We all like to have clean homes but it’s shocking to think that the very things that you probably use to keep your house clean may double your risk of breast cancer. You might think that you are safe from environmental toxins and pollution when you are in your home but some of the most toxic chemicals in the home today may be the ones you buy and bring into it.

Indoor air pollutants are not so easily dispersed as outdoor ones. Concentrations of toxic chemicals in your home linked with cancer can be 200 – 500 times higher than outside. Studies have shown that women working at home have a 55% increased risk of of breast cancer over those who go out to work.

The latest research from The Silent Spring Institute in the United States showed that if you are a female who regularly uses household cleaners and air fresheners your risk of developing breast cancer is double that of those who never use the products. Solid slow-release air fresheners and anti-mould products had the biggest effect while insect repellents, oven and surface cleaners also produced a slight increase.

The researchers themselves say that there could be some bias to the results as women with breast cancer may over estimate their use of cleaning products. Even so, other research has shown that these products are toxic and contain ingredients that can cause cancer. So let’s have a look at the products the researchers have highlighted.

Air Fresheners

Air fresheners are big business. Although we all want our homes to smell fresh if you use synthetic air fresheners you are putting your health at risk from one of the most concentrated sources of poisons in your home. Far from freshening it they just interfere with your ability to detect smells or simply cover them up while adding considerable indoor pollution.

If you use air fresheners you expose yourself to formaldehye, benzene, styrene which are known or suspected carcinogens and toluene a liver and kidney irritant. Air fresheners available in the USA may also contain phthalates, a family of chemicals known as estrogen mimics that can cause hormonal abnormalities and birth defects.  It’s worrying that researchers have also discovered that some air fresheners labelled as natural or non-scented contained phthalates.

What’s more, the chemicals from air fresheners can react with other substances to become even more dangerous. Terpenes such as d-limonene, linalool and linalyl acetate released by some air fresheners react with ozone and form formaldeyde for which there is strong evidence that it can
cause cancer in humans.

Mould and Mildew Cleaners

Although not listed as such most contain formaldehyde a highly toxic and known carcinogenic chemical. It can go under more than 50 different names and may be listed as a preservative but formaldehyde damages DNA, is an irritant to eyes, nose, throat, and skin and may cause nausea, headaches, nosebleeds, dizziness, memory loss and shortness of breath. It is banned in
Japan and Sweden.

All Purpose Household Cleaners

In spite of the huge array of cleansing products to choose from with all their different claims of cleaning power they generally contain the same toxic chemical ingredients. Many cleaners contain DEA and TEA which can react with added nitrites to form carcinogenic nitrosomines which readily penetrate the skin. Many coloured products are made with carcinogenic coal tar colours. Hormone disrupting parabens may be used as preservatives.

Cleaners may contain ammonia, a strong irritant which can also cause kidneyand liver damage, butyl cellusolve which is neurotoxic and rapidly penetrates skin, and ortho phenylphenol which is a severe eye and skin irritant.

What are estrogen mimics?

They are a class of chemicals that resemble the female hormone estrogen. They can attach themselves to estrogen receptors in cells blocking the action of the natural hormone. They disrupt the delicate hormonal balance of your body and disturb metabolism with disastrous results. Both men and women can be affected by these chemicals.

Over 60 substances have been identified as environmental or estrogen mimics. These include DDT, dioxin and PCB. They are released from industrial processes and agricultural sprays and make their way into your diet through food and water.

Keep your house clean naturally

Old fashioned hot soapy (natural of course) water and a bit of elbow grease cleans just as well if not better than chemical based products. It’s ironic isn’t it that these cleaning products were made to make our lives easier but they are poisoning and killing us?

Mold & Mildew

Tackle mold with tea tree oil: mix 2 teaspoons tea tree oil with 2 cups of water and in a spray bottle and use as necessary. Ot try this: mix one part hydrogen peroxide (3%) with two parts water in a spray bottle and spray on areas with mold. Wait at least one hour before rinsing off.

General Cleaning

Bicarbonate of soda can be used for general cleaning. Simply put a little on a damp sponge for most surfaces. For tough stains, add a little water to 1 tablespoonful of the powder, smear on and leave for 20 minutes. Rinse off.

For an all purpose cleaner combine 1/2 tsp baking soda, 1/4 tsp liquid soap,  2 cups hot tap water in a spray bottle and mix thoroughly

To make a stronger cleaning solution: Mix 1/2 cup vinegar and 1/4 cup baking soda into 1/2 gallon (2 liters) water. Store and keep. Use for removal of water deposit stains on shower stall panels, bathroom chrome fixtures, windows, bathroom mirrors, etc.

Fortunately there are more and more natural ecological household cleaning products coming onto the market if you want the convenience of ready made products. But if you want to reduce your risk of breast and other cancers it’s wise to get rid of the toxic chemicals in your home and detox the ones you already have in your body.

There is mounting evidence that thyroid problems are caused by environmental factors and diet so you can often get over these problems if you detox your thyroid.

Your thyroid plays an important part in your body’s function. It produces hormones which play a vital role in your metabolism which in simple terms is the breakdown of food and its transformation into energy. Two common thyroid problems are when it produces too little (hypothyroid) or too much (hyperthyroid) of these hormones.

Symptoms of Thyroid Problems

Thyroid hormones govern the whole range of biochemical processes that occur in your body every minute that help to keep you alive. Hypothyroid is a common, yet often overlooked, cause of chronic health problems.

Symptoms of hypothyroid can include:

• feeling tired all the time
• constipation
• dry skin,
• dry brittle hair
• difficulty losing weight
• intolerance to the cold
• poor memory
• depression
• abnormal menstrual cycle.

Sluggish thyroid hormone function is also common and a different issue than medical thyroid problem. such as hypothyroidism. Symptoms will be similar. This too can be helped by thyroid detox, a change of lifestyle and eating habits.

Symptoms of hyperthyroid include:

• palpitations
• weight loss
• hair loss
• heat intolerance
• insomnia
• increased bowel movements
• feeling nervous
• trembling hands
• fatigue.

The low thyroid epidemic

60 years ago thyroid problems were rare but today it has almost become and epidemic. One in four people have their thyroid function checked and 25% of people show signs of low thyroid on blood tests.

The environment & your thyroid

The thyroid gland is very sensitive to environmental toxins.  Chlorine and flouride in your water, flouride in your toothpaste, bromide in your bread, environmental pollutants, heavy metals, pesticides, fire retardants in your home, preservatives in food, air fresheners, toxins in cleaning products and prescriptions drugs, especially lithium, can all have an effect on how your thyroid functions. In fact they can upset all your hormones. So you can see how important it is to detox your thyroid.

Researchers from the University of Exeter in England looked at the blood of over 4000 people. They found that the people with the highest amounts of the toxic chemicals perflurooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluoroocatnoic sulfonate (PFOS) were twice as likely to have thyroid problems than those with the lowest amounts. These chemicals are found in Teflon, the non stick coating used for many cooking pans which wear off with use and get into your body.

A study in 2008 of 69,000 people in Ohio and West Virginia found that elevated levels of these same chemicals in the bloodstream harmed the immune system and liver as well as the thyroid.

Chemicals such as PBDE (polybrominated diphenyl ethers),  a class of organobromine compounds, used as fire retardants have been found to lower thyroid function.  PBDEs are found in a many common household items, including:

• Mattresses

• Carpets

• Fire retardant textiles

• Polyurethane foam furnishings

• Electronics

• Plastic products

• Motor vehicles

Studies suggest that PBDEs may be found in the blood of up to 97 percent of U.S. residents, and at levels 20 times higher than that of people in Europe. PentaBDE and octaBDE have both been banned for use in the European Union and eight U.S. states, including California, but they are still present in products made before 2004.

Free radicals

New science is showing that free radical problems stress thyroid hormone function, especially when there are deficiencies of selenium and manganese containing antioxidant enzymes. If these nutritional deficiencies are not corrected a person is much more likely to struggle with body weight, insulin function, and poor metabolism.

Candida and low thyroid function

People with food allergies are more likely to have thyroid problems. And toxins produced by a Candida overgrowth can interfere with thyroid function. It seems that Candida receptor sites can bind thyroxine, one of the thyroid hormones, making it unavailable. This may help to explain the common finding of a normal blood level of thyroxine in a person who has all the clinical symptoms and signs of hypothyroid.

Get T3 checked

In many cases low thyroid may not be diagnosed because doctors often only check the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and not the levels of the hormones T4 and T3 themselves. T4 is the hormone produced by the thyroid gland but most of it is converted in the body to T3 which is more active and has more of an effect on the cells that T4.

If the thyroid is not producing enough hormones then TSH production usually increases to stimulate the thyroid to produce more T4. If the TSH is found to be high on a blood test it means that your thyroid is struggling to produce thyroid hormone but if your TSH is normal it is assumed that your thyroid is working normally. However, some doctors have found that this is not always the case.

There are cases where the hypothalamus, the part of the brain that produces TSH, does not function properly either.  Its quite common for people with Candida overgrowth, chronic fatigue, ME and fibromyalgia, environmental illness and other conditions to have normal TSH but low T3.

Another often unrecognized problem with thyroid hormone is that you may have normal levels of T4 and T3 in your blood but it may not be having any effect on the calls for a variety of reasons. This hormone resistance can be caused by heavy metal or other chemical toxicity.

If you suspect that you have low thyroid function and your TSH is normal you might want to find a doctor who is willing to check your free T4 and free T3 levels.

In the UK some doctors have been struck off the Medical Register or threated with it after treating people with T3.  Although their levels were low they were not outside the very wide reference range. There is a lot ofcontroversy over the laboratory reference ranges that are deemed to be “normal”.

It has been shown that many people with symptoms of hypothyroid feel better when their T4 & T3 levels lie at the upper end of the reference range instead of the lower end.

Nourish your thyroid

Certain nutrients are needed by the thyroid to produce thyroid hormone. Iodine, zinc, selenium,

copper, manganese and the amino acid tyrosine are all needed for the production of T4 and its conversion to T3. Too much iodine can cause hyperthyroid.

Low thyroid  function is known to be a contributor to impaired liver detoxification so it is important to be treated for low thyroid while you detox your thyroid. Some functional medicine doctors prefer to give a special combination of T3 and T4.

How to detox your thyroid

• Remove all chemicals from your home and diet.

• Drink plenty of filtered or good bottle water

• Consider avoiding gluten – There is a very strong link between autoimmune hypothyroid and gluten intolerance.

• Do a bowel cleanse

• Follow a liver detox plan regularly.

• Do a heavy metal detox.

• Include sea vegetables daily- most popular are kelp, nori, hijiki, wakame and kombu. They contain a wide variety of minerals and vitamins that support thyroid function.

• Get your mineral levels checked with a hair mineral analysis from a reliable lab and take the appropriate minerals.

• Eat more radish, watercress, other leafy greens, squash, carrots, broccoli.
• Avoid eating excessive amounts of cruciferous vegetables including raw cabbage, broccoli, kale and cauliflower if you have an enlarged thyroid as they contain substances that may interfere with iodine metabolism in the thyroid. There is some debate over this.

• Improve circulation with exercise

It is a common belief of doctors that once you have to have thyroid medication you must take it forever but that is not always the case. If you can discover the underlying cause then your thyroid function can be improved. It is under your control. Detox your thyroid and feel the difference.

Someone living with Parkinson’s disease understands that you can have hard and easy days.  For the times when there are difficulties, there is a brand new treatment method for Parkinsons symptoms. This particular treatment process, glutathione therapy, is one that’s comparatively reasonably priced, helpful, plus safe.

Not only is this a reliable option for dealing with Parkinson’s disease, the therapy is additionally extremely successful.  This means that people with this particular condition will have a fighting prospect for normalcy.  While this really does not get rid of the disease, IV Glutathione therapy does slow the progression.

Dr. Perlmutter, the physician whom pioneered Glutathione therapy, has served to boost the level of living for a lot of men and women The effects have been excellent and although IV Glutathione therapy is not really a wonder drug removing all signs and symptoms, it has demonstrated to slow the further development of the disease.

Research has shown that possibly 90 percent of people which have gone through Glutathione therapy can see significant improvements.  With Parkinson’s disease, dopamine receptors begin to drop their ability to be receptive.

Yet, by utilizing this specific method of treatment, the brain’s dopamine will begin to function more regularly, which enhances levels of sensitivity.  For those who utilize Glutathione therapy, 1,400 milligrams every day with saline is typical.  There can be other sorts of Glutathione that include supplements and liquid mainly for Parkinson’s disease, IV Glutathione could be the only method that works well.

If your medical doctor agrees, it may be that Glutathione therapy is often a much better remedy. IV Glutathione therapy provides many benefits with no real undesirable unwanted effects.  However, a number of other medicinal drugs result in not only side effects, but also enhanced danger of significant as well as life-threatening issues to include stroke and heart attack.

Even though the price tag on Glutathione therapy is a little more than other available choices, it really works remarkably well.

There is another article about the use of Glutathione for Detox here:

http://thedetoxspecialist.com/blog/detox/glutathione-the-miracle-detox-nutrient

Toxic chemicals found in food, water and the air you breathe are now found in every person. The accumulation of these chemical compounds can lead to a variety of metabolic dysfunctions and even disease states. They affect your immune system, your nervous system and your glandular system. They can cause problems with your immune system, autoimmune disease, asthma, allergies, cancer, mood changes, memory and other cognitive problems, neurological diseases, reproductive problems and glucose dysregulation. So you can see that you must detox your body regularly of these chemicals if you want to be healthy.

Your Environment is flooded with Toxic Chemicals

These days of  modern living have brought a huge rise in chemical toxin related illness. Studies of human body tissues reveal that 100 % of samples contain alarming levels of xenobiotics -  chemicals that are not produced in the body nor are expected to be present in the body. These can be lowered if you make an effort to detox your body with a good detox diet plan.

76 % of samples contain a least 20 of the 54 chemicals researchers from the Environmental Protection Agency looked for. Your body may contain damaging dioxins, solvents, benzene, toluene, chlorobenzine, DDE (a breakdown product of DDT, a pesticide that was banned in the US in 1972) and PCB’s ( polychlorinated biphenyls).

PCB’s get into the environment as unintentional by-products of chemical manufacturing andincineration and may cause a wide range of harmful health effects in humans and animals, including skin complaints, cancer, liver damage, immune system suppression and damage to the nervous and reproductive systems.  Do you see why you have to detox your body if you want to be healthy?

Air pollution kills

Living near a highway (motorway) can double your risk of suffering from heart disease. Shocking reports reveal that more Britains die every year from health problems associated with air pollution that from obesity, passive smoking and traffic accidents.

A groundbreaking study by scientists in  Barcelona, Spain, Switzerland and University of Southern California reveals for the first time that arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries with plaque) can be caused by chemicals that get into your body from air pollution. Diesel fueled cars
generate more dangerous pollution than cars that run on gas (petrol).

Even if you don’t live near a highway you will be exposed to higher levels of solvents if you visit the dry cleaners, a service station or drive a vehicle.

Indoor air more polluted than outdoor air

It’s hard to imagine but studies have found that exposure to multiple chemicals can be worse indoors than outdoors. Household cleaning products, paint, insecticides, pressed wood products and furniture, wood burning appliances, insulating materials, chemicals used on fabrics, carpets
before you buy them all contribute to the unsuspected load.

Even your TV set and electrical wiring in your home will outgas some toxic chemicals. Some of the chemicals released are so powerful they can damage your immune system.

Low thyroid function linked to environmental chemicals

Many chemicals can cause a reduction of both the thyroid hormones T4 & T3. PCB’s that are structurally similar to thyroid hormone cause a reduction of thyroid hormone production and its transport around the body in animal experiments. They also interfere with the conversion of T4 to T3, the active hormone.

Flame retardants used in your home and exposure to lead can also affect your thyroid function. Certain drugs as well as chemicals can increase part of the detox system leading to an increase in the excretion of thyroid hormone.

Thyroid hormones drive your metabolism. If you have low thyroid function you may have be struggling to control your weight and your detox system will not work so well. Many people have unsuspected low thyroid function.

Toxin associated cancers

Not only have chemicals been found in higher levels in people with cancer but they have been found in higher levels in the cancer tissue than the adjacent healthy tissue. Higher than normal levels of DDE and PCB have been linked with an increased risk of breast cancer.

Studies of chidren with brain cancer show a positive association with exposure to No-Pest strips, Kwell shampoo ( contains lindane), flea collars on pets, termite treatment, use of pesticides and herbicides in gardens.

No-Pest strips and household pesticides and insecticides have also been associated with leukemia. Certain herbicides have been linked  with increased incidence of lung cancer, stomach cancer, leukemia, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and sarcoma. Farmers exposed to  herbicides have 8 times the risk of non-Hodgkins Lymphoma compare to non exposed individuals.

Chemicals in your food

Testing for chemicals on food which is done routinely throughout the world reveals consistently that it contains multiple contaminants. You can read more in my previous post.

Toxins in you Food Are you Poisoning yourself.

Is your detox system up to scratch?

Some people are less able to clear toxins from their bodies than others. Genetic variations, deficiencies of nutrients needed by the detox system and the blocking of some enzymes by heavy metals and other toxins will make a difference. When the chemicals accumulate beyond a certain point they cause damage to organs.The major systems that are affected are the immune system, nervous system and endocrine (glandular)system but all organs and systems can be affected.

There is no doubt that we are all struggling under a huge burden of environmental toxins which can be lowered by regular and effective detox. You must regularly detox your body if you want to be healthy.

Why not get started on the Healthy Lady’s 7 Day Spring Cleanse. It’s based on gluten free, alkaline forming, natural whole foods designed to strengthen your immune system, recharge your digestive system and boost your mental and emotional outlook so you can be at your very best – healthy and energized. Find out more about  detox your body coaching here:
7 Day Spring Cleanse

You might not be thinking too much about your health right now but it’s not too early to start making your plans for your detox next year. In fact detox has already been suggested as the thing to do during the weeks leading up to Christmas so you can eat, drink and make merry as you please! It’s being referred to as “Pre-Tox”. In effect, you detox with the idea of re-toxifying with all sorts of unhealthy food and alcohol! How crazy is that?

Pre-Tox is plain crazy

I am all for detox but the idea of going on a detox diet to lose some weight so you can pig out over the party season is just plain stupid. Anyone with any notion of health at all will realize that the the whole idea of a detox diet is to get rid of toxins to improve your health not to make it alright to eat a load of junk and avoid the weight gain.

Boost your immune system

If it’s Winter where you live then it’s not the time to be skipping meals and restricting calories. This is the time of the year to be trying to boost your immune system so you avoid catching those pesky cold and flu viruses. The extra stresses and strains increases dramatically at this time of the year.

Regular meals, a good breakfast, warming vegetable soups and lean meat stews, whole grains, plenty of fruit and vegetables and a few fresh nuts will give you the nutrients needed for good immunity. Don’t forget to add a little raw food too.

It’s vital to get plenty of sleep. The longer days of darkness mean that it’s natural to have more sleep .Late nights and stress will take their toll on your body. Too much alcohol, sugar or heavy meals before bedtime ruin a good night’s sleep.

Detox the alcohol

If you have had more alcohol than you intended then drink a large glass of water before you go to bed and take a B complex supplement that contains approximately  50 mg of the of the B vitamins or a tablespoon of  Brewer’s yeast. Take 1 gram Vitamin C as well.  They will help detox the alcohol.

Properly managed detox

So getting back to the planning your detox, if you have already done some detox then you will not need any convincing that it can make a huge difference to how you feel and can have an impact on your health problems. For many years the term “detox” was only ever associated with alcohol or drug abuse but today properly managed detox can vastly improve your health.

Is detox a waste of time?

Every January the media like to publish comments from doctors and dietitians who say that detox is a waste of time and money because your body detoxifies all the time. But they aren’t reading the published research.

One study I came across showed that a number of people who were suffering from symptoms of toxicity and metabolic problems had their symptoms decrease by over 50% after a 3 week detox program. What’s more there was biochemical evidence that their liver detox function had improved too!

Toxins linked with disease in research

The role of detox in reducing the risk of disease had a boost recently with the publication in The Journal of the American Medical Association of a link between the levels of Bisphenol A in the urine and the risk of diabetes, heart disease and liver disease. Bisphenol A is something I have already written about in a previous post.

It is also known that chronic exposure to the herbicide Atrazine causes insulin resistance, and dysfunction in the  mitochondria, the little powerhouses of your cells that produce energy.

Other research shows that toxic metals such as mercury, lead, or cadmium interfere with the way energy is produced in your cells which correlates with the increased risk to various chronic diseases.Numerous people have benefited from a properly designed and implemented detox program.

Researchers have shown that the result is so much more that more than just a “feel good” factor. The results can be demonstrated through improved blood chemistries, improved cardiovascular fitness tests, and improved cognitive and neurological test results. This is real proof that it is not a waste of time, money or effort.

You can get your health back

The bottom line is, if you’re sick, aching, unable to lose weight and miserable, you are toxic! But you don’t have to put up with it any longer. If you knew there was a way to gradually, slowly and safely eliminate these toxins to get back your energy and health you deserve wouldn’t you want to do it?

Of course you would. Well Dr Ritamarie, one of the world’s leading authorities on cleansing and detoxification and Tera Warner a great health coach and proponent of the raw food diet are once again going to be running their long awaited 6 Week Deep Tissue Cleanse in January.

If you have chronic, long-standing and complex health problems, you need a deeper cleansing than can be accomplished in just 7 days. The powerful 6-Week Deep Tissue Detoxification Protocol literally dissolves and banishes the dreadful toxins that have been lingering in your body for years!

Don’t miss this great opportunity to find the ultimate detox that is right for you. Dr Ritamarie is offering 3 different programs that take into account your level of experience with detox, your current diet, time available and most importantly your budget.

Tera is launching all the details of what is probably the world’s greatest detox program on Thursday at noon Eastern Time .  I don’t know all the details myself yet but I hear they are offering some fantastic deals.

COMMIT to Your Health, NOW.

Get all the details HERE

But not before Thursday 10th at Noon Eastern Time

Let’s face it daily life is stressful enough but when it comes to this time of the year it just gets plain crazy. Planning festive meals, endless trips to the supermarket, shopping for presents, parties, finishing off work projects, the list is endless. Stress levels just soar as December creeps up on us.

I hear it all the time  “I’m SO stressed out!” It should be a fun time of the year but if you’re not careful you can end up with no time to recharge and no energy to get everything done. It becomes a vicious cycle. All the pressures cause stress and anxiety that make you sick.

Stress overloads liver detox pathways

Did you know that chronic stress accounts for 80% of all illnesses? Stress interferes with how the body functions. You probably know that it can cause high blood pressure and increases the chances of stroke. It interferes with the normal function of your digestive and immune systems. Studies have proven that stressed individuals have an increased vulnerability to catching an illness and are more susceptible to allergic and autoimmune diseases.

Stress chemicals such as adrenaline can be highly toxic. They increase loss of valuable nutrients and restrict blood flow reducing your ability to detox. Like every other substance  produced in your body they have to be broken down and detoxified. They put an additional burden on the natural detox activities of your liver.

People often fall into the trap of trying to prop them selves up with alcohol, cigarettes, sugary snacks, and abandon their exercise routines. It’s all too easy to ruin all your detox efforts if you are not careful.

Here are 5 tips to deal with stress this season

Listen to music

Listening to music does wonders to alleviate stress. Everyone has different tastes in music but according to experts music with a tempo of 60 beats a minute slows your blood pressure and breathing and stimulates the production of the relaxing alpha brain waves.

Baroque music is particularly relaxing but Bach, Handel, Vivaldi and Purcell are great too.  As the music plays, allow it to wash over you, rinsing off the stress from the day. Focus on your breathing, letting it deepen, slow and become regular. Concentrate on the silence between the notes in the music; this keeps you from analyzing the music and makes relaxation more complete. Try it for 20 minutes and see how much better you feel!

Laugh a little

You may have heard that laughter is a good medicine. It relieves tension, frustration, anger,   or anxiety and loosens the muscles enabling you to “let go”.  It causes blood to flow to the heart and brain. More importantly, laughter releases endorphins the chemicals that make you feel good.

Have you heard of Laughter Yoga? It is a very powerful, non strenous, exercise program with a difference. Scientifically proven it is fun and easy to do. There are no postures to learn and it  can be done at any age in spite of problems like weak joints and muscles.

According to experts 10 minutes of hearty belly laughter will give you a cardiovascular workout that is equal to 30 minutes of jogging or rowing machine exercise. I’d go for that!

Calm yourself with Visualization

You can quickly clear mental stress, tension, and anxious thinking with visualization. It is useful when feeling stressed and when your mind is racing with fearful, anxious thinking.

It is best to do this exercise in a quiet place where you won’t be disturbed. When you get more practiced you will be able to get the same positive results in a busier environment such as your workplace. Don’t worry if you feel you are not very good at mental imagery. As long as your attention is on the exercise, you will gain benefit.

While sitting, close your eyes and place one hand on your upper chest and one on your stomach. Take a breath and let your stomach swell forward as you breathe in and fall back gently as you breathe out. Take the same depth of breath each time and try to get a steady rhythm going.

It is often helpful to develop a cycle where you count to three when you breathe in, pause, and then count to three when you breathe out (or 2, or 4—whatever is comfortable for you). If you are aware of other thoughts entering your mind, just let them go and bring your attention back to counting and breathing.

Now move your attention to your feet. Picture the soles of your feet and visualize roots growing slowly out through your soles and down into the earth. The roots are growing with quickening pace and are reaching deep into the soil of the earth. You are now rooted firmly to the earth and feel stable like a large oak or redwood tree.

Once you have created a strong impression of being grounded like a tree, visualize a cloud of bright light forming way above you. A bolt of lightning from the luminous cloud hits the crown of your head, and that ignites a band of bright white light descending slowly from your head all the way down your body, over your legs, and out past your toes.

As the band of light passes over you, feel it clearing your mental state. It is illuminating your mind and clearing any disturbing or stressful thoughts that you may have been thinking about. Repeat this image four or five times until you feel a sense of clearing and release from any anxious thinking.

Meditation

One of the most effective methods for managing stress is through meditation. This is a simple method of simply focusing the mind on nothing instead of focusing on everything that is stressing you out.

Though there are many deep levels of meditation, the best place to start is with simply closing your eyes and taking deep breaths while concentrating on your breathing. By paying attention to your breathing and really focusing on it, your mind will clear itself out and permit you to relax easily. This is best done every single day as a preventive measure rather than as a cure for stress. However, it can also be effective when you need to ditch some stress.

Take a nice, long, slow deep breath in.Breathe in through your nose until your lungs are completely full.Then hold your breath for a second or two, before slowly exhaling through your mouth until your lungs are totally empty. Repeat this sequence a few times.

As your breathing becomes slower, you’ll find yourself becoming more relaxed. Like counting to ten, you’re likely to find that this simple exercise is often enough to get rid of your stress in just a few short minutes.

Eat, drink, sleep and be merry!

Lack of sleep and a poor diet increases the stress on your body.  Eating regular, healthy meals helps to keep your blood sugar balanced and replaces nutrients lost through stress.   When you want to wind down after a stressful day avoid that glass of wine, cup of coffee or bar of chocolate.  Alcohol is a depressant and caffeine increases anxiety.

Eat a snack of protein and low GI, slow burning, carbohydrate. The combination helps your body produce serotonin the brain chemical that helps you sleep and makes you feel relaxed.

Stress saps the production of serotonin. Like everything else in your body serotonin is made from the food you eat. Low calorie foods and missed meals quickly reduce your serotonin supplies. Caffeine and aspartame are very anti-serotonin.

Serotonin is made from the amino acid tryptophan which comes from protein foods. You can get it from turkey, chicken, beef, lamb pork, fish, dairy products especially cottage cheese,  and eggs.  Healthy fats helps to increase the uptake of tryptophan in the brain. Nourishing carbohydrates like fruit, potatoes, yams, squash, whole grains and beans help carry the tryptophan into the brain.

Eating meals that contain a good balance of protein, health fat, a good variety of vegetables especially greens and good carbs will help keep you relaxed. Never skip breakfast.

If you are stressed out turn off the TV and radio, sit down at a table, eat slowly and focus on what you are eating. It will help to calm your mind. Don’t forget to stay hydrated with 6 glasses of pure water a day too.

Even if you don’t think you have enough time for relaxation taking 10 minutes to start practicing one of these stress busting tips will really help keep you sane and healthy this festive season.

Are confused about good fats and bad fats? Did you know that some fats make you fat and others can make you slim?  Some fats give you energy and others zap it. Some fats improve the way every cell in your body functions while others interfere with their vital functions. Two fats, Omega 3 and Omega 6,  are essential for your health but trans fats or hydrogenated fats interfere with your detox system and cause many health problems..

What are trans fats & hydrogenated fats?

Trans fats were mainly an invention of the food manufacturers. In order to harden and increase the shelf life of good oils so they can be used in margarines, spreads, baked good, and other dishes, they subject them to a process known as hydrogenation.

This results in twisted molecules known as trans fatty acids. Although you can get a very small amount of natural trans fats from beef and dairy foods it is the artificial trans fats that are bad for you. They are worse than the saturated fats that they replaced.

According to food scientist Prof Tony Blake newer technology has allowed margarine  manufacturers to produce products that do not contain trans fats. but I am not convinced that the quality of the oil they use in the process is healthy to start with.

Why are trans fats bad?

Many studies have shown that trans fats increase the level of the “bad” LDL cholesterol, lower the “good” HDL cholesterol and make your blood sticky increasing your risk for heart disease. They increase Lp(a), the strongest risk factor for heart disease.

As if this is not enough trans fatty acids interfere with the function of insulin and your immune system. They are linked with an increase of abnormal sperm and lower testosterone levels. They take the place of the good omega 3 and 6  essential fatty acids in your cells and interfere with important enzymes in your detox system.

Legislation to ban trans fats

Health experts everywhere agree trans fats are bad news and Denmark, Switzerland and Canada were the first countries to ban them. From 2008 all restaurants in New York were required to eliminate trans fats from their menus. California has now done the same.

In the USA legislation required that food manufacturers stated the levels of fatty acids on their product labels. But don’t think that you aren’t eating them if you see a label claiming free from trans fats. Due to labeling laws foods that contain less than 0.5g of trans-fats per serving can be labeled as being free from them. You might be getting more than you bargained for if you eat a lot of these.

In the UK major food manufacturers and retailers recently started to remove trans fats from their products voluntarily and began to provide information on labels. This is all well and good but the Food Standards Agency who advise the Government decided that legislation to ban them was not necessary.

There are many experts who do not agree with this . Professor Stender, a Danish cardiologist, believes that a ban is necessary throughout the EU. He says that voluntary codes are inadequate and that restaurants need to be forced to take action too.

In the past 2 years food manufacturers in New Zealand and Australia have cooperated with health advisers and replaced unhealthy fats with healthier fats. It has been reported that New Zealanders and Australians are eating less than 1 % trans fats in their diets.

Experts believe that in other countries the amount of trans fats that are being consumed has been grossly underestimated. Did you know for example that the average donut (doughnut) contains a shocking 3.5 grams of damaging trans fatty acids?

Which products contain trans fats?

While you can rely on food labels to a certain extent what about food you buy like bread, cookies, cakes, or fast foods that don’t come in packages with labels? You have no idea of the trans fats you might be getting from them.

Some unlabeled foods that often contain trans fats:

• Cookies, donuts, muffins, crackers

• Cakes and pies

• Microwave popcorn

• Fries (chips)

• Instant latte coffee

• Fried chicken, fried sandwiches, onion rings etc.

In the UK they may also be in:

• stock cubes

• packet soups,

• pancake mixes,

• cereal bars

• some health supplements

How to avoid trans fats

• Avoiding the types of foods listed above that are likely to contain trans fats is obvious.

• Read labels carefully and choose products without trans or hydrogenated fats..

• Avoid buying refined supermarket oils. Look for cold pressed oils instead.

• Avoid fried food when eating out. Choose grilled, steamed or broiled instead.

• Cook your own meals from fresh produce whenever possible.

• Choose naturally low fat foods like fruits, vegetables, green leaves, free range or organic chicken and  turkey, clean fish, whole grains, beans and lentils, organic breads and naturally sweetened cereals.

• Eat some health fats like fresh nuts and seeds, cold pressed oils, wild salmon, free range meat and avocados.

I have to point out that some restaurants and fast food outlets are now using frying oil that is free of trans fats and some even advertise the fact. However, according to Dr Udo Erasmus, an authority on fatty acids, heating  oils changes the chemistry of the molecules so they do not fit into the body’s biochemistry.

By  avoiding trans fats or hydrogenated fats you will be doing yourself a huge favor.  Your health will not suffer as much and your detox system can function normally.

Giving up alcohol is essential of you want to detox. Your liver is your main organ for detox and it is the only organ that metabolizes alcohol and it takes precedence over other functions. So. if you want to detox you need to avoid anything that gives your liver extra work.

What’s wrong with alcohol?

Alcohol is a drug and a poison, a toxin in fact, that has been used for thousands of years to relieve pain and inhibitions. Although many people believe it to be a stimulant it is in fact a depressant decreasing your digestion, thinking, judgment, reaction time, and muscle contraction.

It increases blood fats and can increase blood pressure. Regular drinking can result in a fatty liver as the carbohydrate content is converted to fat in the liver cells which builds up and damages the cells.

Evidence of weekend binge drinking among hard working and stressed women and men is causing a huge increase in liver disease. Continued heavy use of alcohol, of course, results in cirrhosis of the liver. In fact alcohol can cause a rise in the stress hormone, cortisol, which in turn reduces the body’s ability to burn calories.

Alcohol feeds Candida and other yeast infections.

Alcohol affects fertility in both men and women

New research shows that wine can reduce the chances of the embryo implanting and increased risk of miscarriage when women have IVF treatment. Beer is known to affect the quality of a man’s sperm. Experts extend the warning to all couple trying for a baby. Eggs & sperm take three months to develop so both partners should stop smoking and drinking for 3
months before trying to conceive.

Alcohol & nutrients

Alcohol has adverse effects on almost every nutrient especially the B vitamins and Vitamin C. The minerals calcium, magnesium and zinc can be depleted in people who drink large  quantities of alcohol.  Fatty acids become deficient too. There is increasing evidence that many cases of alcoholism are due to a deficiency of nutrients and hypoglygemia.

Fast Sugar

Alcohol is rapidly absorbed from the stomach and causes a rapid rise in blood sugar faster even than sucrose. The initial rise makes you feel good and gives extra energy but eventually your blood sugar level comes crashing down which makes you feel you want another drink or other sugar boost to reverse the unpleasant symptoms.

A few benefits

Some of alcohol’s positive effects include relief of stress, stimulation of appetite and dilation of of blood vessels improving blood flow. However there are much healthier and better ways of doing this.

Conflicting advice on drinking alcohol

On the one hand we hear that red wine is full of antioxidants and a glass or two every day can help prevent heart disease. On the other hand we are told to avoid alcohol if we want to avoid cancer. The risk of developing cancer of the liver, breast (through the increase of estrogen), pancreas, esophagus, larynx, and mouth are increased if you drink alcohol.

A number of studies show that moderate alcohol consumption can increase HDL, the good cholesterol, and reduce the accumulation of plaque in arteries protecting against heart disease. It also has a mild anti clot forming effect. Exactly how it does this is not clear.

On the other hand, drinking more than three drinks a day can damage your heart and lead to high blood pressure, alcoholic cardiomyopathy, (enlarged and weakened heart), congestive heart failure, and stroke.

The best way to reduce your risk of heart disease is eating right, getting regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight.

How does the liver detox alcohol?

Alcohol is first detoxified through the Phase 1 liver detox pathway by  two enzymes that convert it to highly toxic substances. One enzyme, known as alcohol dehydrogenase, needs zinc to function properly and the other, aldehyde oxidase relies on molybdenum.  Acetaldeyhyde, a by-product of alcohol metabolism by the liver, is almost 30 times more toxic than alcohol itself.

If you are deficient in either  zinc or molybdenum then you will not detox alcohol properly and get a build up of chloral hydrate which gives you that dopey, spacey, dizzy feeling.

The amino acid glutathione plays a key role in the Phase 2 liver detoxification of alcohol. Glutathione binds to the aldehydes and ketones produced by Phase 1 and transforms them into compounds that can be excreted in the bile or urine. Having enough glutathione is important to prevent hangovers.

Some of alcohol’s worst effects, however, are caused by the free radicals produced as a result of its metabolism. These damage cell membranes and impair their function.

Giving up for detox

If you are in the habit of drinking every day you might find this more difficult that you thought it would be. In fact the detox diet with its high intake of alkaline forming foods and vegetable juices can help. Rehydrating with plenty of pure water, fresh juices, green and herbal teas will help enormously. Dilute fruit juices half and half with water.

Small regular meals of complex carbohydrate such as whole grains, vegetables, beans and lentils, nuts and seeds and some protein such as clean fish and poultry is the way to go. This should provide sufficient fiber for good bowel function but if not then add some linseeds or psyllium husk powder.

If you have been drinking heavily you will need more nutritional support that someone who drinks very little. Take a good multivitamin and mineral supplement that contains at least 50mg of the B vitamins, 400 mg of magnesium and 25mg zinc.  Make sure it also contains molybdenum. Take 2 – 4 grams of Vitamin C a day. Add some Omega 3 and 6 essential oils.

The amino acid L- glutamine can help with alcohol cravings and withdrawal. Take 2 – 4 grams a day between meals or at least 30 mins before. L-Carnitine may also help with cravings at a dose of 1 gram a day. Spirulina at 1 – 3 teaspoons a day may help with blood sugar regulation. Silymarin, the active extract of the herb Milk Thistle is a powerful antioxidant that protects and repairs the liver cells. It can also help to regenerate glutathione.

It may also be helpful to stay away from occasions where you might be tempted to drink.

After the detox

After your detox you might want to continue avoiding alcohol to give you liver a chance to really recover if you were in the habit of drinking regularly.

If you still feel you need alcohol to unwind clinical hypnotherapist Georgia Foster says run bath, do yoga or have a swim. Just sitting for 15 minutes and focusing on your breathing can help relax you.

It helps to make sure your blood sugar level is steady. Hunger and thirst create the desire for alcohol. Eating small frequent complex carbohydrate meals will help to keep you blood sugar steady. Have some nuts or seeds or a healthy naturally sweetened bar to hand to fill the gaps.

When you feel the need for a drink try a green smoothie instead.

I could hardly believe my eyes when I read a recent newspaper article where a British journalist claimed that toxins were invented relatively recently by the alternative health industry purely to sell detox products!

She said that the whole business of detox diets was based on the spurious concept that toxins build up in our bodies and damage our health and the debatable theory that if we purge them from our bodies then we will be purer. She adds that when you read the rubbish written about toxins you’d think that, unless you are willing to remove them from your body, you’re more or less asking for a shorter life.

Well this is just another case of the journalist not doing her homework or simply making up a story for the effect. If she had bothered to do some research about toxins she would have found good evidence that they really do build up in our bodies and can shorten our lives.

Researchers from the World Wildlife Fund UK and the Environmental Working Group USA discovered that when a newborn babies take their first breath they are already contaminated with a range of toxic chemicals. They found a shocking average of 200 industrial chemicals and pollutants in umbilical cord blood.

180 of the 287 found in babies born in US hospitals cause cancer in humans or animals, 217 are toxic to the brain and nervous system, and 208 cause birth defects or abnormal development in animal tests. This is fact not fiction.

Jeffrey Bland, the American researcher and nutritional biochemist who introduced the concept of Functional Medicine has stated that “illness is related to problems of the digestive and liver detox systems and their influence on the immune, nervous and endocrine system”. So it’s true to say that toxins can shorten your life.

What are toxins?

A toxin is a substance that is harmful to your body. It is any substance that if allowed to build up in your body will cause damage to your cells. This includes substances produced in your body as well as substances that you take in through food, water and air and things you apply to your skin.

Internal toxins

• Fermentation – bad bacteria and yeast create dangerous toxins right inside your body, a common problem in the digestive system
• Putrefaction & rancidity from undigested foods
• Toxic thoughts and emotions.

• Normal metabolic processes produce lactic acid, pyruvic acid and urea that have to be detoxified.

• The detox process itself produces free radicals that are damaging if left unchecked.

External toxins

• inhalation – smoking, air pollution, dental amalgam fillings, sick buildings
• ingestion – chemical residues on food, chemicals in water, drugs
• injection – vaccinations, flu shots, tattoos

• absorption – chemicals from personal care products, synthetic fabrics, paints, plastics, pesticides and chemical fertilizers sprayed on lawns

• irradiation – medical x-rays, nuclear power plants, bomb testing, uranium mine tailings, cell phones and towers, computer monitors and televisions, microwave oven

Here are the top 5 sources of toxins and how to reduce your exposure:

# 1. Food

Your food contains more toxins than you may think. Processed foods are full of chemicals and additives that can create cravings, weight gain poor digestive health and food allergies.

But it’s not just processed food. Conventional produce is full of pesticides. In fact, over one billion pounds of pesticides are used on food in the US alone. These pesticides have been linked to symptoms ranging from muscle cramps and heart rate changes to irritability and emotional instability.

To reduce your exposure to food toxins:  Choose whole foods instead of processed foods. In addition, choose organic fruits and vegetables. Organic produce is grown without harmful pesticides in mineral rich soil.  Eating organic, whole foods is a great step you can take toward health and wellness.

# 2.  Water

Tap water is just full of  toxins. The Environmental Working Group found over 140 contaminants in tap water. And over the past few years, studies have shown that prescription drugs and over the counter drugs, are being found in tap water. Substances such as antibiotics, anti-depressants, birth control pills, seizure medication, cancer treatments, pain killers, tranquilizers and cholesterol-lowering compounds have been found in tap water!

The fluoridation of drinking water is something that has been highly debated for decades and is too big a subject to cover in any depth here. Fluoride is a class 2 poison, only marginally less poisonous than arsenic. It can inhibit enzyme systems, damage the immune system, contribute to calcification of soft tissues, makes bones more brittle, worsen arthritis and, of course, cause dental fluorosis in children.

Your body is between 70 – 90% water so it pays to be particular about your water. Many bottled waters have been shown to be just as bad as tap water and there is a danger that toxins leach form the plastic bottles.

To reduce your exposure to water toxins get a good water filter.

# 3. Environment

Your environment is also a major source of toxins. Pollution from manufacturing, cars and second hand cigarette smoke can be difficult to avoid. However, you can avoid a lot of the toxins inside and around your home.

Household cleaners containing bleach, ammonia and other toxic chemicals that can cause a wide range of health problems from nausea to skin problems, asthma and wheezing.

To reduce your exposure use natural household products, eco paints and natural untreated fabrics. Avoid using chemicals in the garden.

# 4.  Personal care products & cosmetics

The products we use to look our best may actually be the biggest source of toxins and aging. The skin is highly absorbent and anything you put on it is absorbed into your body.

Products like toothpaste, lotions, youth creams, soap, shampoo, conditioner, perfumes and makeup are full of toxic chemicals.

Read ingredient labels on your personal care products and avoid sodium laurel sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, triclosan (found in antibacterial products), Parabens (Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, p-Propylparaben, Isobutylparaben, n-Butylparaben and Benzylparaben), mineral oil, petroleum, Diethanolamine DEA, Cocamide DEA, Lauramide DEA, alpha and beta hydroxy acids, talc, lanolin and phthalates.

# 5. Stress and negative thinking

There is strong evidence suggesting the existence of a link between psychological stress and chronic conditions such as depression, cardiovascular disease, infectious diseases, autoimmune conditions and HIV/AIDS,  Stress has an adverse effect on the good bacteria that live in your intestines and keep your immunity and digestive health strong.

It is important to try to reduce the stress in your life. If at work take lunch and tea breaks, and get physical exercise at lunchtime to release tension and activate natural endorphins. Discuss work or other concerns with a counselor, or friend who can give good advice. Resist turning to alcohol or drugs. Try meditation or other relaxation techniques.

Toxins were not invented.  While I accept that many companies take advantage of the concept of detox and push useless products there are others that make very good detox support supplements based on research.

With the right diet to encourage detox and a few changes in your day to day habits, you can live in the modern world and still take charge of health and longevity.

Environmental estrogen (oestrogen) or xenoestrogens as they are sometimes called are chemicals that when absorbed into your body can function in a similar way to your own estrogen. They disrupt the way your natural hormones function and create a condition known as estrogen dominance. In this article we will look at what they are, where they come from , how to avoid them and ways to detox environmental estrogen.

Estrogen Dominance

Estrogen dominance as the term suggests is when there is too much estrogen in your system either from the way that your body metabolizes your own hormones or from environmental sources.  It can affect men as well as women. Although men and women have the same hormones, estrogen, testosterone and progesterone, they have them in a very different ratio and they must be in correct balance for good health.

Good Estrogen and Bad Estrogen

Estrogen, actually a general term for three different forms of estrogen that are produced in your body, must eventually be broken down by the liver and excreted. They can go through one of two pathways.

The substance (metabolite) that is produced by one pathway is often called “bad” estrogen as it  stimulates estrogen sensitive tissue and is linked with increased risk of cancer, lupus and symptoms of estrogen dominance. The second pathway produces a much weaker metabolite known as “good” estrogen. Too much of this however is linked to an increased risk of  developing conditions associated with estrogen deficiency, such as heart disease, depression, and osteoporosis.

A proper balance of the the two is the key to optimum health.  It’s known that the metabolism of estrogen depends on lifestyle, diet, your environment and genetic make up.

In men estrogen dominance can contribute to prostate cancer and  breast cancer. Yes, men suffer with breast cancer too! In women it can contribute to endometriosis, fibroids, polycystic ovaries, breast and cancer of the womb (endometrial cancer). So you can see how important it is to detox environmental estrogen.

Symptoms of Estrogen Dominance

There are many symptoms and conditions associated with estrogen dominance including:

• Acceleration of the aging process

• Autoimmune disorders such as lupus erythematosis. thyroiditis, and possibly Sjoegren’s disease

• Breast cancer

• Breast tenderness

• Cervical dysplasia

• Early onset of menstruation

• Endometrial (uterine) cancer

• Fibrocystic breasts

• Fibromyalgia (thought by some to be related to estrogen dominance)

• Infertility

• Irregular menstrual periods

• Low sperm count
• Man Boobs (Gynecomastia)

• PMS

• Premenopausal bone loss

• Thyroid dysfunction mimicking hypothyroidism

• Water retention

Where does environmental estrogen come from?

More than 60 substances, including dioxin, DDT, PCB and solvents have been identified as environmental estrogens or endocrine disruptors as they are also known.  They have been produced by industrial, agricultural, and chemical companies and introduced into the environment in the last 70 years. They are everywhere.

Shockingly, these hormone mimics can come from the food you eat and the personal care products that you use on your body.  Common sources of these xenoestrogens are commercially raised beef, chicken and pork due to the hormones often given to the animals to produce rapid growth. They are also used to increase milk production in dairy cows.

They are in the pesticides sprayed on your non organic fruit and vegetables, in the plastic containers that are used for food and drinks including styrofoam, in household detergents and cleaners,  artificial scents such as air fresheners, garden herbicides and pesticides, and paints and solvents.

Earlier this year researchers in warned that 2 food additives they studied are estrogenic and could alter hormones. Propyl gallate, is a preservative used to prevent fats and oils from spoiling is used in a range of foods including baked goods, shortening, dried meats, candy, fresh pork sausage, mayonnaise and dried milk.  A second additive, 4-hexyl resorcinol, is
used to prevent shrimp, lobsters, and other shellfish from discoloring.

They are commonly found in cosmetics, nail polish and remover, glues, paints, varnishes, and other types of finishes, carpets, fiberboard, and other processed woods.

Researchers in Germany found traces of an unknown estrogenic substance leaching into mineral water stored in PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottles, a commonly used plastic for storing foods and beverages.

There may be only minute amounts in each of these sources but they add up over time as they accumulate  in your body as they are stored in the fat layers or the fatty acid membranes of your cells.

How you can reduce your exposure to environmental estrogen:

• Avoid buying food and drink in plastic or styrofoam containers

• Never heat food in plastic containers either in a conventional oven or microwave
• Avoid wrapping food in plastic wrap

• Use glass or ceramic containers to store food

• Replace your chemical based household cleaning products with natural products

• Buy hormone free or organic meat

• Do not eat the fat on meat or poultry where the chemicals accumulate.

• Buy organic fruit and vegetables where possible or avoid the most heavily contaminated produce.

• Eat a diet high in whole foods, fresh fruit and vegetables and low in processed food.

• Avoid food and drink with artificial additives

• Use natural, chemical free cosmetics.

• Avoid solvents

• Use natural pest control

• Avoid birth control pills and conventional estrogen replacement therapy (ERT, HRT). Use bio-identical hormones based on saliva, urine or blood tests done by a functional medicine doctor.

• Do not use spermacide

How to detox environmental estrogen:

Increase cruciferous vegetables

Eat more cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, kale, mustard, turnip, bok choy, kohlrabi and rutabaga (swede). They contain the phytochemical indole-3-carbinol, that improves detox of environmental estrogen and improves the balance of all hormones.

Increase fiber intake

Once the has liver has changed the environmental estrogens into a form that that body can more readily excrete it goes into the bile and then the digestive tract to be finally removed in the stools. You need to make sure that your bowels are moving  well at least twice a day.

Eat more whole grains, fruit, vegetables, seeds and beans.  Try taking 1 – 2 tablespoons freshly ground flax seeds a day with breakfast if your bowels need a push . Do a bowel cleanse if necessary.

Increase natural plant estrogens

Phytoestrogens are compounds that occur naturally in plants and are thought to help protect against the effects of estrogen dominance. The two that have been studies the most are isoflavones, such as soy and lignans which occur in linseed, grains and vegetables.

There are over 300 foods are known to contain phytoestrogens. The main sources are soy beans, tofu, tempeh, soy beverages, linseed (flax), sesame seeds millet, barley, rye, dried beans, lentils and fennel.

Increase Calcium D-glucarate

D-glucarate is a natural subtance is found in apples, oranges, broccoli, spinach, and Brussels sprouts. To detox the toxic estrogens your liver joins it to glucoronic acid.  D-glucarate can inhibit an enzyme produced by gut bacteria called beta-glucuronidase that can break this bond and allow the estrogen to be recirculated from the bowel.

Take it in supplement form as well. One 500 mg tablet or capsule of Calcium D-Glucarate is equivalent to the phytonutrient activity found in 82 pounds of fresh fruit and vegetables.

Improve your liver function

See my previous post on Liver Detox

Increase exercise & sweating

The improved circulation of lymph and blood helps carry the chemicals to the liver to be detoxified. The toxic estrogens can be eliminated in the sweat. Try FIR saunas too.

Take Milk Thistle

The herb Milk Thistle (Silymarin) enhances the detox of toxic estrogens from the liver.

Take Liquid Zeolite

Liquid zeolite can help remove environmental estrogens. Find out more about Liquid Zeolite in another recent post.

Consider a supplement of DIM

Scientific research shows DIM (diindolylmethane), a phytonutrient found in cruciferous vegetables, increases the level of “good” estrogens  while reducing the level of “bad” estrogens.

I am sure now that you will understand that detoxing environmental estrogen and improving the metabolism of your own estrogen will vastly improve your health.