Toxins surround us–in the air we breathe, in the food we eat, in the products we use on our skin and in our houses. It is difficult to completely avoid chemical toxins. We live in a world full of toxins and chronic stress (which is a toxin) that do many things to our body. One of the most under recognized things that toxins do is disrupt our endocrine system. The endocrine system is made up of the different glands (that produce the hormones) as well as the multitude of hormones that are produced. Hormones are simply chemical messengers that allow our different cells to communicate with each other. Hormones attach to the different cells through highly specific receptors and create a reaction in that cell that is specific for that hormone. Certain toxins can unfortunately mimic some of our hormones and disrupt our hormonal balance. These toxins come from so many sources that it is almost impossible to escape being exposed to them.

When you realize that stress also affects our hormone imbalance and you combine that with the numerous toxins we are exposed to on a daily basis, it is easy to see why most people require bioidentical hormones in order to balance out the equation. Our endocrine system is overloaded and can not keep us in balance without outside help. However, even if you are utilizing bio-identical hormones it is important to address your toxin exposure as this will help to minimize your risk for chronic disease, including cancer, etc. Toxins affect more than just your endocrine system.

Minimizing toxin exposure is often forgotten and I wanted to bring your awareness to its importance. Be aware that toxins can affect your health in many different ways–disrupting your hormones is just one of them. If you have a toxin overload there is also chelation available. Chelation involves either oral or IV therapy. Chelating agents bind to certain toxic chemicals that are stored in your body and allows your body to eliminate them. Chelation is a customized therapy and is done under close supervision.

Always keep in mind that there are many things that must be addressed in order to achieve optimal health and vitality: Hormone balancing, proper supplementation, exercise, adequate sleep, a healthy diet, healthy drink habits, mind set, and avoiding/minimizing toxin exposure. Each piece is important and affects each of the other pieces. Keep working on each piece a little bit each day.

We live in a toxic world. There are chemicals everywhere–in the air we breath, the food we eat, the water we drink, the products we put on our body, and the products we use to clean our house. Many of these toxins did not exist even 30 years ago.

This is not said to scare you or to worry you. It is simply a fact. We are surrounded by chemicals that affect our health and we are exposed to chronic stress, which is also a toxin to your body. Chronic toxin exposure can cause headaches, muscle aches, nerve pain, weight gain, recurrent infections, hormonal imbalances, autoimmune disorders, cancers, etc.

You can help decrease your risk by minimizing your daily exposure to these toxins. 1) Eat organic produce. 2) Eat meat and dairy products from cows that have not been given growth hormones, antibiotics, and have been allowed to live freely. 3) Use organic plant based products for cleaning purposes 4) Use personal care products that are free of chemicals i.e. parabens, mineral oil, fragrances, dyes, etc. You should be able to understand every ingredient in the products that you use on your body 4) Work on your ability to handle stress better and reduce your exposure to toxic stressful situations.

You can also undergo chelation therapy. Chelation therapy is a process in which you are given an agent, orally or by IV, that binds to the toxic chemicals stored in your body. The chelating agent then takes the toxic chemicals and excretes them through your bowels and bladder. It is important to have colonics regularly during your treatment cycle as this helps to pull the toxins from your bowels.

Before starting chelation therapy you will want to get a heavy metal test done in order for your treatment to be tailored to your needs. During chelation therapy it is important to replace trace minerals since chelation can remove some of those as well. Chelation is a safe procedure when done correctly.

There is no question that we live in a toxic world and it is affecting our health. The toxins are causing hormone imbalances, among other health issues, so it is easy to see that addressing toxin exposure is an important piece of achieving optimal wellness.