Take care of your mental health by taking care of your inner environment
For mental health month I am taking a focus on the way toxicity affects mental health.
Toxins in our environment are ever increasing and can affect not only our physical health, it also affects mental health in a number of ways.Toxins can be taken into the body via 3 different routes:
Oral - the mouth - food, drink, medications
Topical - on the skin
Respiratory - substances breathed into the mouth, nostrils and lungs.
Toxic substances such as chemicals, synthetics and heavy metals can be found in the environment, some foods, water supply and air. Another form of toxic burden on the body is the bio toxins (bacteria, mould, mycotoxins, fungus, parasites, viruses, candida overgrowth etc.)
In my kinesiology practice I have seen how all these types of toxins are at the root cause of so many health issues such as anxiety, irritability, fatigue and chronic pain.
Here are some more examples of Symptoms of toxicity:
aching, brain fog, headaches, skin problems, digestive upsets, moodiness, irritability, stiffness, muscle and joint pain, bloating, fluid retention (holding water in the body), menstrual problems, nausea, feeling sluggish, morning fatigue, weight gain, difficulty losing weight
All these things make it difficult to enjoy life and feel a sense of mental wellness. When health issues are chronic, they wear away at our mental health. The work of Dr Stephanie from the Vagus clinic demonstrates that many anxiety attacks are actually the body’s response to a toxin. When a toxin floods the system, the heart rate will increase and the adrenal response will increase to immobilise resources to flush toxins out of the body. She has found that in these cases, when people take a toxin binder, then it can settle within 20 minutes. It is important that you use the correct binder for the relevant toxin. I use muscle testing to identify what toxins are in the body that need to be released and different body’s will respond better to some binders or treatments than others. This is the magic of a muscle test. It gives direct feedback from the body about what the stress on the body is and what it needs to release it. I also use bodywork techniques to support the detoxification processes in the body.
Toxins deplete glutathione in the body. This nutrient is not just necessary for detoxification, it also helps with digestion and immune function. It protects the mitochondrial function (essential for energy production, good brain function and mental health), protects integrity of red blood cells, protects the intestinal walls and protects against oxidative stress. It is a component of bile and gastric acid needed to digest fats and proteins. Deficiencies in glutathione lead to cancer, chemical sensitivities, chronic degenerative disease and immune dysfunction. Glutathione is abundant in bone broth, spinach, avocado and asparagus.
There are many reasons to support the body to detoxify in order to maintain and support optimal health. If we listen to, and act on the body’s toxic whispers, they can be prevented from becoming a scream of chronic illness. There are many things you can do to support the body to detoxify.
The liver is a primary detoxification organ and when it is overwhelmed by too many toxins, it struggles to keep up with the 500+ other jobs it has to manage. Body functions such as immunity, hormone balance, nutritional and energy management are dependant on a healthy functioning liver. Additionally, when the liver is burdened by processing alcohol, its capacity to detoxify and perform all these functions is diminished. People with liver toxicity will also experience irritability and can be quick to anger. Bitter feelings, hostility, distress and generalised unhappiness are also emotions associated with liver toxicity.
Additionally, the more we can support the large intestine to clear toxins, the better off the liver is. Toxins reabsorbed from the colon will go to the liver for processing putting extra burden on the liver so it is a number one priority to make sure constipation does not hold you back with detoxification.
Gut toxicity and inflammation from the likes of poor diet, excessive alcohol, pathogens, and pesticides have a significant impact on the brain and mental health. It can also be the root cause of anxiety and depression. Most of the body’s serotonin which is important for calm and well-being, is produced in the gut. Serotonin imbalances lead to anxiety and depression, and its production is affected by toxins in the gut. Gut inflammation can also cause inflammation in the brain which will cause feelings of irritability and affect cognitive function and decision making. When we are making bad decisions or feeling incapable with cognitive functions and decision making, it can affect how we feel about ourself mentally.
To support your body to heal, it is important to reduce your exposure to toxins. It can be impossible to completely eliminate all toxins so choosing less is best. Begin by making sure that you are always drinking filtered water. Be mindful of what you are putting on and in your body. Refer to the list below:
FOOD & DRINK:
Heavy metals can be found in tins and cans, aluminium foil, cookware, large fish
Fluoride is a neurotoxin in large doses and is present in most toothpastes as well as town water, which is amounting to large doses
Recreational drugs and medications
Pesticides, insecticides, fungicides and herbicides are used on most plant foods that aren’t organically or bio-dynamically grown
Additives, preservatives, flavour enhancers - be aware of anything labelled with a number Eg MSG 621 or E621
MSG & Artificial sweeteners eg. Aspartame, Saccharin, Sucralose (E950, 951, 952, 954, 955, 956)
Processed vegetable oils - canola oil, safflower oil, soy oil, sunflower oil, rice bran oil are all highly inflammatory and contribute to toxic burden in the body.
Phthalates - most commonly found in plastics (BPA) such as food packaging
BODY PRODUCTS
Shampoos, conditioners, cleansers, moisturisers, body washes can contain chemical compounds that are toxic
Most deodorants contain aluminium and other toxins such as fragrances.
Perfumes (fragrance additives) or perfumed moisturising creams etc.
Cosmetics - foundations, lipsticks, eye makeup, hair dye, nail polish. Low toxic, natural options can be found
Phthalates found in personal care products, such as nail polish, hair sprays, aftershave lotions, soaps, shampoos, perfumes, and other fragrance preparations
Household cleaning products and bleaches - if it smells bad it is probably bad for you.
ENVIRONMENT
Endocrine disruptors: fragrances, air fresheners, paints, flame retardants, glues, synthetic fabrics (the new smell)
Emissions from cars, aviation, smoke, cigarettes, manufacturing and industry
Fabric softeners and fragranced washing detergents
Heavy metals can be found in dental amalgams, batteries, electrical contacts, skin lightening products, some paints, fungicide, fertiliser, hair dyes, cigarettes, exhaust fumes
Phalates (BPA) found in plastics such as toys, vinyl flooring and wall covering, detergents, lubricating oils. The safest plastics are numbered 2, 4 and 5, as these are the more stable plastics.
If you are struggling with mental health or toxicity, and want to find out exactly what it is that is causing it, and what you need to recover, I can highly recommend a kinesiology session.
I also have some documents that I can email to you to support you with a liver and colon cleanse. It is a super easy and achievable program to do to help you out.