Learning How to Heal: Part 2
Endometriosis is a disease that has not been studied enough. If you read about it online, you will find that there are no definitive causes of endometriosis. There are, however, studies that show correlations between various behaviors and women who have endometriosis. As mentioned in a previous post, one such correlation is with exposure to dioxins; which humans are apparently mostly exposed to through diet. In an article published in Environmental Health, researchers concluded:
that milk was the leading dietary contributor of exposure to POPs [Persistent Organic Pollutants] for all age groups with animal foods and produce items making up the next four leading contributors. Fish was a major source of exposure resulting in arsenic, chlordane, dieldrin, dioxin, and DDT intake. Because POPs accumulate in animal fat, consuming a plant-based diet is one strategy to reduce exposure to POPs such as chlordane, DDE, and PCDD/Fs [54]. Another strategy to reduce POPs exposure is to decrease consumption of meat, dairy, and fish, or to select the lowest fat option. Fish is practically the sole source for methylmercury, but since levels are known to vary widely by fish species, consumers can avoid fish with high concentrations of mercury (shark and swordfish) in favor of fish and shellfish with low concentrations (e.g., catfish, canned salmon, and scallops) [55]. While some produce items have measurable levels of lead and some POPs, organic produce consumption does not necessarily impact levels of metals or POPs. This is because accumulation of these compounds depends upon site-specific soil conditions that are not regulated by organic certification.
Here is a link to an in-depth, although lengthy, article about the researched effects of dioxin exposure to primates. Once again, the question arises as to how much dioxin exposure humans really experience? That is a question that still needs to be answered. The limited research that has been conducted indicates that dioxin levels in the environment are much higher than what is considered to be safe. For example, the Center for Health, Environment & Justice states that A reference dose is generally defined as “a level below which exposures are generally considered to be safe.” EPA’s Reference Dose for dioxin is 0.7 picograms TEQ per kilogram per day (pg/kg/d). According to EPA data, the adult daily intake of dioxin is 66 pg/day. Dividing this value by the average weight of an adult (70 kilograms), you get an average daily intake of dioxin of 0.94 TEQ pg/kg/d, 34% higher than the safe level. For children the numbers are even higher because of their smaller body size. This article published by ABC News also supports this claim.
I also am using essential oils to not only support my detoxification process, but also as a natural way to relax my hypertonic muscles. If you're interested in reading some research on how essential oils effectively penetrate the skin, read this scholarly article. One of my current favorites for helping to relax my tight muscles is Roman Chamomile! I just ordered it last month. If you read about it, it functions as a relaxant, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, antiparasitic, antibacterial, and anesthetic. I love it for it's relaxant and anesthetic properties!
As you can see, I've been doing a lot of research on possible ways to heal my body. I realize that detoxification will take time, and that I will be required to live a careful lifestyle (which includes limiting meat and dairy, eating organic, using natural products, and continually supporting detoxification with supplements). I will continue to do my research, and I will definitely update you if I learn anything new!
that milk was the leading dietary contributor of exposure to POPs [Persistent Organic Pollutants] for all age groups with animal foods and produce items making up the next four leading contributors. Fish was a major source of exposure resulting in arsenic, chlordane, dieldrin, dioxin, and DDT intake. Because POPs accumulate in animal fat, consuming a plant-based diet is one strategy to reduce exposure to POPs such as chlordane, DDE, and PCDD/Fs [54]. Another strategy to reduce POPs exposure is to decrease consumption of meat, dairy, and fish, or to select the lowest fat option. Fish is practically the sole source for methylmercury, but since levels are known to vary widely by fish species, consumers can avoid fish with high concentrations of mercury (shark and swordfish) in favor of fish and shellfish with low concentrations (e.g., catfish, canned salmon, and scallops) [55]. While some produce items have measurable levels of lead and some POPs, organic produce consumption does not necessarily impact levels of metals or POPs. This is because accumulation of these compounds depends upon site-specific soil conditions that are not regulated by organic certification.
Here is a link to an in-depth, although lengthy, article about the researched effects of dioxin exposure to primates. Once again, the question arises as to how much dioxin exposure humans really experience? That is a question that still needs to be answered. The limited research that has been conducted indicates that dioxin levels in the environment are much higher than what is considered to be safe. For example, the Center for Health, Environment & Justice states that A reference dose is generally defined as “a level below which exposures are generally considered to be safe.” EPA’s Reference Dose for dioxin is 0.7 picograms TEQ per kilogram per day (pg/kg/d). According to EPA data, the adult daily intake of dioxin is 66 pg/day. Dividing this value by the average weight of an adult (70 kilograms), you get an average daily intake of dioxin of 0.94 TEQ pg/kg/d, 34% higher than the safe level. For children the numbers are even higher because of their smaller body size. This article published by ABC News also supports this claim.
Yikes! 34% higher than the safe level. I realize that living in the "real world" means that I can't avoid all of the harmful substances out there. Nevertheless, I do feel empowered to at least control what I can control and limit the amounts of harmful chemicals that I am exposing myself to. For that reason, I have chosen to eat a mostly plant-based diet. Here are some meals that I have been trying out over the past couple of months:
Over the past few months, I've been trying to limit my exposure to dioxins by eating a mostly plant-based diet, but I also have been trying to find ways to remove the dioxins that have binded to my tissues. Once again, research on how to detoxify our cells is limited. Many advertised "detoxes" actually lack evidence behind how they work. Nevertheless, that is not to say that all toxicants are metabolized and excreted naturally and...that “there’s nothing that does anything to hasten the detoxification process” [104]. Emerging evidence...challenges this misconception. The contention that the body has an inherent ability to eliminate quickly all adverse chemical compounds is inaccurate, as many toxicants with long half-lives accrue in tissues or blood, thus maintaining long-term potential to inflict damage. Metals such as lead and cadmium, and many halogenated compounds (e.g., flame retardants, nonstick compounds, stain repellents, and organochlorine pesticides), are persistent human pollutants with extended half-lives.[Journal of Environmental and Public HealthVolume 2012 (2012), Article ID 356798, 15 pages http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/356798]
From what I've been able to find out through research, in order to detoxify our cells of these chemical compounds, our cells must go through a "chelation" process. In order to do so, our body requires metal-binding proteins and glutathione. To read an in-depth article on the chelation process in regards to heavy-metal toxicity, click here.
Yes, the research is still limited, but for now I'm going with what has been discovered. So far, there is some evidence from animal studies that indicates [cilantro],...Chlorella, and several types of fruit acids and pectin may help eliminate toxic metals and organic pollutants.[https://authoritynutrition.com/detox-diets-101/] For that reason, I have started taking Organic chlorella and cilantro extract along with magnesium every night around dinner time.
If you'd like to read a less scholarly article about how and why it works, click here.
So far, I've shared about how I've been focusing on limiting my dioxin exposure as well as eliminating these toxic compounds. I do want to end with a final product that I've been using in an attempt to regulate my hormones considering that endometriosis is related to hormone production (obviously, as it is tied to menstruation). For that reason, doctors often prescribe various hormones to hopefully relieve symptoms (hormonal contraceptives, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (Gn-RH) agonists and antagonists, progestin therapy, and/or danazol). As I've previously mentioned, I hesitate to take artificial hormones or prescriptions. I do, however, wish to help my body any way that I can (naturally) and am willing to try whatever potential natural solutions that I can find.
One other supplement that I have found is called Progessence Plus Serum.
It is made with USP-grade progesterone from wild yam extract. It appears that USP-grade progesterone is often applied through a cream, but Progessence Plus is a serum that also contains a combination of essential oils that help absorption. Progesterone is known as a hormone balancer. If you'd like to read more about natural progesterone and synthetic progestins, I found this article to be very informative. |
| Meatless taco meat: lentils, black beans, taco sauce, and taco seasoning.  |
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| Breakfast smoothie with frozen strawberries, 1 banana, frozen kale and spinach, and almond milk. |
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| Burrito bowl lunch with frozen cilantro lime cauliflower rice,canned black beans, frozen corn, avocado, and taco sauce. |
Over the past few months, I've been trying to limit my exposure to dioxins by eating a mostly plant-based diet, but I also have been trying to find ways to remove the dioxins that have binded to my tissues. Once again, research on how to detoxify our cells is limited. Many advertised "detoxes" actually lack evidence behind how they work. Nevertheless, that is not to say that all toxicants are metabolized and excreted naturally and...that “there’s nothing that does anything to hasten the detoxification process” [104]. Emerging evidence...challenges this misconception. The contention that the body has an inherent ability to eliminate quickly all adverse chemical compounds is inaccurate, as many toxicants with long half-lives accrue in tissues or blood, thus maintaining long-term potential to inflict damage. Metals such as lead and cadmium, and many halogenated compounds (e.g., flame retardants, nonstick compounds, stain repellents, and organochlorine pesticides), are persistent human pollutants with extended half-lives.[Journal of Environmental and Public HealthVolume 2012 (2012), Article ID 356798, 15 pages http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/356798]
From what I've been able to find out through research, in order to detoxify our cells of these chemical compounds, our cells must go through a "chelation" process. In order to do so, our body requires metal-binding proteins and glutathione. To read an in-depth article on the chelation process in regards to heavy-metal toxicity, click here.
Yes, the research is still limited, but for now I'm going with what has been discovered. So far, there is some evidence from animal studies that indicates [cilantro],...Chlorella, and several types of fruit acids and pectin may help eliminate toxic metals and organic pollutants.[https://authoritynutrition.com/detox-diets-101/] For that reason, I have started taking Organic chlorella and cilantro extract along with magnesium every night around dinner time.
So far, I've shared about how I've been focusing on limiting my dioxin exposure as well as eliminating these toxic compounds. I do want to end with a final product that I've been using in an attempt to regulate my hormones considering that endometriosis is related to hormone production (obviously, as it is tied to menstruation). For that reason, doctors often prescribe various hormones to hopefully relieve symptoms (hormonal contraceptives, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (Gn-RH) agonists and antagonists, progestin therapy, and/or danazol). As I've previously mentioned, I hesitate to take artificial hormones or prescriptions. I do, however, wish to help my body any way that I can (naturally) and am willing to try whatever potential natural solutions that I can find.
One other supplement that I have found is called Progessence Plus Serum.
I also am using essential oils to not only support my detoxification process, but also as a natural way to relax my hypertonic muscles. If you're interested in reading some research on how essential oils effectively penetrate the skin, read this scholarly article. One of my current favorites for helping to relax my tight muscles is Roman Chamomile! I just ordered it last month. If you read about it, it functions as a relaxant, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, antiparasitic, antibacterial, and anesthetic. I love it for it's relaxant and anesthetic properties!
As you can see, I've been doing a lot of research on possible ways to heal my body. I realize that detoxification will take time, and that I will be required to live a careful lifestyle (which includes limiting meat and dairy, eating organic, using natural products, and continually supporting detoxification with supplements). I will continue to do my research, and I will definitely update you if I learn anything new!
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