NATUROPATHIC
DETOXIFICATION AND IMMUNE HEALTH Heidi Kussman, ND, FABNO
Cancer Treatment Centers of America® in Tulsa, Oklahoma
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Every day we are surrounded by many different chemicals, from pesticides on the foods we eat to pollutants in the air we breathe. Te good news is, there are methods to detoxify our bodies to ensure that we maintain optimum wellness. Tis can be especially helpful for any- one undergoing cancer treatment.
Here, Heidi Kussman, ND, FABNO describes detoxification and how this process can benefit cancer patients.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE COMMON SOURCES OF TOXINS IN OUR DAILY LIFE, AND WHAT SYMPTOMS MIGHT A PERSON EXPERIENCE FROM EXPOSURE TO THESE CHEMICALS? We don't live in a pristine environ-
ment: plastics leach chemicals into food; we breathe in toxins from pollution; even the quality of our drinking wa- ter has been said to be declining. Some of the more potent chemicals are found in things like plastics, paints, dyes, de- tergents, cleaning agents, gasoline, and more. Signs of cellular toxicity include
and contribute to nausea, head- aches, muscle pain, fatigue, and poor immune function.
WHAT ARE SOME PRACTICAL STEPS WE CAN ALL TAKE TO HELP REMOVE SOME OF THESE TOXINS FROM OUR DAILY LIVES? Even if we're careful, we can't avoid expo- sure. We can, however, identify known carcinogens in some household items and work to reduce our exposure to and intake of those carcinogens to maintain our health. s 7ASH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES before consuming them —it reduces pesti- cides on the surface of the food.
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s %ATING MORE ORGANIC FOODS including meats, is helpful.
s "UYING LOCALLY GROWN PRODUCE can help because it isn't shipped long distance and is less likely to have been treated with post-harvest pesticides.
s !VOID ALCOHOL TOBACCO AND DRUGS s 5SE PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT like gloves, masks, or a respirator any- time you're working with toxic substances.
s !VOID USING PESTICIDES on your lawn or in your home when possible, and find a reputable horticultural and landscape pro- fessional who understands
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