Unfortunately, we live in a world replete with harmful toxins (most of which have been made by us). Therefore, many people are wondering whether there are any ways they can defend against them.
It turns out that there are. However, it requires making the proper lifestyle choices. Failing to do so could increase the risk of chronic diseases like cancer, infertility, and a shorter life (and nobody wants that!)
So, what practical steps can the average person take to reduce their exposure to harmful chemicals? Let’s take a look.
Stop Eating High Up The Food Chain
Compounds like mercury, cadmium, PCBs, dioxins, and endocrine disruptors tend to accumulate in foods higher up the food chain. That means that just doing something simple like swapping out meat or tuna for beans or shrimp could have a profound effect. The more plant-based you make your diet, the less exposed you will be to unwanted compounds overall.
Limit Processed Foods
At the same time, you’ll want to limit processed foods. These contain all the chemicals mentioned above plus a bunch of crap that manufacturers add afterwards. These include things like sulfur dioxide, various emulsifiers, preservatives, and additives that change food texture or colour with demonstrable health indications.
Therefore, don’t eat food out of packets. Shop in the produce aisle and cook meals yourself.
Stop Smoking
Cigarettes contain literally thousands of harmful chemicals and byproducts. It’s not just the tar that causes problems, but also all the amines and other highly volatile compounds that burning tobacco creates.
Stopping smoking is challenging, but there are safer alternatives that don’t require such radical lifestyle interventions. The Elf Bar vape, for instance, generally has a lower chemical load, meaning you can cut out the worst effects of cigarettes.
Go Organic
Going organic can reduce your exposure to herbicides and pesticides (provided the labelling is legitimate). Excluding these chemicals from the diet can benefit people prone to allergies or neuropathic conditions.
However, you still need to be careful. Where people grow organic plants matters. You don’t want produce grown next to the highway, covered in diesel particles.
Add A Home Filter
You can reduce particle load in your home by adding a filter. These extract damaging elements from the air (including dreaded diesel particles), helping you live healthier.
Sweat It Out
You can also try sweating out toxins from your body. While this might sound like a myth, there is some evidence that it is true. The body will often use sweat pores to get rid of chemicals it doesn’t want efficiently.
However, this approach only works for some chemicals and not others. Also, it won’t work if you continue to put bad chemicals into your body by eating poorly or smoking.
Manage Stress
Finally, you can reduce your exposure to harmful toxins by managing stress. The calmer you feel daily, your liver detoxification enzymes are more efficient.
If you struggle with stress, try taking life less seriously. While having goals is admirable, you don’t need to burn yourself out trying to achieve them. It’s not worth it.
