If you are aware of the many toxins around us, your first question is probably: how do I avoid them? While complete avoidance is not always possible, there are simple steps you can take to significantly reduce your exposure to these harmful substances.
For more information on toxins, please refer to our earlier blog: What are summer toxins and how do they affect your health?
Here are some practical tips to protect yourself from toxins, especially during the summer months:
- Choose organic food
Eating organic can help avoid many of the chemicals, antibiotics and fertilizers used in regular agricultural products. Especially with products on the "dirty boxes list" such as strawberries, spinach, apples and peppers, it is advisable to choose organic options because of their high pesticide concentration. The "dirty boxes list" is a list compiled annually by the Environmental Working Group and shows which fruits and vegetables contain the most pesticides.
- Avoid plastic and tin when storing and heating food
Plastic containers can release minute particles that get into your food, especially when heated. Try to keep food in plastic containers as little as possible and prefer to use glass containers. Also, bring your own reusable mug or thermos for hot drinks to avoid plastic cups.
- Choose natural personal care products
Many personal care products contain toxins you'd rather avoid. You'll find quite a list of toxins in sunscreen products alone:
- Oxybenzone
- Sulisobenzone
- Enzacamene
- Homosalate (Homomenthyl Salicylate)
- Octinoxate (Octylmethoxycinnamate)
- Octocrylene
- Padimate O (Para-aminobenzoic acid or Paba)
Consider natural alternatives to sunscreen, makeup, deodorant, shampoo and other personal care products. There are many natural alternatives available today that are equally effective without harmful chemicals.
- Use natural cleaning products
Avoid cleaning and laundry detergents that are full of chemicals. Instead, opt for natural alternatives such as vinegar, baking soda and lemon juice. These are just as effective and much kinder to the environment and your health.
- Install a water filter
Our drinking water can also contain toxins, such as antibiotics and hormone disruptors. Therefore, consider installing a water filter on your tap to remove these harmful substances and ensure clean and safe drinking water.
By applying these simple tips, you can effectively protect yourself from toxins and improve your health, not only in the summer, but all year round.
- Make sure you have enough magnesium
In the summer, we get a lot more sunlight than normal, which allows us to produce extra vitamin D. But in order to absorb vitamin D from sunlight through the skin, your body needs additional nutrients. In particular, the mineral magnesium is needed to convert vitamin D into its active and usable form. This explains why you feel so tired after a day outdoors: you have most likely run out of magnesium. But let magnesium also be essential for (among other things) the production of the antioxidant glutathione. This antioxidant cleans up toxins in the body. You understand: more sunlight > more vitamin D > less magnesium > less glutathione > more free radicals. So it is essential to pay close attention to your magnesium supply in the summer.
- Last but not least: Feed your body with antioxidants
In addition to avoiding toxins, supporting your body with the right nutrients is an essential step in protecting against pollutants and free radicals.
Antioxidants are crucial for breaking down toxins in the body and clearing free radicals. Be sure to eat foods rich in antioxidants, such as vitamin C, vitamin E, alpha-lipoic acid and anthocyanins. These substances are found in a variety of foods, including fruits such as berries, grapes, pomegranates and plums, and vegetables such as kale, tomatoes, broccoli and spinach. Other sources include nuts, chocolate with more than 72% cocoa, and green, black and white tea. Also consider herbs such as rhodiola and turmeric, which have powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Personal advice
Although food is an important source of antioxidants, you may not always get enough to meet your daily needs. Supplements can be a helpful supplement to ensure your body gets all the nutrients it needs. Want to know which supplements can properly support you this summer? Ask for our personal advice on supplements so that one of our therapists can look at your lifestyle, complaints and wishes. This way you can be sure that you are taking the right supplements, combinations and dosages!
link to previous blog