DETOXIFICATION:

Hey again, Tim aka FacelessFatloss here:

I feel strongly that the issue of detox remains under-estimated in western culture.  Not only does this issue apply to fat loss efforts, but also a proven number of other issues involving serious disease.  One Lyme disease expert focuses first and foremost on detoxification as part of his get-well protocol, with about an 80% success rate.  This in a field of pathology (chronic Lyme) that has stumped western medicine almost to a stand still.

If we think about it, we have no way of knowing what kind of human potential we may be capable of, if it’s actually the case that we are all more toxic than we realize, and having it affect us in ways we are completely unaware of, possibly on a very wide scale.

That said, a brief introduction to our toxin exposure, as an example of why I use the fast/cleanse that I do and why I feel it produces results.  Toxins seem to be just about everywhere:

-The residual antibiotics and other chemicals in our water supply
-The fluoride and chlorine residue (excessive halogen/halide exposure) in the water supply
-The various kinds of metal tooth fillings most of us have been subjected to
-Toothpaste ingredients
-Prescription drugs taken
-Prescription drug residue in our water supply (national news items on this)
-Chemicals in various personal care/hygiene products
-Chemicals in cleaning agents, laundry, household, etc
-Plastic products everywhere off-gassing; BPA and xenoestrogen exposures, plasticizers
-Hormones in meat products
-Heated oils in countless restaurant and processed food products
-Car exhaust and other airborne industrial pollutants
-Contaminants tracked in our homes when we don’t remove shoes indoors
-Furniture flame retardant off-gas
-And last but certainly not least, the pesticides in our food supply

I did not supply a list of toxins and potential toxins in the video, because it would’ve been outrageously long.

SO…I’ll give ya a start here instead, just so you can get an idea of what is going on.  These ingredients in products have various uses and we are exposed in various ways; either by food, or personal care products, or combinations of both.  They have been determined to be toxic to the body, affecting various organs and generating side effects.  The list of organs they affect and where the compounds are found is too long to list here, but simply check the labels of all your foods and personal care products.  Some of the ingredients are by-products of other ingredients and there is no lawful requirement for the manufacturer to list them, which is where a more serious problem may exist.  If there is no requirement to list certain components in any kind of product or food due to the nature of its activity with other ingredients, the consumer is left unaware.  In my opinion, we have an absolute right to know, especially since WE are PAYING for the product.  Doesn’t everyone agree with this?  (Many corporate manufacturers that use these ingredients do not…I wonder why…) 

This list does NOT include those ingredients which are highly suspect of being toxic; to present that list would be even longer.  And my opinion on that has always been “if it’s suspected as toxic, why use it at all?”

Anyway.  A very small list based on what you might recognize on food and personal care labels you’ve looked at in the past.  All of these ingredients have reported toxic side effects of varying degrees:

Acetic acid, acetone, aspartame, benzene, BHA, BHT, bromates, methyl alcohol, polysorbates, sodium benzoate, pyrocatechol, acrylamide, ammonium sulfite, cellulose gums, ethyl acetate, sodium fluoride, sodium lauryl sulfate, thimerosal, hexacholorphene, ethylene glycol, ethylparaben, crystalline silica, saccharin, olestra, modified food starch (esp GE), isobutyl alcohol, furfural, potassium bromate, propylparaben, sodium bisulfite, (etc).

As you can see, it always boils down to reading labels.  This is the point of this exercise.  Reading labels is mandatory in my book (pun intended).  Seriously: it is a must.  If you do not know what the ingredient is, why would you put it in or on your body?  Many ingredients are clearly of an artificial/synthetic chemical nature.  Although it may not always be the case, I personally tend to believe that placing anything artificial or synthetic into or on the body leaves the body with an automatic detoxification effort that must be initiated.  The body understands and relates to what nature provides.  I think we put far too much trust in large corporations that have profit motives, seemingly above any other concerns. 

Remember…truly natural, as in nature-made ingredients, cannot be patented, lessening their profit potential.  

Do not confuse the use of the word “natural” on labels, such as “natural flavoring.”  This word can legally be used to indicate artificial sweeteners are being used.  One of the side benefits of being a long-term law student is learning about what can and can’t be done that is within the law…but that in turn countless people are not even aware of, and may even fall victim to due to their unawareness.

What does the ingredient list on that head of broccoli read in the produce section?  Or that apple?  Or that spinach?  Or those onions? Or those tomatoes? 

I’ll be darn…I couldn’t even FIND an ingredient list on any of those foods.

“HMPH!”

(I think I’ve made my point)

Ladies should pay special attention to their cosmetic products.  If you could see the list of ingredients being put into these substances that you then place on your face, you would be appalled.  There are cosmetic companies out there now who make a grand effort to put only skin and body friendly ingredients into their products, and you’ll find most of these companies are also ethically conscious in that they refuse to test their products on animals. 

We cast our vote on ALL of the above matters with our money.  When we buy specific products, we are saying that we approve of them.  Let’s stop giving money to companies who insist on selling their products with cheap and potentially toxic ingredient selections.  Genetically Modified, GMO foods, in my opinion should be included in this list.  A food with anything resembling a built-in pesticide is not something I’m interested in eating.  And many countries now, outside of the US at this time, are in full agreement with this.  The list of which foods are GMO will likely change, so please research this yourself for more info.  Also be aware that many side food ingredients/additives are derived from GMO foods to begin with, which will complicate our exposure tremendously.  Sticking with organic *should* isolate us from GMO foods; but I am not 100% certain of that, as I have seen conflicting reports on this issue.

A side note on this topic, because it is an important one: Although laws may be in place and supported affording companies the right to *not* label their foods if they are GMO, that does not mean the consumer cannot in turn suggest that companies against GMOs, include on their labeling that indeed there are “not” GMOs in their products.  This helps the company from a marketing standpoint, and places their GMO competitors in a position of not lawfully being able to state the same; since it would amount to misleading or outright false advertising to claim there are no GMOs in their products, while other companies proudly state truthfully that there are not.  This effort on the part of non-GMO food producers helps alert the public by default that GMOs may not be healthy, and that they therefore do not include them in their food products.  It is a great way to counter-act what most people feel should always be absolutely transparent; the idea that we have a right to know exactly what it is we are eating.

There are always creative ways around the injustices that the vast majority of us are against.  No one wants to eat proven, or even potentially poisonous foods.  If you are uncertain on this topic, just think about the children; should we be experimenting on them with these new forms of food, including those with built-in pesticides, or as the evidence is building may be semi-destroying our gut health?  (A topic for another time).

And never forget, of course, the pesticides used directly on so many vegetables and fruits, which I do cover more of in the video.  What they are discovering about what these pesticides can do in our bodies is pretty amazing.  Hence our need to eat “organic or better,” as often as possible.  And for certain foods (search a “most pesticide laden food list” or similar) it is not optional in my book.  Organic cherries for me all the way when they’re in season, regardless of the extra dollar or two.  Same with apples.  With the amount of whole fruit I eat on occasion (which can be a lot in the Maintenance Phase covered later) there is no way I am exposing myself to the amount of pesticide residue I’d be taking in with the quantities of fruit I cycle into my diet.

(Please remember that for the initial stages of fat loss, I found lower fruit take to be most effective for fast results.  You will have options for more fruits…possibly a LOT more…later!)

This is our health and well-being we are talking about, and a little extra money spent towards that end for organic food is one of the very best investments I feel we can ever make.  If you have never lost your health or been in long-term pain, you can’t relate to how when it happens…absolutely nothing else at all matters except getting back to normal. 

The organic industry is BOOMING right now.  The more purchased, the more the prices will also come down.  And don’t forget about your local farmer who incorporates organic or better standards into his/her agriculture; you will very often find their prices are even better, sometimes MUCH better, than what you would pay at your local grocery store.

And keep on the lookout for that newer label, that of “Certified Naturally Grown” particularly at your smaller health food grocery stores.  These efforts are monumental to our future well-being, hopefully it will become more and more common over time.

I’m a big believer in staying on a life-long detoxification program of some kind.  We are exposed to such a huge number of toxins on a daily basis as I cover on an on-going basis, that if we do not, our biology will slowly, but surely, degrade in all sorts of manner.  TOo many diseases or pain symptoms of various kinds thrive in a toxic internal environment.  Instead of worrying about the on-going exposure, I prefer to simply make various forms of on-going detox a part of my lifestyle.

This topic follows into the pathogen issue which I’ll devote a certain chunk of time to, and we’ll move on from there into more focus on the diet and exercise.

Love, Happiness, Health and Peace……………Tim

COMING UP: How often do ya see an over-50 guy with a body comparable…or better…than that of a 20 year old?  You will tomorrow, and you’ll learn about a focus he has with his health/wellness/fitness efforts that yours truly had before he was even on YouTube.  (Just being a little competitive in a fun way…;)…because I think he’s a cool guy.  He joined six months after me, but I was already teaching this concept that is almost completely ignored in the fat loss industry).

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