The Tribune

In the world in which we live today it is no longer an issue of “If you are toxic”, but “How toxic are you?”

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) detected xenobiotics – a synthetic chemical, or one that is foreign to the body – in 91-100 per cent of the populations tested.

Note this is not just one group of people, but the average of numerous populations.

More and more, people are coming to realise that the world is indeed toxic. And not only is it toxic, but it is toxic to the point where the impact on human health is palpable and significant. This is especially true in developing nations, where an estimated 355,000 people are unintentionally poisoned per year according to the 2003 World Health Report prepared by the World Health Organisation (WHO). And that statistic only scratches the surface of how environmental toxicants effect human and ecological health.

With our environment being everything around us from the air we breathe to the food we eat to the water we drink and to the products we put on our skin, it is nearly impossible to rid the body stores of toxins without due effort in avoiding or reducing exposure. As we go more in depth with some of the toxins that are most prevalent to us here in The Bahamas in articles to come, we’ll touch on practical ways of accomplishing this.

When it comes down to actually ridding our bodies of harmful pollutants such as toxic chemicals and heavy metals, it pays to know what happens to them once they get into the body, and where they are stored. Our adipose (or fat) tissue contains the highest concentrations of persistent chemicals, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), and it is a storage site for the fat soluble toxins such as heavy metals, pesticides, preservatives, food additives, pollutants, and plastics. Although heavy metals can be stored in fat, they target other organs as well. For example, mercury has an affinity for the central nervous system and will accumulate in the brain leading to psychological symptoms, while lead may be distributed to the brain, kidneys, and liver, but is stored in the teeth and bones.

Consequently, breaking down or eliminating fat in the body is a great way to cleanse and rid the body of toxins. There are so many other benefits associated with getting rid of fat that this should be on the top of our national “to-do” list. This is especially true in our small nation which is the sixth fattest country in the entire world.

I digress a little. After the fat has been broken down, a very important factor in this detox picture is now eliminating those toxins that have been released from the fat cells. This means having our organs of elimination – the liver, kidneys, and colon – be healthy and efficient enough to successfully rid the body of the increased systemic toxic load. While detoxification is very important, we want to ensure that we go about it in the correct and most effective manner. So stay tuned for professional advice on going about detoxing your body the right way!

• Dr Monique Thompson is the founder of and a physician at Cornerstone Healing Institute, an integrative and holistic medical clinic. Call 356-0083 or visit www.chibahamas.com for more information.