Each year we are exposed to tens of thousands of chemicals in the environment. They come in our food, our air, and our water. We are exposed to them from products we bring into the home, as well as paints, glues, solvents, sprays, lawn treatments, vaccinations, drugs, alcohol, and, of course, air pollution.

The amazing thing is how well our bodies process this chemical warfare and that we aren't all sick. Most chemicals are broken down by our liver and excreted through the bowel. Some are stored in the fat cells of our body or removed by sweating and perspiration. When the bowels and/or liver are not functioning properly, we excrete less of the toxins and we store more of them in our fat cells. We get more and more toxic over time. The same cleaning agents you've used for years can now give you a headache when you use them.

Familiar Household Chemicals. There is more evidence everyday that environmental chemicals are making us sick. None of us would drink a floor or window cleaner because we know it would make us sick. Yet we use these products everyday without protective gloves. We absorb many of these chemicals into the body. When we clean, we are actually “drinking” the chemicals through our skin.

Breathing sprays and fumes is another problem area. That lemon-fresh furniture polish just shined your lungs as well as the coffee table. Spray paints, bug sprays, that new car smell, gas fumes and paint fumes all have a bad effect on your lungs. We should worry about second-hand chemicals from cleaners, disinfectants, perfumes, paint and added fragrances in everyday products.

The effects from contaminated air can range from a mild irritation of the nose or lungs to Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome. The syndrome describes people who can't be exposed to the "normal" chemicals of daily life without serious health reactions.

Heavy metals (such as mercury) are toxic. Anxiety, anorexia, mental depression, hallucinations and memory loss are just a few of the symptoms related to mercury poisoning. Sources of mercury in our environment are paints, batteries, drugs, vaccinations, cosmetics, hair dyes, dental amalgams, contaminated fish and petroleum products.

There are thousands of new chemicals put into the environment every year that have unknown effects on humans.

Taking good supplements help us purge toxins from our body. Regular bowel movements, exercise, sweating, drinking clean water and eating vegetables can also help dump chemicals/metals from our body. We should be doing these simple things every day, anyway.