Detox Your Diet: Save Your Hormones from Everyday Toxins

For years, alternative practitioners and independent scientists have been warning us about hormone disruptors in the form of almost 800 toxic compounds. These substances are dubbed “everywhere chemicals” because they can be found in many places, and they are common industrial products found in plastics, packaged and canned foods, pesticides, household items, cosmetics, and other personal care products. Furthermore, these chemicals can be harmful even in small quantities, especially for children, and studies have connected them to cancer, endocrine disorders, metabolic issues, developmental disorders, immune dysfunction, and autism.

Hacking The Endocrine System

These chemicals are classified as estrogen-mimicking compounds and endocrine disruptors because they disrupt the body’s delicate hormonal (endocrine) system that controls countless biochemical processes. The endocrine system is also tied to the immunological and neurological systems. Constant exposure to endocrine disruptors like BPA essentially “hacks” complex cellular signaling mechanisms and disrupts estrogen’s functions. When this occurs, cellular processes go awry, free radical damage increases, chronic inflammation accelerates, and various serious medical conditions can result.

Global authorities like the United Nations and the World Health Organization (WHO) recently released an extensive report on the human and environmental impact of these endocrine-disrupting chemicals. The report identifies vulnerable populations and recommends minimizing chemical exposures before conception and during gestation, infancy, childhood, and adolescence.

Protecting Yourself From Endocrine Disruptors

A primary source of BPA and other chemicals is food packaged in plastic and cans. The most important way to reduce exposure to these toxins is to eat a diet of fresh, whole foods and avoid processed foods. In particular, your diet should emphasize leafy and cruciferous vegetables.

Other data indicate dairy and spices, perhaps because of the processing involved, may contain higher levels of these toxins. Being mindful of dietary choices and proper food storage, prep, and packaging can help reduce exposure significantly. Reducing exposure in your home is also important. Choose body care products that are free from harmful chemicals like phthalates, and plastics marked with the recycling codes 3 and 7 generally contain BPA or phthalates.

The Role of Detoxification

A regular detoxification practice, alongside a healthy, whole foods diet and daily exercise, can help support your body’s defenses against these toxins. Glutathione, often called the “Mother of All Antioxidants,” can potentially aid in the metabolism and detoxification of endocrine-disrupting compounds. This antioxidant is naturally produced in the body, and research suggests that people with low glutathione levels may be at a higher risk for endocrine diseases related to phthalate exposure.

Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, and kale contain sulfur compounds that help support glutathione production and other detoxification pathways in the body. Additionally, certain nutrients, herbs, and foods can boost glutathione levels. Vitamin C, lipoic acid, selenium, NAC (n-acetyl-cysteine), milk thistle, and walnuts all support glutathione production and help optimize the detox process.

To address the toxic body burden, a gentle detoxification program can help remove harmful chemicals and health-damaging heavy metals over time. A combination of Modified Citrus Pectin and sodium alginates alongside a Phase 2 detoxification formula for deeper and more thorough toxin removal can offer an effective strategy. The phase 2 formula contains a blend of powerful herbs and nutrients that can increase glutathione and detoxify organs and tissues while supporting vital energy during the process.

It’s important to remember that detoxification should be approached safely and correctly. Heavy metals and toxins that are not properly removed can be redistributed into other organs and tissues, including the brain. For more information, consult a wellness guide about safe detoxification of heavy metals and toxins.

Building Resilience To Toxins

While industrial and environmental toxins continue to be fixtures of modern life, there is progress being made. Our information age continues to support independent inquiry, scientific research, and increased awareness that will hopefully lead to more stringent restrictions on toxins. For now, we can do our best to maintain resilience with a healthy diet, lifestyle, and targeted natural solutions. For more information, visit www.dreliaz.org.