Talking about toxins, and how toxic the world is becoming, is a bit of a depressing topic. But unfortunately, exposure to toxins is just part of living in the modern world! The amount of toxins released into the environment has skyrocketed. It’s estimated that 10 million tons of toxic chemicals are released every year by industries worldwide- that’s 310kg per second! 20% of these chemicals are carcinogenic and it’s getting worse every year.
But not all of the toxins we are exposed to are man-made. Living in a building which has water damage (current or old) can expose us to mould toxins, called mycotoxins. These are the chemical weapons that mould produces, and they can contribute to a huge range of toxic effects in the body- especiallly in succeptible people. Over 50% of houses in NZ have mould or water-damage issues, and this adds to the toxic load we are exposed to daily.
Perhaps you’re aware that mould and mycotoxins are affecting your health, maybe you just want to do what you can to protect your health. The good news i that there are plenty of steps you can take.
With any environmental toxin, the number one priority is reducing exposure. While this sounds simple, it can often be really difficult. Fixing your house or moving is not always possible, nor is avoiding outdoor pollution and toxins. So what do you do in that case?
PROTECT YOURSELF
Fortunately, there are some simple foundational health measures you can take, as well as nutritional supplements which can help reduce the impact that mycotoxins are having on your health.
What’s handy is that these measures also protect against other toxic chemicals. The world is becoming increasingly toxic- it’s estimated that we’re exposed to 80,000 different chemicals daily. While some of us deal with this better than others, supporting your body to deal with these toxins is paramount in the modern world.
Nutrition
Without getting too deep into diet, eating a good amount of protein and healthy fats can help support your body against toxins. Eating the rainbow (veges more than fruits) also supplies antioxidants and bioflavanoids which have been shown to be helpful against mycotoxins. Eat organic or spray free where you can. Drink plenty of water, and use a water filter- especially if you are on town supply.
If tolerated, eating a diet with plenty of insoluble fibre (ie flax seeds, chia seeds, psyllium husk) helps with binding bile, which is an essential component of removing toxins from your body.
Sleep and Circadian rhythym
Sleep is a health superpower. And so is restoring our circadian rhythyms. Try and go to bed and wake up at a similar time each day, and reduce blue light and screens before bed. Blockblue light have a great range of lights for helping improve your sleep/wake cycle.
PROTECTIVE NUTRIENTS
There are some key nutrients which have been shown to be protective against mycotoxins. While these results are mainly from animal studies, it makes sense that these nutrients would have a similar effect in humans. (Unfortunately, it’s very difficult to study this ethically in humans as mycotoxins are a known carcinogen and toxin).
These nutrients can also help protect against other environmental toxins, so think of them as a protective "shield".
1. Turmeric
2. Milk Thistle
3. Quercetin
4. Milk Thistle
5. Selenium
6. Coenzyme Q10
7. Vitamins A, C, D & E
There are some great companies (some right here in NZ) who are combining some of these ingredients and making them in highly absorbable forms, so you get the most effect.
Check out these products and use the code PROTECT to get 10% off
Note: If you are takimg medications, please check with your health provider if any of these supplements will interfere with your meds. Or feel free to book a free 15 minute consult to discuss your situation.
GENTLE DETOXIFYING
While detoxifying is a key component of dealing with mycotoxins, care needs to be taken not to overdo it- especially while still being exposed to mould. Supplements like glutathione and RLA can help with detoxing but for some people this will be too much.
SAUNA & REDLIGHT
Sauna and red light therapy can be great ways to support the body’s ability to detox. Again, dose is the key so if you are usually quite sensitive to detox reactions, start slowly and build up. Blockblue light also have a great range of red light panels if you want the ease of using it at home
AIR FILTERS
Air filters are a great way to improve your indoor air quality and improve toxic exposure. When looking at air filters, make sure it is at least HEPA quality and the right size for your space. We use Intellipure air filters which have been shown to be 10x more efficient than HEPA and can filter particles as small as 0.07 microns (which covers mould and mycotoxins).
WHAT ABOUT BINDERS?
As your body deals with toxins, a lot of it is processed through the liver, packaged into bile, and then pushed into your guts. Binders can help making sure these toxins come through the other end, and stop them being recirculated back into the body. There are different binders for different situations and some can also bind nutrients- so care needs to be taken not to take one type for too long and work with a practitioner if needed. For mould and mycotoxins, Mycopul is a good all-round binder safe for short-term use, while Toxinpul is great for all round detoxification. Use the code PROTECT for 10% off these products
If you have any questions about any of this info, or the products, feel free to contact us via email or through the booking link
In health,
Marcel and Julia
