You Are Toxic and So Am I

In a study spearheaded by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) in collaboration with Commonweal, researchers at two major laboratories found an average of 200 industrial chemicals and pollutants in umbilical cord blood from 10 babies born in August and September of 2004 in U.S. hospitals. Tests revealed a total of 287 chemicals in the group. The umbilical cord blood of these 10 children, collected by Red Cross after the cord was cut, harbored pesticides, consumer product ingredients, and wastes from burning coal, gasoline, and garbage.1

In a more recent study that was done in June 2017 at Indiana University they found PBDEs, or polybrominated diphenyl ethers, commonly used flame retardants in building materials, electronics and textiles that were banned in 2004.2

Just think, we come into the world carrying these toxins then we live in this world.  We drink the water, breath the air, eat the foods, wear the clothes, use plastics, work in buildings loaded with “new” carpets, chairs, flooring, paint, much of it toxic.  Add to that the new information coming out about Electromagnetic fields (EMF’s) that we are surrounded with every day at home and work, and it’s no wonder our bodies are struggling.

As a cancer patient you may have heard of people doing “detoxes” and you may have tried some yourself.  Many of these are good if they address the most important body systems like your liver, kidney’s, bowels and lymphatic system.  Some of them are short, 2-3 days, and really serve no purpose other than giving your body a short break from toxic food and water.

The most important thing as a cancer patient is to identify where these toxins are in your environment and start to “clean” them up.  We want to lower “the total body burden” that we all have and especially if you are undergoing chemotherapy.  This detoxing of your home will be a lifestyle change but a wonderful gift for your body!

This is a process, and as I tell my clients, “baby steps” are just fine!

Here are the areas you will want to start to work on.  My suggestion is, as you run out of products look for replacements that are non-toxic.  The Environmental Working Group, www.EWG.org, has great resources for finding non-toxic cleaning products, skin care products, top most heavily sprayed fruits and vegetables and more.  Our local grocery store, Natural Grocers, Sprouts and Whole Foods also have non-toxic cleaning products and personal care items.

Here are some personal care items you will want to gradually replace with “clean” ones. We buy Essential Oils as well and use “unscented” whenever possible, then add in our “scent” with Essential Oils.

• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Body Wash
• Soap
• Deodorant
• Makeup
• Toothpaste
• Mouth Wash
• Body lotions
• Perfumes
• Sun Screens

Household cleaning products are a big source of toxins that you breath in and absorb through your skin.  Begin to replace these items.

• Bathroom cleaning products
• Dryer Sheets
• Laundry Soap
• Laundry Softeners
• Candles
• Plug-ins
• Dishwasher soap
• Kitchen soaps
• Floor Care
• All purpose Cleaners

If you do chose to do a total body detox make sure and work with a qualified health professional who can carefully guide you through the process.  These are especially powerful after you complete your cancer treatments.

References:

1. https://www.ewg.org/research/body-burden-pollution-newborns
2. Paul Terry, Craig V. Towers, Liang-Ying Liu, Angela A. Peverly, Jiangang Chen, Amina Salamova. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (flame retardants) in mother-infant pairs in the Southeastern U.S.. International Journal of Environmental Health Research, 2017; 1 DOI:

About the Author: Chris McKee

Chris McKee is a Certified Nutritionist and Certified Diet Counselor with over 30 years of experience in whole-food cooking, healthy lifestyle coaching, individual nutritional counseling and speaking to 1,000’s of people about the role of good nutrition in preventing disease.

Chris is also a Certified Nutragenomix practitioner and this allows her to look deep into your genetic profile and personalize your nutrition program based on your unique genetic fingerprint.

She runs on-line courses including her 10 Day Clean Eating Challenge, 21 Days Prepping for the Keto Diet as well as her Hope 4 Cancer Recovery program.

Chris and her husband Ed love to travel, hence the name “The Nomadic Nutritionist”.  She is a grandmother of four and a great-grandma of two!  She loves to cook, explore new food finds, hike and fish.