Six Ways to Reduce the Impact of Pollution on Your Body

We live in an imperfect world. Every day we’re all in contact with varying levels of pollution that our bodies have to cope with. It can be air pollution from traffic; electromagnetic pollution from mobile phones and other computer devices; water polluted with chemicals and parasites; foods sprayed with pesticides or containing additives.

Your body is designed to handle a certain level of these toxic insults with ease: Your liver disables fat soluble toxins dissolves them in bile for removal; your kidneys get rid of water soluble toxins in your urine. Even your lungs and skin get involved with the task of removing unwanted substances from your body.

Sometimes, your body can become overloaded with toxic insults; but you can help it cope better by regularly giving enabling some respite from the toxin input, and strengthening your body’s natural output mechanisms. Here’s how to reduce the impact of modern life, safely and gently:

Take the load off your liver: Reduce your intake of alcohol and caffeine (they’re small, aggressive molecules that push their way to the front of the liver processing queue, demanding attention first). Avoid processed foods that contain additives, like soft drinks. A fibre-rich diet actually helps your liver because the toxin-laden bile will attach itself to the fibre and be carried safely out of your body. Otherwise the toxins can easily be re-absorbed in your intestines, increasing the load on your liver.

Let your lymphatics flow more freely by exercising daily. Your cells release waste into the fluid surrounding them, and the toxin-filled fluid moves through your lymph vessels and is cleaned by the lymph nodes. Muscle movement helps the flow of lymphatic fluid; without movement the fluid surrounding your cells can become stagnant; rather like a creek can become smelly and dirty when the water stops flowing.

Keep drinking pure fresh filtered water – about two litres per day. That will help your kidneys get rid of water soluble toxins.

Eat organic food whenever you can, you’ll be reducing the pesticide load on your body.

Breathe more fresh air: Get out into nature as much as possible: Take a long walk along the beach, or enjoy a picnic in the forest. Waterfalls are particularly reviving, as they emit so many negative ions. You’ll breathe in more oxygen when you’re in a natural space, and give your body a break from breathing in pollutants.

Fill your living spaces with plants and natural materials, to help offset the effects of living with modern materials and technology.