What is in your detergent? Have you ever read the ingredients?
Could it be making you sick? Could it be attributed to weight gain?
Conventional detergents are filled with an incredible amount of toxins and industrial chemicals that we should not be breathing in, adding to the environment, exposing ourselves to, or putting on our skin once our clothes are dry.
Theses toxins are part of a variety of indoor pollutants that contribute to the decline of our overall health. Because we spend up to 80-90% of our time indoors, the indoor pollution level is something that we need to become much more aware of, rather than just the outdoor pollution that we’ve come to hear about on the news.
Laundry detergents, cleaning products such as window cleaners, sink, bathtub and toilet cleaners, and various waxes and polishes are extremely powerful chemicals that can cause a great deal of toxicity in the body.
For example, Dr. Mercola explains that1:
Most laundry detergents in your typical grocery store contain:
• Petroleum distillates (aka napthas), which have been linked to cancer
• Phenols, which can cause toxicity throughout the entire body
• Artificial fragrances, which have been linked to various toxic effects on fish and mammals
• Phosphates, which stimulate the growth of certain marine plants when they’re released into the environment and contribute to unbalanced ecosystems
• Optical brighteners, which can be toxic to fish and can cause bacterial mutations and allergic reactions
So what happens to these toxins?
The toxins that we are exposed to end up in our bodies, and the liver and detox organs try very hard to expel the toxins as efficiently as possible. The problem is that it’s not just one toxin that our body has to clean up. There is a residual effect of toxic build up from our convenience-fuelled lives. Everything from the Keurig pods you use for your morning coffee, to the fluorinated water you bathe in, the toothpaste you use, the make-up you apply, the upholstery in your car, and the fumes from your commute to work add a toxic load to your body. And that’s before you even get to work!
So the body struggles to rid these compounding toxins from the body and begins to get overloaded. The toxins are stored in our fat cells, as a means of protecting the internal organs from the chemical burden of this exposure. As we are struggling to process the higher load of toxins, our bodies have to store more and more toxins as a method of self-preservation. Therefore, this leads to weight gain, and a poor-health cycle that is difficult to overcome.
What is the Solution?
First of all, stop adding toxins into your lifestyle!! Go through all of your regular personal hygiene and cleaning products, and read the labels. If you can’t identify an ingredient, or can’t read it – don’t use it!!
You would be surprised how well a little baking soda and vinegar can clean almost anything.
And there are many choices of natural detergents, cleaning supplies and organic cosmetics at your natural health food store.
How do I detoxify my body?
Your body is very intelligent, and it wants to be free of a toxic load. However, if you try to detoxify too quickly, you may inadvertently re-toxify your body. You need the toxins to leave the fat cells, but there must also be energy and space to actually move the toxins out – i.e. a properly functioning liver, kidneys and intestines.
Start by having a glass of water with lemon each morning upon rising. Then drink 2-3 more tall glasses of water. And then about 6-7 more throughout the day! Most people are chronically dehydrated. Staying hydrated and letting things move about easily is critical to detoxifying your body.
Then, increase your intake of organic vegetables and fruit. They are an excellent way to crowd out any more toxic, processed foods that find their way into our day.
Green tea is a great way to add an additional detoxifier, as well as chlorella, spirulina and organic green juices.
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Jo-Anne Richardson, Registered Holistic Nutritionist & Energy Medicine Practitioner
Jo-Anne works with Fournier Homeopathic & Integrative Health to provide online education for clients and patients. Her interest in healthy, joyful living is demonstrated in her writing, coaching and teaching. Her goal is to improve the health of her community by empowering you with knowledge, support and new ideas.
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With sources from:
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