In my last article I named a few commonly used items with
toxic ingredients that may be hazardous to your health. Today I will give you a
few options to replace these substances with natural alternatives that you can
easily mix yourself or come by. Also, let us not forget your thoughts, which
can be toxic and therefore threatening your well being also.
Let us go through a
typical day and see the different choices you could implement.
You wake up in the morning...what is your first thought? If
it is anything that does not make you smile, immediately replace it with a
thought of gratitude for the miracle of being alive. Every day is filled with
new opportunities; yes there are always opportunities if you are open and
aware! Your next thought could be one of gratitude for all the good things in
your life. If you only think of one or two things, it will already set the tone
for a great day. There is no way you can feel grumpy or anxious now, instead
you may look at a new day with excitement and anticipation for something really
good to be brought into your life now.
Sit up now stretch
and take in a few deep breaths at an open window or wherever you can catch a
breeze of fresh air. Again feel the joy and gratitude of being alive and able
to live in a virtual paradise; one that most people in this world would be
ready to come to and live at a moment’s notice. You have food, shelter and
freedom...do you know how lucky you are? Lets move forward to what would be good
to do next.
Always start you day with a tall glass of water. You may
have it next to your bed, so it is at room temperature when you drink it. This
is your internal shower that cleanses your system from bacteria and
microorganisms that have accumulated in your digestive tract during your sleep.
Making this a habit will also help you to be regular with your bowl movements
in the morning. Please don’t shock your system with ice- cold water from your
refrigerator; you would not do this voluntarily to your outer body! Having a
cold shower is different because here, our cold water from the faucet never
gets icy-cold. I know ice -cold water, because I came from Germany, but here in
our Bahamas our water is gentle in temperature. Thank God for that, I dislike cold
water on my body. But let’s continue with our topic to find safe alternatives
for common toxins.
If you have a
carpet that has been treated, always use slippers, because the soles of your
feet take in any toxic substance they come in contact with. The same applies to
tiles that have been washed with chlorines or other toxic cleaners; good
substitutes for these are hydrogen peroxide and white vinegar.
In your bathroom
you can change your cleaning ritual by using natural body care products. You find
them in health centers, health stores and even in small amounts in your local
food stores and pharmacies. All you have to do is ask for it and read labels.
Natural Toothpastes can contain baking soda, potassium,
magnesium, peppermint oil, and other natural substances. Your soap can be made
mostly of natural oils like olive oil, coconut oil or other plant based
extracts like tea tree oil or Aloe Vera.
Glycerin is a safe compound and is part of many natural body-care
products. Your natural mouthwash can contain peppermint, menthol, chlorophyll,
tea tree oil, grapefruit seed extract, and, as natural sweetener, Xylitol or
Stevia. Make sure you don’t use products with synthetic artificial sweeteners,
as most of them are nerve toxins. Also look out for long unpronounceable
chemical ingredients. You can usually go by the rule: If you can’t pronounce it
and God did not make it, stay away from it! It is great to gargle with plain
water to which you can add some sea salt, or peppermint extract, or some
hydrogen peroxide, which kills all bad bacteria in your mouth.
I think it would be
a good idea to create a workshop, lead by local people who are knowledgeable in
making products like soap, lotions and gels from natural, native plants and
fruits. I feel that we have lost our instincts about what is good for us and
what is harmful. Fueled by the onslaught of daily advertisements in the media
about yet another so- called ‘time saving’ convenient product, so many of us
buy into it. We not only pollute our bodies by inhaling and coming into contact
with thousands of synthetic and toxic substances, but we also pollute our
environment that way. How much garbage do you produce? Is it becoming more
rather than less? If you answer, “yes”, to this question, you can be sure that
your environment is a toxic one. Make your changes soon by introducing more
natural products into your daily life. You safe your own life as well as that
of your children and grand children and the countless generations that need a
healthy planet to sustain their lives.
Call me if you are
interested in learning more about natural alternatives to toxic substances and
how we can come together to make a difference.
Angelika
Christie ND is the managing director of Radiant Health Center
In my last article I named a few commonly used items with
toxic ingredients that may be hazardous to your health. Today I will give you a
few options to replace these substances with natural alternatives that you can
easily mix yourself or come by. Also, let us not forget your thoughts, which
can be toxic and therefore threatening your well being also.
