Are You Surviving or Thriving in Today's Toxic World?

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. ~ James 1:5 ~

Environmental toxins can be found in what you eat, drink, breathe, feel and think. You may or may not be aware of them, but chances are if you follow my blog you are aware, more than most, that toxins cause many chronic health conditions, like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity and cancer.

My experiences with environmental toxins has been life-changing and lead me on a path of research to gain understanding.  It is a passion of mine to share what I learn with those I love so of course  I could not wait to tell you about the upcoming Detox Summit!


Join me online for free from August 4-11, 2014.

This Detox Summit will provide you with the information you need to:

•     Learn about environmental toxins in food, air and water
•     Understand internally-generated toxins, like thoughts, emotions and behaviors
•     Recognize toxins of all types and eliminate them
•     Focus on breakthrough solutions to gain more energy and vitality

Navigate your way through today’s toxic terrain when you register for the free, online Detox Summit today:

"Detox" is a multi-faceted term that means many things to people, from drug and alcohol detoxification to nutritional detoxification, or cleanses using food, smoothies and juices. Deanna Minich, PhD, has selected 30 experts in various areas of medicine, nutrition and personal growth to offer a well-rounded, credible approach to the issues of environmental toxins and holistic health.

Here are a few of the presenters:
Jeffrey Bland, PhD, Father of Functional Medicine
      The Science of Nutritional Detoxification
Mark Hyman, MD, Functional Medicine Expert
      Toxins and Chronic Disease: Why Detox is a Necessity for Good Health
Jeffrey Smith, Leading Spokesperson on GMOs
      Genetically Modified Foods as Toxins in Everyday Eating
David Wolfe, Superfoods Guru
      Foods to Enhance Vitality and Detox
Rainbeau Mars, Fitness Model and Actress
      A Full Spectrum, Superstar Approach to Everyday DetoxWith 30 presenters sharing their wealth of knowledge, this invaluable (and FREE) resource is intended for people everywhere!
Better yet, if you register today you’ll have access to the following FREE eBooksas soon as you register!
  
Food & Spirit Nourish Your Whole Self™ Report, by Deanna Minich, PhD
Detox Your Medicine Cabinet: 26 Herbs and Supplements that Treat Common Symptoms, 

     by Aviva Romm, MD
Top 7 Therapeutic Foods, by Kelly Brogan, MD
Ten Tips for Helping Your Loved One with Autism, by Martha Herbert, MD, PhD
Benefits of Vitamin D, by Soram Khalsa, MD

Come listen to The Detox Summit ONLINE for FREE from August 4-11, and learn to survive in our toxic world!
  To sign up click here - SIGN UP NOW!

I’ll see you at the Summit!

Debbie

A Favorite Place....Nags Head, NC

 

My family and I had a little getaway to our favorite place... Nags Head, North Carolina.  Since I have readers from around the world, I thought you might enjoy a few snapshots from our trip. The beach in May is quiet and a peaceful place.  I love quiet and peaceful. 

Everyone, including the dog had a great time.

This trip is always a "test" for my detox pathways. A few years ago, I became ill very quickly from the toxins in the carpet in my families cottage. This time I was improved and I was able to stay a few days with my Austin air purifier following me from room to room.  That is better than last trip when we had to leave the next day after a miserable night.  I even tried to sleep in the car. This year I felt extremely tired much of the trip.  Fatigue just might be one of my early warning signs, but when my body reached its limit this time I became nauseous.  I don't know how I did it, but I had forgotten some of my key supplements that support detoxification. It was time to pack up and head back home.

I can truly say that my chemical sensitivities have taught me to enjoy the moment, because I don't know how long my tolerance will last.  I cherish these times with my family and posting these pictures here will encourage me to keep on my race. 

Environmental toxins are real, even  though you may not notice them.

Just in case you missed it, Diane Eblin of The Whole Gang recently blogged her story about remodeling and her chemical sensitivities.  She shares two juicing recipes that look fabulous for detox. 

A Wake-Up Story

Most of the time I like to share recipes that we enjoy in our gluten-free journey, but today I want to share a video, A Wake-Up Story, by Healthy Child Healthy World that touches me and reaches deep within my soul.

I am one of those people who got the wake-up call that made me realize the devastating effects of chemicals and the toxic load we all, yes all, carry in our bodies. Environmental illness is real, but we can change this world, one home at a time, by sharing friend to friend ideas to make our homes and world a healthier place.

Celiac Disease and Environmental Illnesses

Once in a while I read something that propels my mind to a greater understanding of my body and this is one of those moments. Listed among "Related Conditions" to Environmental Illness was Celiac Disease and Candida. You may read my discovery at the Environmental Illness Resources website. I have included an excerpt that particularly interested me. The complete article is excellent and informative to those with Celiac Disease.

Celiac Disease and Environmental Illnesses

Those suffering from environmental illnesses may be at increased risk for developing celiac disease. The main reason for this being that those with environmental illnesses experience a much greater number of allergies and autoimmune conditions than do otherwise healthy individuals. For example, the National Jewish Medical and Research Center in the US reports that allergies are present in 75% of CFS sufferers, compared to only 10-20% in general in the population as a whole. Sufferers of all of the Environmental Illnesses often have a history of allergies before the onset of their illness and most develop new allergies after getting a diagnosis of CFS, fibromyalgia etc. There is also a substantial body of research demonstrating that the immune systems of environmental illness sufferers are shifted towards a Th2 type response. The Th2 response is aimed at extracellular invaders such as bacteria, toxins, and allergens, and a Th2 shifted immune response is associated with an increase in allergies and autoimmune diseases (7,8,9). As we have learned, allergies and autoimmune diseases are well recognized as increasing the risk for celiac disease.

Another possible connection between environmental illnesses and celiac disease involves the gut flora. Various studies have shown disturbances of the healthy gut flora in environmental illnesses and many doctors who specialize in treating them advocate treating overgrowth of Candida and bacteria in the intestines. Research published in the prestigious medical journal The Lancet in 2003 proposed that Candida in the intestine may act as a trigger for the production of antibodies against gluten and the intestinal tissue which cause celiac disease. This assertion is based on the fact that the yeast Candida contains proteins that are identical and very similar to those found in gluten, including gliadin. Candida also triggers the same tissue transglutaminase and endomysial enzymes involved in celiac disease. It is therefore possible that changes in levels and behavior of Candida in the intestines may result in an immune response to the organism which is then transferred to gluten and intestinal tissues due to the common proteins they contain. The end result would therefore be celiac disease (10).

References:

7. Lancet. 1997 Jun 21;349(9068):1831-3. Gulf War syndrome: is it due to a systemic shift in cytokine balance towards a Th2 profile? Rook GA, Zumla A. Department of Bacteriology, University College London Medical School, UK.

8. Pharmacol Rev. 2000 Dec;52(4):595-638. The sympathetic nerve--an integrative interface between two supersystems: the brain and the immune system. Elenkov IJ, Wilder RL, Chrousos GP, Vizi ES. Inflammatory Joint Diseases Section, Arthritis and Rheumatism Branch, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.

9. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2000;917:868-75. Altered glucocorticoid regulation of the immune response in the chronic fatigue syndrome. Visser JT, De Kloet ER, Nagelkerken L. TNO Prevention and Health, Division of Immunological and Infectious Diseases, P.O. Box 2215, 2301 CE Leiden, The Netherlands

10. Lancet. 2003 Jun 21;361(9375):2152-4. Is Candida albicans a trigger in the onset of coeliac disease?Nieuwenhuizen WF, Pieters RH, Knippels LM, Jansen MC, Koppelman SJ. Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) Nutrition and Food Research, PO Box 360, 3700 AJ, Zeist, Netherlands. nieuwenhuizen@voeding.tno.nlThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

The Simple Detox Cocktail Solution

I have been thinking about the New Year and I decided that my first post of 2009 should be a recipe that is completely healthy and healing. Last night before falling asleep I knew just what I wanted to share with you. This recipe could be the most important thing you do for your health...long term.

The Detox Cocktail recipe comes from my favorite health book, Detoxify or Die, written by Sherry Rogers, MD. It is a very simple solution to rid the body of toxins by targeting both phases of detoxification.

* a heaping teaspoon of Vitamin C Powder
* 300-600 milligrams of Lipoic Acid
* 400-800 milligrams of glutathione (in the form of Recancostat)
Have it with 1-2 big glasses of water

According to Dr. Rogers,

Not only does the detox cocktail help detoxify and get rid of all sorts of environmental insults, but it also helps dump out stored heavy metals like mercury. But this only happens once you have caught up and don't have any other chemicals currently to detoxify.

Scientists have shown clearly that environmental chemicals in the bloodstream oxidize or burn holes in our genetic material called DNA. This genetic damage from environmental chemicals leads to changes that cause cancer and other diseases. But glutathione and ascorbic acid have been shown to protect against this (Lenton, Heuser, Gregus). As well, a dose of 4-6 grams of vitamin C a day can cause tenfold elevation of the natural killer cells in 78% of patients (Heuser). Natural killer cells are our first line of defense needed to fight off infection as well as cancer cells. It's a win-win situation; there's no way you can lose by the daily use of the detox cocktail.

Since I have not confirmed the gluten-free status or personally tested all the supplement brands that Dr. Roger's recommends, I decided not to list them. There are more details in her book regarding the specifics of each product or you may contact me for more information. I use brands that are chosen by my naturopath to compliment my treatment. I like Pure Encapsulations Buffered C Powder, Designs for Health Lipoic Synergy, and Recancostat 100. These work well for me and are a fantastic starting point to better health.

Toxins are inescapable, but now you know that there are solutions. It is easy to see that detoxification is the key to prevention of many diseases.

My best wishes to you for a healthy New Year filled with love and great gluten-free dishes.

Isaiah 53:5

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.

A little over two years ago on a Sunday morning our family went to church. Upon walking in the sanctuary, I noticed a strong odor of new paint and carpet. My husband turned to me and asked, "Are you alright, because I smell a strong odor?" I was keenly aware, but I wanted to be there. As long as I can remember I've always loved being in church. I told him that I was okay.

At the time I didn't know how much danger I was in. The chemical toxins from the new paint and carpet caused me serious cognitive impairment. My brain couldn't process how to find the books in the Bible. I had great difficulty concentrating and could not comprehend the message, but I stayed anyway.

I had problems with foggy brain in the past, but nothing like this.

I told my doctor about what happened and he got a serious look on his face and explained to me that my detox pathways were like the hard drive of a computer that was operating at full capacity. He said, "You should have gotten out of there!" Thankfully I didn't have a seizure or some serious problem while there.

I learned that multiple chemical sensitivity can happen silently in your body and you may not be aware of it. The detox pathways must have adequate vitamins and minerals to function properly. For example, magnesium alone is required for over 300 enzyme reactions to take place in the body. Just a few months before this episode, organic acid testing revealed that I was deficient in many B vitamins and I had started supplementing these along with many other supplements. This test revealed many issues that I could not possibly tackle all at once.

Now I was beginning to understand some of the issues that must have caused my chronic fatigue. The puzzle pieces were coming together faster than I was ready for them. I found out that the best treatment is avoidance along with proper nutrition to support my bodies' detox. This avoidance is the most difficult, because our world is continually emitting toxins everywhere. It also means I could not attend church. I was determined to spend my time in praise and worship anyway.

It was in my praise and worship time today that I searched through many CD's but I couldn't find the music, as we say in our house, that the angels were singing, until I found this song "You Are Worthy" from the Hillsong CD "For all you've done". It is beautiful and spoke to my heart. For without my Lord and Savior, Jesus, I wouldn't have healing in my body. My ability to write and think was greatly diminished and now I can write to you and know that all I have is because of Him.

I want to share this song with you, because I know that God wants me to share my story of healing and thanksgiving to Him for all He has done for me. As the song says, "In your presence I live, and with all I have to give I will worship you, honour you, glorify Your holy Name."