavy Metals
-Surgical Procedures (anesthesia)

Toxins damage: Our Nervous System which controls all functions in the body.

Toxins can damage. . .
1. Our immune system: causing infections, allergies and cancer.
2. Our endocrine system: causing thyroid disease and adrenal disease and diabetes. 
3. Our reproductive system: causing major sexual difficulties, and changes. 

What are Neurotoxins?

Neurotoxins are substances attracted to the nervous system.
They are absorbed by nerve endings and travel inside the neuron to the cell body. On their way they disrupt vital functions of the nerve cell.

The body is constantly trying to eliminate neurotoxins via the available exit routes: the liver, kidney, skin and exhaled air. The liver is most important in these processes. Here most elimination products are expelled with the bile into the small intestine and should leave the body via the digestive tract. However, because of the nature of the neurotoxins, most are reabsorbed by the abundant nerve endings of the enteric nervous system (ENS) in the intestinal wall. The ENS has more neurons than the spinal chord.

Here is an incomplete list of common neurotoxins in order of importance:
(i) Heavy metals: such as mercury, lead, cadmium and aluminium.
(ii) Biotoxins: such as tetanus toxin, botulinum toxin (botox), ascaridin (from intestinal parasites), unspecified toxins from streptococci, staphylococci, lyme disease, clamydia, tuberculosis, fungal toxins and toxins produced by viruses. Biotoxins are minute molecules (200-1000 kilodaltons) containing nitrogen and sulfur. They belong to a group of chemical messengers which microorganisms use to control the host´s immune system, host behaviour and the host´s eating habits.
(iii) Xenobiotics (man-made environmental toxins): such as dioxin, formaldehyde, insecticides, wood preservatives, PCBs etc.
(iv) Food Preservatives, excitotoxins and cosmetics: such as aspartame (diet sweeteners) food colorings, flouride, methyl-and propyl-paraben, etc.

It has been found that mercury in it’s different chemical forms has a synergistic amplifying effect with all other neurotoxins. When mercury is removed, the body starts to more effectively eliminate all other neurotoxins, even if they are not addressed.

What are the symptoms?

Any illness can be caused by, contributed to, or exaggerated by neurotoxins. Fatigue, depression, insomnia, memory loss and blunting of the senses are common early symptoms.

Here is a simple online test to find out if you are toxic, do you think you are toxic? Next week, I will continue this topic. Stay tuned to find out whether or not you need to detoxify and steps you can take.

*My husband Dr. Jake, helped contribute (a lot) to this article, he is happy to answer any questions*

It’s Healthy 2day Wednesdays 6th Link Up! So glad you’re here! Thank you for stopping by! Hope you’ll take a second to read some of the other entries! I hope we will all learn something to help make our families healthier! Check out last week’s link up for a lot of great tips.

Each week, I am going to choose 3 posts that really stuck out to me, something that I thought would be encouraging to everyone.

My top 3 entries from last week:
TBA

Rules for this Link up:

• Share an idea, tip, recipe, things to avoid, something new to try, alternative medicine, going “green” tips, etc. that will help us to remain or become more healthy!
• Comment on someone who linked up before you
• Add button or link back to that days link up
• Spread the word so we can learn more ideas on keep our families healthy! If you’re not participating today, I hope you’ll come back & join in!
• Ideas: homebirths, natural remedies, an interesting article, something eco-friendly, a review your doing, natural cleaner, alternative medicine, How to’s, the list goes on & on!

*This post is also linked to Works for Me, Women Living Well, Titus 2sdays