Eat, drink and live well by avoiding toxins

One of the unfortunate side-effects of living in the modern age is our exposure to a whole host of environmental toxins. It is impossible to completely avoid the chemicals and other materials used in industry which find their way into our water, our food and, ultimately, our bodies.

However, there are ways in which you can limit your exposure as much as possible and avoid some of the more severe problems associated with these toxins.

It’s toxic you know

Thousands of chemicals are added to our food supply in the form of fertilisers, pesticides, preservatives, additives and flavourings. The number of artificial substances used in food production and processing is growing each year and this trend has been linked to increased instances of serious illnesses such as:

* Cancers.
* Immune system disorders.
* Neurological problems.
* Chronic fatigue syndrome.
* Multiple chemical sensitivities and allergies.
* Hormonal disturbances.

A recent study by the National Cancer Institute in the USA has suggested that upwards of 80% of most cancers are caused by environmental and lifestyle factors, including exposure to chemicals. Everyone is aware of the dangers posed by substances such as alcohol and nicotine, but few know just how damaging other toxins we consume everyday can be.

Avoiding toxic substances

Buy, and eat, as much organic produce as possible. Organic farming eschews the use of synthetic chemicals, and eating foods grown or produced in this way significantly reduces your exposure to harmful toxins.

The rise in popularity of nutritionally-deficient convenience food is damaging in more ways than you might think. Not only is junk food high in sugar, salt and saturated fat, it is often sold in plastic wraps, bottles and other containers made using highly toxic chemicals which can leach into our food.

As if all that wasn’t bad enough, processed food is pumped full of artificial sweeteners, flavourings and other chemicals intended to produce short-term satisfaction while masking their long-term damage.

Tap water should be purified as it can contain fluoride, heavy metals and other harmful agents such as chloroform and chlorine. Natural beauty and cleaning products are preferable to chemical varieties.

Limit the effect of toxins on your body

Another health benefit of losing weight is the opportunity to reduce the amount of toxins within your body. People in Western countries typically store hundreds of toxins in their body at any time, mainly in fat cells.

Maintaining a healthy immune system can help limit the effect that toxins have on your body. Eat a healthy diet high in antioxidants to defend your immune system and, in turn, your whole body.

Detoxifying your body is vital if you want to maintain good health and prevent toxins damaging your body. Undergoing a regular, simple and painless detox regime is the first step to reclaiming control over your body and free it from the hold of environmental toxins that are difficult to avoid.

Gillian McKeith is a holistic nutritionist who is on a mission to raise awareness of toxins in food and the damage they can do. Find out how to detox your body and what foods you need to avoid.

She is the author of the newest bestselling book ‘Gillian McKeith’s Food Bible’, and known around the world for her television programme You Are What You Eat.