Dr. Walter Crinnion
A House Full of Toxins
If it looks clean and smells clean, it may be toxic. Here is a list of products that can fool you with their looks or artificial scents of “clean”.
Air fresheners
- These products release chemicals such as toluene in the form of tiny particles that you breathe in—the next thing you know they’re in your bloodstream. Toluene causes respiratory problems and is a potent toxin to the brain.
Soaps, fragrances, perfumes
- Using scented products to make our bodies and clothes smell nice can cause severe health problems, like restricted breathing. Musk xylene and musk ketone are the most common chemical bases for the scents in perfumes. Studies have shown that these chemicals lead to higher levels of infertility and miscarriage.
Cosmetics
- The chemicals commonly used as preservatives for cosmetics and body care products are parabens, triclosans and phthalates. These chemicals have been linked to cancers and hormone disruption. New research suggests that teens are especially sensitive to hormone disruptors because of the intricate network of hormonal signals that leads them from childhood to adulthood.
Battle the Toxins
April 2011
Staying healthy has a lot to do with getting rid of toxins in your diet. Clean this up and you may find that fatigue, aches and pains, and allergies lessen. Add these key items to your meals to help fight the toxins!
Berries: What’s the big deal with antioxidants anyway? Basically they prevent oxidative damage to tissues. Most bodily changes we associate with aging, cataracts, macular degeneration, dementia, wrinkled skin, are a result of this type of cell damage. The higher the level of antioxidants, then the lower the level of tissue damage will be. Key berries to eat include blueberries, raspberries, red currents, strawberries, and the most powerful blackberries!
Broccoli: When it comes to helping the liver properly process chemicals, the most powerful food is broccoli, as well as its cousins: cauliflower, brussels sprouts, cabbage, and kale. Broccoli boosts the enzymes that help move caffeine and some airborne pollutants out of our blood. Eat broccoli raw or juiced for peak benefits, or use broccoli sprouts on your salad.
Green Tea: Green tea helps your body release fat that has been stored, and supports the liver to clear toxins. Studies have shown the benefits of green tea in everything from prevention of ovarian cancer to fighting dementia. Amazing!
Fish Oil and Olive Oil: Fish oil capsules, in addition to eating nontoxic fish regularly, may produce positive changes in the body. The minerals in this oil can help to combat everything from pain to dry skin, and can increase brain power! Also adding olive-oil to your diet has shown some heart health benefits. So choose your oils wisely and see the results.
As well as integrating these items into your life, do your best to eat less refined sugar. Sugar hinders the liver’s ability to clean toxic compounds from the bloodstream, and is also likely to trigger food allergies. Substitute refined sugar with honey! It’s delicious and natural, and a teaspoon of it is twice as sweet as the same amount of white sugar. Here is a recipe that is “green & lean” for you to whip up!
Broccoli and Cheese Frittata
(Serves Four)
2 teaspoons organic olive oil
2 cups broccoli, chopped
8 organic eggs
Salt and pepper to taste
½ cup organic Monterey Jack cheese
1 cup organic strawberries
Preheat oven to broil. In a small sauté pan, add about 1 teaspoon of the olive oil. Stir in 2 cups of the chopped broccoli and cook about 8 minutes over medium heat. Grease an oven-safe skillet with the remaining teaspoon of olive oil. Add the eggs and whisk, cooking over medium heat. Add the cooked broccoli and salt and pepper to taste, continuing heat until the eggs begin to set. Sprinkle the cheese over the eggs and place the skillet in the oven for about 3-4 minutes or until slightly brown. Let cool, then cut into slices and serve with the strawberries on the side.
Adapted from ‘Clean, Green, & Lean’ by Dr. Walter Crinnion, Wiley.
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