Toxic load is how much toxicity is in your body.  It can be anything from pollutants, heavy metals, and chemicals.  Why does this matter?  If you have too much build up of toxic chemicals in your body it can disrupt your endocrine system, gut health, and affect the overall health of your body.  Here is a list of the top ten places for hidden toxic chemicals in no particular order.

1. Water bottles.  Drinking out of plastic water bottles (especially single use bottles) can leach chemicals out into the water and therefore into you.  Plastic can contain xenoestrogens which can mimic estrogen in your body and disrupt hormone balances, behaviour and cognitive function.  It is best to drink filtered water in a reusable 18/8 stainless steel metal or glass water bottle.  Never drink from a bottle that contains BPA.
   
   
2. Plastic containers served warm.  When plastics are microwaved or heated in the sun they can release harmful chemicals into the food and therefore into your body.  Phthalate esters which are in plastic containers have been shown to decrease sperm count in males and possibly be a contributor to ADHD in children.  If you would like to warm up your food it is always better to use glass dishes and avoid the microwave as much as possible.
   
   
3. Air fresheners.  Sprays, plug in and the old school tree hanging in the car, either way you slice it air fresheners are really not a great idea.  They contain VOC (volatine organic compounds) the stuff that is in spray paint.  They can not only contribute to respiratory sensitivity, they can also contribute to hormone imbalances and issues with the central nervous system.  Some of the problems may not show up for years.  If you are concerned about smells in the bathroom try something like a before you go spray.  If it’s in a room or car, essential oils and diffusers are a much healthier choice.  Did you know sensitivities to smells can be a sign of a liver imbalance?  If you get headaches from scents you might want to check in with your liver.
   
   
4. Processed Foods.  Most of us know that processed foods are unhealthy, but many of us are still feeding them to our children.  Toxic load is started with the health of the mother and is passed to the baby through pregnancy and breastfeeding, it slowly adds over time so although little Jimmy doesn’t show signs of toxic load issues yet, it all adds up.  Try to keep anything that you wouldn’t eat out of the hands of your child, and normalize real food.
   
   
5. Bargain brand skin care products.  The dollar store is really not the place to buy something that goes on your skin.  Your skin is your largest organ and what you put on it can get into your body very quickly.  If you don’t know what is in your skin care, don’t put it on your body.  I’m all about finding a good deal, but cheap skin products minus health doesn’t add up.
   
   
6. Wearing clothes before you wash.  Clothes can contain some of the unhealthiest chemicals.  Formaldehyde is one of them, it is used to help with colours and decreasing wrinkles.  Formaldehyde can increase risk of asthma, and respiratory issues.  Washing removes up to 60% of formaldehyde in the first wash, best to keep the suds coming to keep the coughing away.
   
   
7. New furniture and rugs.  We all love that new car smell, but it’s actually just off-gassing.  The release of harmful chemicals from upholstery or carpets.  It is best to let the furniture or rug outside or open the windows to release the chemicals as quickly as possible.  You can also purchase products with lower VOC’s, so shop around.
   
   
8. Farmed fish.  Farmed fish is nasty in many ways, but I will just cover a few.  They can contain antibiotic resistant bacteria and chemicals like PCB that wild fish does not.  They have few nutrients, if any, and are really not worth eating. Wild fish like salmon might cost more, but just look at their colour difference and there is no denying wild looks and IS healthier.
   
   
9. Unwashed produce.  Unless you are growing your own fruits and veggies most of the produce you eat is shipped from far off lands before it is brought to your local grocer and then purchased by you.  The delicious and nutritious produce you are putting into your body contains harmful chemicals that are used either during the growing stage and/or during the shipping stage. Eating organic isn’t always an option, certainly when you live in a small town.  Some produce is more chemically doused than others, they are called the “dirty dozen”.  These unwashed fruits and veggies can be very toxic due to their high chemical content and are best eaten from organic producers.  Produce called the “clean fifteen” are alright to eat the non-organic versions because they contain less of the bad guys, but still need to be properly washed.