Living Nourished Lives

Over 100 years ago, most foods were grown organically and locally in nutrient rich soil, making them nutritionally dense. Fresh water was more readily available without industrial wastes and antibiotics polluting them. Our meats and other protein sources were free-range and hormone free. But unfortunately that is not the case today.

Today we have pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, mercury, PCB’s, Growth Hormones, Antibiotics, GMO’s, all taking us far away from that natural way of life that existed 100+ yeas ago. As a result, we are exposing our cells to a toxic environment, plus, the 24/7 society that exists today puts more stress on us, affects our sleep and pushes most people toward frozen, convenience food and Fast Food Restaurants. Much of our food is highly processed, plus our fruits and veggies are grown in depleted and contaminated soils, watered with potentially contaminated water, picked before they are fully ripe and sprayed with waxes and chemicals to try to keep them “fresh”, longer.

You might think, “That is too bad, but we just have to accept it.” However, when you realize that our children’s health (and our own) is being affected by this toxic soup that we are surrounded by and ingesting daily, you might want to think of what can be done to keep these toxins at bay and out of our body as much as possible. This is especially true when you realize that in a study done in 2005, 287 chemicals were found in umbilical cord blood. Of these chemicals, 180 are known to cause cancer in humans and 217 are known to be toxic to our brains and nervous systems!! More recently, 40 studies of umbilical cord blood showed that all babies cord blood tested had toxic PFAS “forever chemicals” (known as such because they essentially do not break down, so they accumulate in our bodies and the environement.) So, clearly our exposure to synthetic chemicals begins even before birth!

Add to this, the jaw dropping research that I have been reading about in the book: The Body Restoration Plan. The author, Dr. Paula Baillie-Hamilton, cites: studies about pesticides, facts about various growth promoting chemicals that were used to fatten livestock, and other facts about pharmaceutical drugs that are used to help underweight people gain weight…all of which support her conclusion that the recent drastic increase in obesity has been largely caused by over-exposure to man-made chemicals. There is even evidence that some of these chemicals weaken muscle which contributes to an inclination toward lower activity levels when exposed to higher concentrations… further adding to the ease with which humans are gaining weight. Essentially, I am learning that many man made chemicals can interfere with our metabolism and make it very difficult for people to naturally maintain a healthy weight.

Dr Baillie-Hamilton names organophosphates, carbamates, thyroid drugs, and steroids as four primary groups of man-made chemicals that interfere with human and animal metabolism. She also cites that experts estimate that in modern times, humans have on average 300 to 500 industrial chemicals in their body. She relates that of all the man-made chemicals that we end up exposed to, the most fattening of them all are organochlorines. Not only do they damage our metabolism, but they are extremely difficult for our bodies to process and eliminate. Dr Baillie-Hamilton shares that even though many organochlorines (like DDT, lindane, and PCB) have been banned because they are so toxic and damaging to humans, they are unfortunately still present in our bodies because they tend to remain for decades. Therefore, they are often still present at levels that are above those which damage our hormones. In addition, they are fat soluble and often concentrate in fat cells. In 2003 when this book was published, Lindane was still legal in the United States, however, in 2006 it was finally banned except as a second-line prescription for lice and scabies if other treatments have failed. Another fattening group of chemicals is another pesticide: hexachlorobenzene (HCB) which surprisingly in one animal study was able to allow animals to gain more fat even with 50% less food intake than the control group!

Since certain foods are more likely to contain more of these chemicals, it makes sense that we should try to limit our exposure as much as possible. However, there is also a genetic factor. Some bodies lack certain enzymes which are able to help with detoxification. Yet, people who are able to make these enzymes, in spite of being exposed, have better detoxification abilities, so that they do not struggle with their weight in the same way as those with less “built in” ability to detoxify from these chemicals. One other way that Dr Baillie-Hamilton explains why not everyone ends up fat (in spite of everyone being exposed to these fattening chemicals, at some concentration), is that bodies that are low or deficient in nutrients, in general have a more difficult time detoxifying. While we cannot change our genes (which control production of certain helpful detoxification enzymes), we can take steps to control toxic exposure in our home environment and we can increase our nutrient intake of toxin free supplements that are tested for 350+ contaminants). In addition, if someone wants to actually lose weight, it makes sense that the Shaklee 180 program would greatly reduce toxic exposure while losing weight because two meals per day are a Shaklee Meal Replacement Shake or Bar that are likewise tested for 350+ contaminants. The program leaves only one healthy meal to plan yourself.

I read chapter one and then skipped to chapter three to see which chemicals were the main culprits. Chapter two goes into detail of how toxic chemicals have gotten into our bodies and the enormity of the problem. I do plan to read chapter two, but I am very interested in finding out the ways that Dr Baillie-Hamilton lays out in subsequent chapters on how to reverse the fattening effects of these toxic synthetic chemicals. At the end of chapter three, she says, “It is never too late to start.” And that is very encouraging! I can’t help but think that it is because Shaklee has such strict quality controls and such a solid principle of producing products that are in harmony with nature, that people who have chosen to Shaklee-ized their lives, have experienced the overwhelmingly positive health results that they have. And Shaklee had this commitment even before this research and realization of how many synthetic chemicals wreck havoc on our health and particularly our weight gain. Shaklee has paid close attention to increasing balanced nutrition (one way to help the body detoxify) and also paid attention to avoiding toxins in both its supplements and its household cleaning and personal care products (the other way that we can help reduce the toxic load on our bodies) I will share more as I learn more!

Before I end, I just want to give a quick mention to the April Special. All $175+ orders can add in one jar of the exquisite YOUTH® Radiance C+E “squigelets” to their cart and get it for only $10. That is a tremendous value because normally the YOUTH® Radiance C+E is $104.85 Retail Price or $89.15 Member Price. These gold colored capsule “squigelets” have a cream in them that makes your skin feel so silky smooth and are great against age spots and wrinkles, as well as extremely helpful in healing scars and burns. Below is what the website has to say about the powerful cream inside of them:

“This clinically tested serum is infused with 20% vitamin C, vitamin E, and raspberry cell extract to visibly reduce signs of aging, including fine lines, wrinkles, and dark spots. This blend also supports collagen production, evens skin tone, brightens, protects against stressors that prematurely age the skin, and reinforces the moisture barrier. Ophthalmologist- and dermatologist-tested, hypoallergenic, vegan, cruelty-free, and EWG VERIFIED®.”