Based on hundreds of online Detox Health Assessments I’ve done over the past 4 years from clients located all over the world, I’ve compiled the top 5 overlooked physical toxins and listed them below. This is not a list of the most common toxins, such as coffee, alcohol, cigarettes, medications, processed/fast/fried foods, dairy, gluten, sugar, etc.
These are the toxins that most people overlook when they want to cleanse their body and improve their health.
1. Gum
Gum is typically the most toxic product in supermarkets that is made for consumption. Most all gum (unless bought in the health food store) is now made from chemical toxins (artificial sweeteners), which go directly into your bloodstream. Chewing gum also promotes the desire to continuously eat and habitually chewing gum is due to tension, it distracts you from being present and feeling.
2. Fluoride Toothpaste
Have you read the side of your toothpaste box for what kind of chemicals you are really putting in your mouth and absorbing while you brush your teeth?
• Sodium fluoride – Toxic by-product of aluminum and fertilizer chemical plants.
• Triclosan – An actual pesticide chemical, used in toothpaste to prevent spoilage.
• Sodium lauryl sulfate – A chemical sudsing agent with well known toxic side effects.
• Propylene glycol – An antifreeze chemical used to winterize RVs.
• DEA – A foaming agent that’s linked to liver and kidney cancers.
• Chemical sweeteners like aspartame and saccharin.
Go to the health food store and buy natural non-fluoride toothpaste or make your own using essentials oils. Try natural almond, spearmint, peppermint, clove and tea tree oils.
3. Mercury
You may have heard by now that mercury vapor from amalgam fillings has been proven to be absorbed from the lungs into the bloodstream everyday just by chewing, drinking hot beverages and getting your teeth cleaned. Effects of exposure can vary depending on the tissues and/or organs involved as well as other genetic and health factors. If you have any amalgam fillings, get them replaced by a Holistic Dentist who follows a safe protocol, as outlined on the IAOMT’s website.
If you have chemical or environmental sensitivity and are removing amalgam fillings, work with a nutritionist or naturopath to come up with a health plan based on your specific needs, to avoid any negative reactions.
4. Deodorant
The primary ingredient used in most antiperspirants is aluminum. Aluminum is a metal, which is used in antiperspirants to help block the sweat from escaping the pores. Aluminum has been linked to breast cancer in women and has also been linked to an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease. They also contain parabens that disrupt our delicate hormonal balance. Propylene glycol is another common ingredient that is used in antiperspriants and deodorants. In large quantities, studies have shown that it can cause damage to the central nervous system, liver and heart. It’s even found in many processed foods, so decreasing exposure is a smart thing to do. Shop for natural deodorants found in health food stores.
5. Skin Care Products
Many of the same chemicals found in deodorants are also used in skin care products such as propylene glycol as mentioned above as well as phthalates used in cosmetics, synthetic fragrances, plastics, body care products and medical goods. The problems with phthalates is that they have been linked to a variety of health issues. High phthalate blood and urine levels in women of child bearing age have been linked to a higher risk of birth defects. This suggests that phthalates may disrupt hormone receptors as well as increase the likelihood of cell mutation. Triclosan is another common ingredient included in commercial deodorants, antibacterial soaps, hand wipes and gels. Triclosan is actually classified as a pesticide by the FDA. It is also classified as a probable carcinogen by the Environmental Protection Agency. This classification has prompted some companies to remove it from their products. However, it still can be found as an ingredient in some formulas.
What to do?
As mentioned in Step 2 of my Detox 101 eBook, environmental chemicals are everywhere, and you cannot avoid them, so it’s even more critical now than ever that you reduce the amount of lifestyle toxins (food, drinks, medicine, beauty and cleaning products) that you chose to put in and on your body to aid your liver in processing it all.
If you are ready to begin your personal detox program, start with an assessment to discover what you need to detox in your mind, body and life.