Page 6 - Texas Wellness & Weight Loss

According to the book, The Plant Paradox, there are seven broad categories of toxins that are widely prevalent in modern life. Avoiding them is an important step in restoring or preserving good health.
Broad spectrum antibiotics: These include both the drugs we take intentionally to treat infec- tions, and those present in the foods we consume. Despite new regulations to curb excessive agricultural use, farm animals --especially in industrial-scale production operations--are still regularly exposed to broad-spectrum antibiotics. Overuse presents several major health concerns, from the destruction of beneficial gut flora to development antibiotic resistance. NSAIDs: While appropriate in some cases, NSAIDs cause health problems of their own, wreaking havoc on the mucosal barrier in the small intestine and colon. Particularly when used over long periods, NSAIDs can erode the protective lining of the bowel and worsen intestinal permeability.
Acid blockers: Acid-blocking drugs such as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) should be avoided at all costs. Our mitochondria — the energy powerhouses inside our cells — work by moving protons, and we now know that PPIs inhibit proton pumps throughout the entire body. Inhib- ited mitochondrial proton transfer triggers a host of health challenges, including disrupted heart and brain function.
Artificial Sweeteners: Sugar substitutes that simply did not exist 100 years ago, are now plentiful in our food supply. These chemical sweeteners can tip the gut microbiome from a healthy state into an obesogenic one.
Endocrine disruptors: Hormone disrupting compounds are found in many plastics, cosmetics, and preservatives. These low-dose estrogen-like agents play havoc with our hormones and are linked to numerous health problems including metabolic diseases, female and male reproductive issues and cancers, thyroid problems, and impaired brain and neuroendocrine system development.
GMOs and Glyphosate: The majority of genetically-modified organisms in our food supply are wheat, corn and soy, that are modified specifically to withstand intense exposure to pesti- cides, insecticides, and herbicides. Glyphosate, the primary chemical in Monsanto’s Roundup and other herbicide products, is a known carcinogen implicated in many serious human and environmental health problems. Traces of the powerful agricultural poisons wind up in the milk and flesh of animals that eat grains and beans, as well as in crops and other products made from them — so when we eat those products, we eat the poison, too.
Blue light: Today, blue light (computers, smartphones, televisions, some energy-efficient lightbulbs) dominates modern life. Our bodies associate blue light with daylight, and the consequences of this confusion are significant. Not only does blue light disrupt hormones like melatonin, which helps regulate normal sleep, but it tricks our bodies into thinking we’re perpetually in the season with longer daylight hours - in other words, summer. This prompts us to consistently seek food and bulk up in anticipation of what our bodies assume is an upcoming winter season.
For a more detailed look at these suggestions to improve your health, we recommend that you purchase Gundry M.D., Steven R., The Plant Paradox: The Hidden Dangers in “Healthy” Foods That Cause Disease and Weight Gain, HarperCollins.