Natural Solutions to Toxic Build Up

Cleaning Supplies You Can Live With

By Julie Gengo, HealthWalk™ Marketing Coordinator

Toxins, toxins, toxins. We often hear about the abundance of toxins in our environment, chemical cleaners and solutions, food supply and beauty products. These superfluous and perhaps unwarranted chemicals may be one of the reasons why many of us are experiencing health issues. Avoiding these toxins can be complicated and confusing since many are hidden, not well tested/documented or not tested at all. As a result these toxins are allowed into our lives with inaccurate or no information on their safety.

When toxins enter your body from inhalation, food or skin contact, they find their way into your blood stream and most end up in your liver. Unfortunately the body’s cells absorb some of the toxins bypassing the liver all together. These toxins can damage and change your DNA leading to serious diseases, including cancer.

Your liver is designed to cleanse the body of toxins and other unnecessary elements. However, with an overload of toxins, the liver can get clogged affecting bodily functions, including cholesterol levels, in a negative way. Other symptoms may be physical and mental fatigue, rashes and other allergy symptoms, loss of concentration, premature aging, insomnia and lowered immune system to name a few.

One thing you can do to eliminate toxins in your body is to detoxify and strengthen your immune system with healthy foods and natural supplements. At HealthWalk our functional nutrition counselor integrates functional endocrinology, serum and blood based biomarkers analysis to determine your specific needs. Vital Hematology live blood analysis can show what is in the body so that we can recommend holistic solutions to boost your immune system and to support your health and wellbeing.

It is also advisable to incorporate preventative measures to limit the toxins that you have control over. Reduce the consumption of all packaged foods; they are filled with preservatives, flavor enhancers and other chemicals which are often detrimental to health.

Another simple way to avoid toxins in the home and office is to use environmentally friendly (free of harsh chemicals) cleaning products. A way to reduce costs and use these products is to make your own.

Below are recipes that you can make using simple commonly available ingredients.

ALL PURPOSE CLEANSER
2 cups hot water
1 tsp. biodegradable liquid soap or borax
1 tsp. white vinegar or lemon juice (to cut grease)

Fill spray bottle with hot water. Add soap and vinegar or lemon juice. Shake bottle gently to dissolve ingredients.

SHOWER/BATH CLEANSER
2 cups hot water
1 tsp. borax
3 tbsp. White vinegar

Fill spray bottle with all three ingredients and shake for 30 seconds. Keep bottle in shower and mist shower wall and door/curtain after each use. Helps prevent mold and mildew from developing.

GLASS CLEANSER
1 cup water
1/8 cup white vinegar

Fill bottle with both ingredients and shake for 30 seconds. Use on all types of glass surfaces including mirrors.

TUB & TILE CLEANSER
½ cup baking soda
Enough biodegradable liquid soap to make a frosting-like consistency
5-10 drops fragrant essential oil

Place baking soda in a bowl and slowly pour in liquid soap, stirring constantly, until the mixture reaches the consistency of frosting. Add drops of essential oil (optional). Scoop the mixture onto a sponge, wash surface and rinse.

TOILET CLEANSER
¼ cup baking soda
1 cup vinegar

Sprinkle baking soda into toilet basin followed by the vinegar. Allow mixture to sit for several minutes. Scrub with brush and rinse with water. A mixture of borax (2 parts) and lemon juice (1 part) will also work.

One tip: Try to use empty and clean spray bottles (previously filled with other ingredients) that you may have around the house to encourage the reuse of these items.

These recipes are courtesy of the Solana Center for Environmental Innovation. You may want to make a small donation and request that the Center send you the set of the colorful sticky labels, complete with recipes, so that you can easily identify your spray bottles and have the recipes at hand for refilling.

For more support and to establish a base line on your health and toxin level, come to HealthWalk. Our integrated health and wellness center is designed to help you identify your current health condition and to support you in boosting your immune system to rid the body of toxins and other impairments to vibrant health.