| Are Toxins Making You Sick-and Overweight? | | | | increase your exposure to chemicals. |
| It's not surprising that toxins are all around us-in the air, | | | | · Stale Indoor Air. Indoor air pollution is |
| water and in many commercial products. You probably | | | | recognized as a common problem. With airtight |
| know that these toxins can make you sick: dust, mold | | | | buildings and homes, toxins can build up. Get outside |
| and chemicals can lead to asthma, allergies and other | | | | for some fresh air during lunchtime. |
| chronic conditions. | | | | · Tobacco Smoke-Do not smoke and make |
| But did you know that these toxins can also cause | | | | your home, car and office a smoke-free zone. |
| you to gain extra weight and make losing it almost | | | | In addition, taking your shoes off when entering your |
| impossible? | | | | house can cut down on the dirt and contaminants |
| Researchers at the University of Quebec have | | | | tracked into your home. |
| demonstrated a link between environmental pollution | | | | Detoxify with More Nutrition-Not Less |
| and a decrease in metabolism. In addition, toxins cause | | | | When we talk about detoxification we do not mean |
| inflammation throughout the body that can lead to leptin | | | | fasting, purging or other procedures, and do not |
| resistance. Leptin is a naturally occurring hormone in | | | | recommend these. Fasting can be dangerous and |
| the body that helps regulate body fat. When leptin | | | | undermines the body's ability to detoxify naturally by |
| stops functioning, leptin resistance occurs, leading to | | | | depriving the body of adequate nutrition. |
| weight gain and retention of excess weight. | | | | The point of detoxification is to help your body |
| Detoxification is the way your body rids itself of toxins, | | | | process toxins by giving it more nutrition. The liver is |
| a natural process that occurs 24 hours a day. You | | | | the major organ for detoxification. For the liver to |
| can support your body's ability to detoxify through | | | | function well in its job of detoxification, it requires |
| positive lifestyle choices such as enhanced nutrition, | | | | nutrition: adequate protein is essential to this effort, and |
| limiting toxic exposures, exercise and stress reduction. | | | | many vegetables and herbs can help. |
| In our book The Fat Resistance Diet, we provide our | | | | Foods to Help Detoxify |
| basic approach in Chapter Nine: Detoxify-and Lose | | | | There are special foods you can eat that help the liver |
| Weight. | | | | function well to process toxins: |
| Do you ever experience? | | | | Cruciferous Vegetables: |
| · Lack of concentration | | | | - Broccoli |
| · Irritability | | | | - Cabbage |
| · Mood swings | | | | - Cauliflower |
| · Foggy headedness | | | | Sea Vegetables (which are from Japanese cuisine) |
| · Inability to lose weight? | | | | - Hijiki |
| Exposure to toxins at home, the office, and school or | | | | - Dulse |
| in a store can trigger these problems. Everyday items | | | | - Wakame |
| such as paint, printers, magic markers, and copiers can | | | | Dark Greens |
| produce the problems listed above. | | | | - Kale |
| Simple Steps to Reduce Exposure to Common Toxins | | | | - Collard Greens |
| · Paint. For your home or office, look for low | | | | - Swiss Chard |
| VOC paint which is less toxic. | | | | For a free one-day meal plan and recipes, visit |
| · Laser Printers and Copy Machines. Use a | | | | This article is provided for general educational |
| deskjet printer or copier instead. | | | | purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical |
| · Household Cleaning Products: Use all natural | | | | advice or counseling, the practice of medicine or the |
| and non-toxic cleaning products. We use baking soda | | | | provision of health care diagnosis or treatment, the |
| and water for most cleaning, and vinegar diluted with | | | | creation of a physician-patient relationship, or an |
| water for windows. | | | | endorsement, recommendation, or sponsorship of any |
| · New Clothing and Laundry. Wash new | | | | third party product or service by the sender or the |
| clothes well before wearing to soak out some of the | | | | sender's affiliates, agents, employees, or service |
| formaldehyde used to stiffen new fabric. Avoid heavily | | | | providers. If you have or suspect that you have a |
| scented laundry detergent and fabric softener; these | | | | medical problem, contact your doctor promptly. |
