Hidden toxic stressors we don't think about— Part 2
I find that toxins are a stressor for all of us. I frequently find myself discussing cleaner options for cleaning products, cosmetics, drinking water, food, etc. For this reason, I decided to dig back into the Red Clover Clinic Newsletter archive and republish this two-part article with fresh information. I hope it will motivate you to clean up your lifestyle wherever you can.
In the last issue of the Red Clover Clinic Newsletter, we introduced the topic of hidden toxic stressors, including signs that your body is struggling with toxicity, and if so, how to address it.
In this issue, we offer questions to help you analyze how toxic your diet and environment are.
Is your water safe?
Do you drink water straight from the tap? You might consider getting some kind of filtering system. There are many chemicals hiding in tap water—including chlorine and fluoride—things that are added to our water that purportedly protect our health. The problem is, if you’re struggling with toxicity, these chemicals will only add to the problem. Check out Tap Water Toxicity & Your Guide to Water Filters for more information.
If you think that bottled water will keep you safe, think again! There have been many reports that the water used in many brands of bottled water is simply tap water. Furthermore, most bottled water is stored in plastic bottles, which can leach chemicals into the water, adding to increased toxicity. There are good options available, but I recommend doing your research.
What’s hiding in your food?
When grocery shopping, do you take the time to read labels? If not, it’s time to start. Processed foods have many less-than-nutritious ingredients added to them and are typically high in hidden sugars, preservatives, additives, and food colorings. Food additives and colorings have been associated with hyperactivity and allergic reactions. Artificial sweeteners like aspartame are considered to be neurotoxins. Even “healthier” alcohol sugars like xylitol can cause digestive distress. Check out 6-Step Checklist to Avoid the Worst Ingredients for some information on on unsafe food ingredients.
Another source of toxins in food is residue from herbicides and pesticides. See Are You Eating the Most Pesticide-Laden Produce? for a list of the 2025 “dirty dozen” foods. Choosing foods with the “Organic” label will help protect you from these harmful chemicals. Organic Farming: 5 Major Benefits will help you better understand the benefits of organic farming.
Another label to look for is “Non-GMO.” Genetically modified foods are heavily sprayed with chemicals, most notably glyphosate, which is associated with many health issues. Read this article for more information on the dangers of glyphosate. There is also some concern with how genetically modified foods themselves affect the body. All in all, it’s better just to avoid them!
Are there hidden ingredients in your health and beauty products?
Do you live by the motto “beauty knows no pain"? You might be surprised to learn that the pain caused by health and beauty products is more insidious than you think. It is just as important to read labels on your cosmetics, lotions, hair products, and perfumes as it is on your foods. There are many chemicals that find their way into these products, some of which are endocrine disruptors, such as phthalates. Don’t forget about nail polish, hair dye, hair treatments, and bath bombs. Check out the Environmental Working Group's safety database of cosmetics.
Are your cleaning products safe?
More and more, people are becoming aware of the dangers associated with cleaning products. Aside from chemical burns and lung damage due to inhalation, cleaning products contain fragrances and other chemicals that can overtax our bodies’ detoxification mechanisms. Something as simple as dryer sheets can wreak havoc with our endocrine system as well as cause harm to the environment.
Bleach seems to be a common cleaning product that finds its way into even the most natural of homes. Read The Dos and Don'ts of Cleaning with Bleach to learn more about the dangers associated with bleach.
By this time you may be asking, what can I clean my house with? Here is a great resource for safe and natural cleaning products: What are the safest cleaning products for your home?.
Do you take medications, get seasonal vaccines, or have amalgam fillings?
This is where the can of worms I mentioned in the last newsletter gets “wormier.” I have no desire to get between a client and their medical doctor or dentist. My goal is to provide resources for my clients to educate themselves on risks associated with things like medications, vaccines, and amalgam fillings. My primary concern is detoxification and whether or not your system is overburdened or not. In other words, can your body handle the extra burden of one of these treatments? Sometimes certain treatments are necessary, and you have to find other ways to promote detoxification. Other times it’s better to find safer alternatives.
Do you find yourself taking ibuprofen daily to help with your aches and pains? Doing so brings about an extra burden on your kidneys, liver, and digestive system. Think about whether you want to risk long-term effects. Check out Is It Safe To Take Ibuprofen Every Day? for a great discussion of the risks associated with ibuprofen as well as some good alternatives. If acetaminophen is what you use, you still need to exercise caution. Read Acetaminophen safety: Be cautious but not afraid to learn about the risks associated with improper dosage.
Vaccination is also a sticky topic. Whether you choose to get vaccinated or not is up to you. Just know you may have to do some extra detoxification from the additives and adjuvants (a substance that enhances the body’s immune response to an antigen) in the vaccine as well as from the immune residue of the attenuated viruses. Whether or not you get seasonal vaccines, Use Antiviral Herbs to Boost Immune System and Fight Viruses is a good article on how to stay healthy during the cold and flu season
Most of us over age 40 have or have had amalgam fillings in our mouths. They are about 50 percent mercury, which is a very dangerous substance to expose our bodies to. There are now many alternatives to these potentially harmful fillings that are also cosmetically more appealing. If you are thinking of having your amalgam fillings replaced, you may want to consider coming in for some Nutrition Response Testing first, so we can get you on a program to prepare your body for the procedure. If your detox pathways are already overburdened, going through the process of removal will expose you to more mercury, causing potential side effects. It is also best to seek out a holistic dentist who will take more precautions to protect you from the mercury. To learn more about the complications associated with amalgam fillings, read Dental Amalgam Danger: Mercury Fillings and Human Health.
The benefits of detoxification
To recap, it is important to assist your body in the detoxification process to maintain and/or improve your health. There are many things you come across in your daily life that may be increasing the toxic burden on your body, and it is good to be aware of how you can make better and safer choices. The more you control what you can, the less the stuff you can’t control—such as air pollution—will impact your health.
To recap, here are the benefits of making less toxic choices:
Decrease toxic load of the body, and improve liver function
Reduce inflammation
Aid weight loss
Promote skin health
Increase energy and mental function
If you need help figuring out what might be causing your symptoms of toxicity and would like to improve your body’s ability to detoxify, Nutrition Response Testing can help!
Marie's Body of Knowledge
What does the human body do with trauma?
The short answer is, it holds onto it and stores it in our tissues. Whether it is physical or emotional trauma, it becomes internalized and part of our cellular makeup. Trauma is primarily stored in our myofascial tissue, which is an intricate web of connective tissue that is continuous from head to toe.
Because myofascial tissue is continuous from head to toe, pain and tightness in one area may result in feeling pain in a different part of the body. Myofascial tissue can tighten down to 2,000 pounds per square-inch and when left untreated, may restrict range of motion and feel like the body is in a straight jacket.
Humans are not adept at acknowledging and addressing trauma. The typical response is to brush it off, internalize it, and power on with life. In contrast, the animal kingdom, as discussed in the book Waking the Tiger, by Peter Levine, is adept at letting go of trauma. If you’ve ever witnessed two dogs in a fight, when the altercation is over, the dogs stand and shake, releasing the trauma from their tissues. Then the dogs run off wagging their tails, having released the negative interaction.
Humans have much to learn from the animal kingdom on how to manage the effects of trauma. As trauma enters the body, rather than dismissing or suppressing it, learn to acknowledge it. Feel what you feel. Scream, cry, beat up your pillow, and seek out myofascial treatment. Let it out and let it go. It’s not doing your body any good holding it inside.
If you have unaddressed physical or emotional trauma or chronic pain, I would recommend seeking out a physical therapist who specializes in myofascial release treatment. It may help release the tissues and the pain, tightness, and emotions that are being stored in them. It may be what your body needs to improve physical and emotional freedom.