The toxins we live with: Part I

Our bodies are bombarded with toxins daily. They come from food, air, water and other sources. Our body is designed to deal with toxins common in a natural world, however, not this unnatural one. As we keep synthesizing everything, it is stressing our body's ability to cope.

The trouble begins when the synthetic chemicals become concentrated in our bodies. Many by themselves can easily be converted into simpler compounds and eliminated, others can't. They store in our fatty tissues, our brain, interrupt hormonal function and cause cell damage.

There are several types of toxicity: heavy metals, chemicals, toxins produced in our own body and living toxins. All can make us sick when the body becomes overwhelmed and incapable of keeping up with it. Heavy concentrations can be neurotoxic (toxic to brain/nerves), genotoxic (toxic to genes), or carcinogenic (causes cancer).

Let's take a look at some of them: Heavy metals. Lead, mercury, aluminum, arsenic, antimony, tin, nickel, cadmium, cobalt and others commonly found in everyday use. Scientific studies have linked toxic metals to gene mutations that lead to cancer. They cause DNA damage, inhibit DNA repair, and create pathogenesis leading to cancer, birth defects, neurotoxicity, and others.

Mercury - found in dental amalgam, coal, high fructose corn syrup, and fluorescent light bulbs - is a known neurotoxin. In addition to affecting adults, it may be contributing to the increase of neurodevelopmental defects in newborns.

Lead in paint and gasoline is mostly gone, but can still be found on old homes, fences, coating on iron fences, and homes with lead pipes; and in cereals, infant formulas, lead bullets, sinkers, soldering, stained glass, pottery glazing, lead figures, pewter and children's paint sets, art supplies and imported toys. Toxic lead can cause neurological, gastrointestinal, reproductive, blood, kidney and other diseases.

Aluminum has been linked to neurologic conditions, intestinal issues, nervousness, anemia, headaches, speech impairment, achy muscles and memory loss. It can be found in aluminum foil, antacids, aspirin, antiperspirants, deodorants, pickles, baking powder, American processed cheeses, cookware, and toothpaste.

Arsenic can cause gastrointestinal, blood, liver or kidney damage, skin lesions (and death). It is found in commercial chicken feed (it kills parasites), in paints, dyes, metals, drugs, soaps, electrical components, fertilizers, pesticides, and preserves wood.

Antimony accumulates in organs and bone causing associated dysfunction. It's found in fire retardants (clothes, bedding, carpets), lead batteries, paints, enamels, glass and potter glaze.

Tin tends to combine with other materials creating toxic compounds, and is found in cans (a damaged liner allows it to leak into food), toothpaste with stannous fluoride, beauty products, soap, perfume, rodent poison, fungicides, wood preservatives, herbicides and insecticides. Its toxic effects include brain swelling, headaches, visual problems, low blood sugar and immune suppression.

Part II, after covering living toxins, will address what we can do about all this.

Tonight, Wednesday, January 28th at 7 p.m., I will be presenting an introductory class to our Purification & Weight Loss Jumpstart Program. Learn about toxins, the need for detoxification and the best detoxification program I have found in more than 35 years of investigating different programs. No charge for the class. RSVP: (208) 765-1994.

Holly Carling is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine, Licensed Acupuncturist, Doctor of Naturopathy, Clinical Nutritionist and Master Herbologist with more than 35 years of experience. She is currently accepting new patients and offers natural health care services and whole food nutritional supplements in her Coeur d'Alene clinic. Visit Carling's website at www.vitalhealthcda.com to learn more about her, view a list of upcoming health classes and read other informative articles. Carling can be reached at (208) 765-1994 and would be happy to answer any questions regarding this topic.