The Toxic Load

Whether from the food we eat, the things we drink, the air we breathe or the products that touch our skin, our bodies face a daily barrage of toxins. Making plastics malleable, pans nonstick, fabrics waterproof, shower gel fragrant, furniture fire-resistant and cleaning sprays antibacterial, a litany of industrial, artificial chemicals combine with impurities and pollutants like pesticides, hydrogenated fats, prescription drugs, mercury, and lead, meaning the mere experience of everyday existence is saturated with synthetic substances.

The accumulation of all these chemicals together inside your body creates what is known as your ‘toxic load’ or ‘toxic burden’.

Toys.

A 2011 study found toxic flame-retardants in eighty percent of children’s toys. Chemicals used as retardants are linked to cancers, lowered IQ and sperm count, compromised reproductive systems, birth defects, endocrine and thyroid disruption, impacts to the immune system and adverse effects on fetal and child development - and here we are giving them to our kids to play with and cuddle? Those chemicals are off gassing into our kids [SIDS risk for babies too] and they will do so for many years despite washing - because they are made to stick. It’s horrific and many of us are unaware [as I was too].

Food.

Organic farming reduces pollution, conserves water, reduces soil erosion, increases soil fertility, uses less energy overall and of course - reduces our toxic burden. The positive health impact of an organic diet can be almost immediate, too. One 2019 study (10) found that after only six days of eating organic food, subjects had on average 60% less synthetic pesticides in their urine. The same study also showed that an organic diet reduced levels of chlorpyrifos, a neurotoxic pesticide that can harm the brain of a developing foetus, as well as malathion, a pesticide classified as a ‘probable’ human carcinogen.The health benefits of a diet low in pesticide residues have repeatedly been proven by scientists. One recent French study (17) found that of the 68, 946 adults analysed, those eating an organic diet had “a significant reduction in the risk of cancer”, warranting further research of underlying factors “to implement adapted and targeted public health measures for cancer prevention.”.

In 2018, a separate Harvard study (18) found that for women undergoing infertility treatment, those who ate more high-pesticide fruits and vegetables were less likely to have a live birth, whilst “low-pesticide residue fruit and vegetable intake was not associated with this outcome.”

Pharma.

Whilst modern medicine has been responce from some life changing and amazing options for us as humans, there are many many issies we all now face with big pharamcetical companies and their over reach and blatend disregaurd for our health. We are living in times where antiobiatics are prescribed like lollies, where you can get vacinations in a drive through and we are given outdated infomration by GP’s who are either stopped from telling us the truth or have not got up tp date training on accuatre risk vs benefit data. When was the last time we went to the doctos and they asked us about the food we were eating? The make up we were wearing? Weather our home water was filtered? Wheather we were using toxic cleaning products? Because recommending a pill packet with side affects that are long last and immune damaging? Research from the CDC suggests that 30 percent of antibiotic prescriptions in doctor’s offices, hospital-based clinics, and emergency departments are not needed? Every single time we put these typeas of things in our bodies they contriburte to our toxoc burend and to lowering our immune system - and while at some times they are absolutly neseccary there are many ways we can reduce our dependcance on pharmacetuicvals and replace them with much healthoer options for our bodies.

Body Products.

No category of consumer products is subject to less government oversight than cosmetics and other personal care products. Given the sheer volume of chemicals we’re exposed to daily, it makes sense to be aware of what we’re putting on our bodies? “Deodorant, body wash and lotion, shampoo and conditioner and perfume are some of the MOST toxic and unhealthy products women and children use every day. These can contain ingredients like aluminium, fragrance, triclosan, sulfates and parabens to name only a few and are linked to everything from skin conditions to compromised immune to infertility to cancer. These are one of the top categories i believe people need to swap in their home.

Baby Products

Avoiding toxic chemicals is crucial when it comes to protecting our babies and children, who are uniquely vulnerable to toxic chemicals. They aren’t just little adults; their immune, neurological, endocrine and entire bodily systems are still developing, and studies show that even small exposures during critical windows can lead to a barrage of health issues.

Flame Retardants in bedding, car seats, and foam baby products like nursing pillows and nap mats. Phthalates in Fragrance in cleaning and personal care products, and plastics, as it’s a plastic softener. High-Risk Pesticides used in Bug repellent, disinfectant cleaners and hand soaps, and residues in non-organic produce. BPA & BPA Substitutes in  Plastic containers like baby bottles, sippy cups, and other feeding containers, plastic food packaging and canned food liners. Formaldehyde and Formaldehyde Releasers in Baby personal care products like shampoo and liquid soaps - and this is just the TIP of the issues.

These toxins above are endocrine disruptors that are linked to reproductive malformations, reduced fertility, developmental disorders, asthma, and increased allergic reactions. Studies show that flame retardants appear immediately in the bloodstream and urine, and have linked these chemicals to long-term impacts like endocrine disruption, lower IQ, ADD, fertility issues, thyroid disease and cancer.