Sometimes my yoga students ask me for advice on “detoxing.” They might feel lethargic, headachy, congested, moody, or inexplicably out of sorts.
My first thought is, “Before you worry about getting rid of accumulated toxins, stop sucking in new ones.”
Daily, we are exposed to so many toxins. While this is not particularly pleasant to think about, taking a few moments to assess harmful chemicals in your environment may inspire you to take steps to eliminate or reduce them.
Diet is an obvious source of substances that negatively affect your health. Have you become complacent about your diet, sliding into the habit of making food choices based solely on convenience or taste?
If you are serious about achieving or maintaining excellent health, it’s imperative that you eat real food—not heavily processed, chemically laden pseudo food.
Read package labels. In general, the shorter the list of ingredients, the better. For optimum health, purchase fresh, preferably organic, foods which have no list (such as oatmeal, blueberries, spinach, walnuts and black beans).
And think about what you drink. Sodas, especially those with artificial sweeteners, have no place in the healthy person’s diet. Nor do so called sports or energy drinks.
A less considered source of toxins is indoor air. Whether you are remodeling and filling your home with new paint, carpet, and other off-gassing materials, are cleaning with a plethora of noxious household cleaners or are spritzing pesticides in your space, your indoor environment can be hazardous to your health.
Forget about your old favorite products, and substitute safe ones which are now available. Realize that many cleaning tasks can be accomplished with simple and cheap white vinegar or baking soda.
Do you know that most air fresheners, whether sprayed or plugged in, are actually air poisoners? Ditto for most scented candles.
Try forgoing fancy, flowery cover-ups and eliminate the source of odor. Or use high quality, natural incense, real essential oils, or candles scented with them.
Other alternatives: simmer cinnamon sticks and cloves in water on the stove, and use houseplants as air purifiers.
One of the best things you can do is spend more time outdoors where, in general, air is cleaner.
Lastly, stop and think about the substances you slather on your body.
Between waking and walking out the door, many people use body washes, shampoos, deodorants, powders, moisturizers, sunscreens, hair spray, makeup, toothpaste, mouth wash, artificial fragrances and insect repellent, dowsing their permeable skin with over a hundred potentially harmful chemicals.
Again, read labels and take time to research questionable ingredients. The internet is a great source for such information. Especially check out:
The key to healthy lifestyle changes is mindfulness.
Start examining the products that you and your family come in contact with. Stop the “toxing” today.
