Feeling Fatigued? Maybe It’s Your Toxic Load

When you are feeling fatigued and grumpy that last thing that will be on your mind would be toxins, right? Now it may not be the first place we start to look to resolve your fatigue but it is part of the big picture of your health; always! Let me ask you this:

• Do you feel that you are not as vibrant and healthy as others your age?
• Do you have difficulty with brain fog or not thinking clearly?
• Do you feel fatigued and tired no matter how much sleep you get?
• Do you feel anxious or depressed/low mood for no particular reason?
• Do you suffer from premenstrual syndrome?
• Do you have sore, achy muscles and joints for no particular reason?
• Do you have stinky poo?

Paying attention to what your body is telling you is super important, you should thank your body for the signs, and then do something about it. We can all improve our detoxification systems and when we do quite often these annoying warning signs may disappear.

What is Toxic Load?

In our modern world we are increasingly exposed to toxins, more than ever before. Our bodies have a “carrying capacity” where our bodies can take a certain amount of toxins and contaminants (we do have our own in-build detoxification systems, but they can only take so much!) before our systems begin to collapse …and start to give us signs such as those above plus many others. You can imagine that if your body is trying hard to eliminate these toxins that it would use up energy to do so which can contribute to your fatigue, but also the presence of the toxins in your body can make you feel sluggish, especially if your digestion and liver is sluggish.
Toxins can include heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants (POPs), microbial compounds and the breakdown of products of protein metabolism.

Detoxification systems

• The skin; eliminates toxins through sweat
• The liver; eliminates toxins through filtering the blood, bile secretion, Phase 1 detoxification which using certain enzymes breaks down unwanted chemical compounds (anything from hormones, histamine to pesticides, drugs, toxins from the gut). This neutralizes some chemicals but others as they are converted into intermediate forms which can be more toxic if left in this form which is where Phase 2 detoxification comes in. This is where the liver “conjugates” these compounds together to make it easier for the body to excrete them. So you must have both Phase 1 and 2 working well together otherwise toxins can end up recycling back into the body and creating more problems. For more tips to support your liver check out Busy Mums Liver Love blog
• The intestines; eliminates toxins through mucosal detoxification and elimination through feces
• The kidneys; eliminates through urine.

How do we reduce our toxic load?

1. Cutting the toxins off at the source
   Reducing our load has to mean reducing our exposure and the best place we have control over is out home. Tips to reduce toxins in our home:
   1. buying organic where you can. 
   2. washing your produce in a sink full of cold water a dash of vinegar and 3 drops of lemon essential oil to remove pesticides & bacteria.
   3. reduce the use of plastic: especially with food and drink…never heat food in plastic! Use glass or stainless steel container for food storage and water bottles. Avoid plastic wraps and only use un-bleached baking paper.
   4. Use a water filter; either undersink or jug
   5. Switch your skincare and other personal care items such as tampons/pads to organic
   6. Switch your cleaning products to natural companies such as eco-store or earthwise or make your own (much cheaper!) using baking soda, vinegar, essential oils, castile soap.
2. Ensuring your liver is functioning optimally
   Special foods that enhance liver function include high sulphur containing foods such as garlic, onions, legumes, eggs and broccoli. Plus other brassica vegetables such as brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower. Many herbs such as dandelion, St Mary’s thistle, globe artichoke have liver protective properties and can also enhance liver function (see a qualified practitioner for these!). Drinking water regularly is also essential
3. Good gut health
   Similar to the above foods for good liver health are needed for good gut health. Making sure you have enough soluable fibre to feed the good bacteria and enough insoluable fibre to “sweep” the intestines and create bulk for your stool to eliminate the toxins and waste. Lot’s of anti-inflammatory foods such as fresh fruit and vegetables but also spices such as turmeric, cinnamon and licorice (the root not the candy!). Eating less processed foods and sugars is essential for gut health.
4. Exercise and sweating
   Super important elimination pathway is the skin, which is why is so important to allow your body to sweat. Avoid using anti-perspirants, use natural deodorants instead. Exercise regularly to the point of sweating and if you have access to an infa-red sauna then even better as this is a deeply cleansing sweat.
   Exercise also improves digestion and helps your elimination pathways.

So if you have addressed your sleep and your now sleeping great, you are taking quality magnesium and B vitamins for energy and you’ve had your thyroid and iron checked and you still feel fatigued and grumpy well maybe it’s time to work on your detoxification pathways with a qualified practitioner…book in now for you FREE Discovery Call with me and let’s get your health optimised!

References:
One Bite at a Time: Reduce toxic exposure and eat the world you want.” Sarah Lantz (PhD) & Tabitha McIntosh (ND)

The Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine 3rd Edition. Michael T. Murray (ND) & Joseph Pizzorno (ND).
Photo credit: https://unsplash.com/@laurachouette?utm_source=squarespace&medium=referral