What You Didn't Know About Toxins and Your Metabolism
We are bombarded by an alarming amount of toxins every day. Many people think that because toxins are so common in everything we eat and use, then we really shouldn’t be too concerned. The truth is that while these toxins make be considered normal, they are messing with our metabolism.
How Toxins Affect Metabolism
They come from pesticides, herbicides, genetically modified foods, as well as a handful of synthetic hormones in our meat. We also find toxins in lipstick, face cream, prescription drugs, fire-retardant materials in furniture, and even the air we breathe. They are hiding in an endless list of products.
Many of these types of toxin acts like estrogen when it is absorbed by the body. Some experts feel that this exposure is causing girls to enter puberty earlier and breasts to develop in some boys. These toxins are called Xeno-estrogens and are believed to increase the risk of breast and ovarian cancers and endometriosis and other estrogen related diseases.
Toxins and Testosterone
Testosterone, which is necessary for hormone balance, muscle growth and metabolism, becomes overwhelmed with this fake estrogen. This excess estrogen raises insulin insensitivity. This imbalance then adds those unwanted pounds. A study in Chemosphere, a journal published in Sweden, showed that exposure to organochloride, a pesticide, was linked to individuals gaining almost ten pounds over a 50 year period.
That study just concentrated on one toxin. Exposure to numerous toxins may indeed be increasing your risk of weight gain and disease. The CDC conducted a survey to measure the levels of bisphenol A (BPA) found in the body. This chemical was found in a measurable level in 93% of those surveyed. Store receipts and canned foods contain this toxin which disrupts estrogen, thyroid, and androgen hormones.
How to Limit Toxins
When there are toxins everywhere you turn, it can be hard to know what can be limited to fix your metabolism. Try these simple solutions:
- Eat as much organic food as possible. Focus on eating organic meats and produce rather than just eating organic cookies and packaged foods.
- Stop using chemical-filled cleaning products. Switch to natural ones or homemade ones.
- Don’t use scented items, either soaps or candles.
- Used clothing is less likely to have as much chemicals than new clothes because they have been worn and washed already.
- Limit the products you use on your face. Use coconut oil for a make-up remover and lotion, and try finding natural alternatives to your favorite products.
We live in a toxic world, but that doesn’t mean we have to give up on our health. Make simple changes in your diet and home life to decrease the amount of toxins you come in contact with each day.
Used under Creative Commons Licensing courtesy of Robert Cureton