Quick Start Guide to Common Toxins

As with most consumable products, every individual will have their own sensitivity level to toxins. The recommended guidelines are based off research but could be different in each persons unique situation. Even nutrient dense foods that are deemed healthy 'can be one man's superfood and another man's poison!' There is a balance between how sensitive someone is to certain products and how often that person is exposed. Therefore, when starting a detoxification process, it's important to take out the severe and high frequency items first and then work your way back to the items that you don't consume as often or may be aren't as sensitive to. The following list of common toxins isn't in any particular order.

Red Dye:

Banned in most of Europe, Australia, and Canada. Red dye contains cancer causing chemicals and is a stimulant to the brain which feeds in to neurodevelopmental disorders such as ADHD, behavioral disorders, migraines, immune disorders, and even inflammatory bowel diseases. However, red dye #40 isn't the only artificial color that presents a problem. Other dyes to focus on avoiding are blue #1 and #2, yellow #5 and #6, Green #3, and Red #3. Studies indicate that artificial dyes can affect learning, memory, cause changes in neurotransmitters in the brain, and cause microscopic changes in brain structure.

Alternate names for dyes:

Quinoline Yellow

Other Names: E104

Fast Green FCF

Other Names: Green 3, E143

Curcumin

Other Names: E100

Caramel Color

Other Names: E150a, E150b, E150c, E150d (various types)

Beta-Carotene

Other Names: E160a

Annatto

Other Names: E160b (and its various forms)

Tartrazine

Other Names: Yellow 5, E102

Sunset Yellow FCF

Other Names: Yellow 6, E110

Carmoisine

Other Names: E122, Acid Red 18

Allura Red AC

Other Names: Red 40, E129

Brilliant Blue FCF

Other Names: Blue 1, E133

Indigotine

Other Names: Indigo Carmine, Blue 2, E132

Erythrosine

Other Names: Red 3, E127

Sugar:

Obviously bad for your body. No secret there. BUT! It won't just give you unwanted love handles and eventually diabetes. In excess, glucose causes memory and cognitive deficiencies. Fructose, another form of sugar, has a correlation with the aging of cells. High blood sugar over time damages blood vessels in the brain. If the brain receives too little blood, then brain cells die (brain atrophy). This can lead to problems with memory, thinking, and lead to vascular dementia. An interesting study also looked at sugar compared to cocaine on the reward centers of the brain and found almost identical results indicating that sugar is just as addictive and could be what alters mood because of the withdrawal/reward systems. Sugar is also pro-inflammatory, produces mucus (chronic congestion), and causes sagging or wrinkling skin.

Heavy Metals:

Examples: lead, mercury, aluminum, cadmium, arsenic. Heavy metals can cause gastrointestinal and kidney dysfunction, skin lesions, vascular damage, immune system dysfunction, birth defects, cancer, and nervous system disorders. Different metals have different affects on the nervous system and in a wide range of severity. Metals may affect many areas of the brain, impairing vision, hearing, olfactory senses (smell), behavior changes, motor movement, and cognition, ultimately leading to many different types of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's, Alzheimers, and Huntington's. Heavy metals can be found in foods, tap water, medicines, food containers, pots/pans, deodorant, and other household items.

Screens (Blue Light):

Screens (Blue Light): Children under 3 Years should have no screen time whatsoever. From 3-18 it is recommended to keep it to 2 hours or less. Since the brain is fully developed around 25 years old, screen time can be elevated to 3 hours per day.
Natural blue light, from the sun, is a good thing that helps alertness, brain function, and wake/sleep cycles. However, artificial blue light from smartphones, tablets, computers, LED TVs, and fluorescent lights are not. Constant exposure to blue light over time could damage retinal cells within the eyes causing vision problems. Blue light before bed stimulates our brain therefore throwing off our circadian rhythm and proper, natural melatonin production. The utilization of blue light filters for devices and blue light blocking glasses can help reduce strain on the eyes and brain. Follow the 20-20-20 rule to reduce eye strain. Take a 20-second break to view something 20 feet away every 20 minutes.

Electromagnetic Fields:

EMFs are invisible and generated from electrical
lines, transmission towers, telecommunications, home appliances, mobile phones, WiFi, and other electronic devices. In studies performed on mice, prenatal exposure to EMF from cell phones caused the offspring to be hyperactive and have memory loss.
EMF from the cell phones also changed the blood-brain barrier's permeability and damaged neurons (nerve cells) in the brain. Due to the developing child's brain and nervous system, they are more vulnerable to the effects of EMF. Partially due to their thinner skull during the developmental period too. You can purchase EM blockers for individual devices or larger spaces and improvements can be made in lifestyle such as not sleeping next to your phone (plus putting it on airplane mode), grounding for 30 minutes per day, and turn devices off when not in use. Prescription Steroids: As with all medications, there is a time and place for them but unfortunately, they are way over utilized. Prescription based steroids for anti-inflammatory purposes have side effects many people are unaware of. Behavior is the most common and can include angry outbursts, restlessness, and emotional dysregulation. Cognitively they can make you feel hyperactive, get confused easily, cause memory and focus problems, and trouble sleeping. All of these side effects can be seen in children of any age, including infancy.

Gluten:

Causes inflammation within the intestines which blunts the microvilli, which are microscopic 'hairy fingers' that increase surface area for nutrient absorption.
This can manifest itself in digestive symptoms, including bloating, constipation, diarrhea, fat malabsorption and malnutrition, such as iron deficiency or anemia, low vitamin D or even osteoporosis. Gluten can cause the gut cells to release zonulin, a protein that can break apart the tight junctions holding your intestines together. Once these tight junctions get broken apart, your gut is considered to be leaky. A leaky gut allows toxins, microbes, undigested food particles, and antibodies to escape from your intestines and travel throughout your body via your bloodstream. Therefore gluten isn't good for anyone, regardless of a celiac disease diagnosis or lack there of. In fact, more recent studies are looking at gluten as a contributing factor for brain damage as well, displaying symptomatically in terms of; behavioral issues, mood regulation, brain fog, cognitive function and memory issues.