I don’t often talk about our environment, things around us, even the animals or plants that we eat and their effect on our body. This includes things like OTC meds and more!
Recently I had a situation where we had really focused on food and nutrient base and were struggling to get resolve (SUPER unusual). The food sensitivities were very unusual also. In looking at this case, it became apparent there were environmental exposures that were influencing food and water intake and the outcomes and that is when I thought about sharing this with you all.
Is it all about food and water?
Sure is. About 98% of the time adjusting food, removing allergens, and increasing what (all individually based) resolves client issues. It takes time, and a lot of focused work in removing the intolerances and replacing them with great foods, but it works and can be seen to work rather quickly when we do it bio-individually in my practice. BUT what happens beyond this?
Our Environment and Its Influence on Us and Our Food Sources
Our physical environment is contaminated with MANY chemicals and pesticides and harmful substances to our body. It’s truly AMAZING how our bodies respond to cleaning these things for us, BUT sometimes we cannot keep up and we get overloaded.
This happens when the load is too high, we are missing enzymes, OR the chemicals are making our nutrients bio unavailable to us. It’s not the norm in any case, BUT it makes you think about what is going on around you and its impact on your house and life.
Food Sources – Contaminated
We need to try to find the best-raised meats possible. We need organic always if we can. And we need to be aware that when we eat wild-caught animals around our local environment what they might be contaminated with. We encourage local eating and even wild animal eating in NTP work HOWEVER it is so important to remember those animals (and plants) ate from the ground, and ate from wild plants, and grew in the local soil that may or MAY NOT be free of harmful things. This is the case with industrial meat and plants too – loads of chemicals are used and we take our chances. We do that by buying the best sources available. But one thing to check when eating local wild animals, and plants is EPA recommendations for eating those.
Fishing locally is so cool – great fun. HOWEVER, local water may be contaminated with heavy metals. The EPA tells you the tested fish, and what the levels are, and if they are safe to consume. It’s important to know this. It’s also important to take a quick look at things like hunted deer, wild turkey, and other game you are hunting for. It’s not just the processing that is important – it’s where this animal ate and drank. If they have been living in your region and your soil and lakes are contaminated they will carry that in their meat and you will consume it.
This is true of plants. Of course, we cannot control all of this – but knowing that a plant was organic or understanding pollution in your area will help you have better control over the clean sources that you want to consume.
OTC Meds
This is so huge with so many people. Most people assume if you can grab something at the drug store and use it on your own it’s OK. However, it is still a medication or a drug, or a chemical that you are using for an imbalance in the body. An imbalance that is likely correctable by adjusting food sources, nutrients, and lifestyle. With that said – OTC meds are NOT HARMLESS.
There have been parent groups, studies, and more on Miralax for example – especially in the use of children. There have been links to these chemicals causing nervous system issues and more. These chemicals, if not properly filtered in the body or used too frequently build up, and can be toxic to cells. They can push out needed enzymes (blocking them) and minerals we need to have proper nerve and muscle function. When that happens we get an inability to have basic body functions like bowel movements for example. Even ibuprofen and acetaminophen can cause webbing in the digestive tract with repetitive use. This obviously is not good for digestion and can lead to things like leaky gut, immune problems, and more.
Cooking Agents in the House
Our cookware needs to be stainless steel and stoneware. We need to be aware that Teflon and other additives on cookware can enter our blood and cause disruption. This is especially true for aluminum. Heavy metals greatly affect us and our children’s brain and body function. We aren’t meant to have high levels of chemicals in our blood. Once again this causes our natural minerals and function to fall out of balance.
What can we do?
We need to find the worst repetitive sources of these things in our lives and lower our exposure and risk. When fishing locally, we stick to the guidelines of how much fish can be consumed from that source. When we hunt wild game, we limit our intake and spread it out so we are sure we are giving our body a chance to process the chemicals out.
When it comes to OTC meds, we look at the reason we are using them, and instead of using something that just masks symptoms or covers them temporarily we look at what we can do with food, water, lifestyle to eliminate their use altogether. Go after the ROOT CAUSE of the symptom and eliminate it.
We need to choose the least toxic bakeware and storage ware for our homes to keep our exposure low. That means glass, no plastic, clean pots and pans, non-coated surfaces, and is our water clean? What can we do to make that better? Can we use a filter, do we need a home system, should be purchase water that is balanced?
If you don’t think these things matter, I am here to tell you they do! Sometimes it’s a matter of life and death and living a healthy life in making these changes. We might have amazing food sources, but with a few things at high levels of toxicity, we won’t be able to utilize the great food we are eating. Toxicity is real, it happens at ALL ages, and if you truly want to be the healthiest you can – you need to lower it in every corner it creeps in.
In NTP work I can help you learn what your risks are, lower those, and then help your body detox what has built up over the years. It’s important to work with a practitioner to do this slowly and gently.
Constipation – Why can’t you go?