Chances are you come into contact with hundreds of toxic chemicals every day. Recognizing where toxins come from will help you better avoid them. Some toxins are easy to identify, but some are often unexpected.

Unexpected Sources of Toxins

In Your Teeth
Silver fillings, also called amalgam fillings, are about 50% mercury. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry lists mercury as the third

most toxic substance known to mankind. Silver fillings made since 1974 release enough mercury into the body to cause trouble within three to five years. When mercury enters a cell, the body’ s immune system may identify that cell as an abnormal cell that must be destroyed. The immune system may then form antibodies against the normal cell, because it appears abnormal since it contains mercury. This can lead to rheumatoid arthritis, Hashimoto’ s thyroiditis, lupus and other autoimmune diseases.

If you have silver fillings, you should consider having them removed, but please do not run out and have them all removed at once, or you could get very sick. Find a biological dentist who is trained to safely remove them. For a list of biological dentists, visitwww.iaomt.org, and click on “Patients.”

In Your Water
Most cities in the United States add fluoride to the water, but did you know fluoride is a proven toxin? Fluoride helps prevent tooth decay, but it also partially inhibits a hundred different enzymes in the body and has been linked to bone cancer. Fluoride can interfere with vitamin and mineral functions, and has also been linked to arthritis.

When brushing your teeth, make sure you rinse thoroughly and do not swallow the toothpaste, or look for fluoride-free natural toothpastes. Important Note: Do not let this information deter you from drinking water because water is the single most important nutrient for your body. Instead, make sure the water you are drinking is pure.

In Your House
Benzene is classified by the EPA as a Class A carcinogen due to its link to an increased risk of leukemia. Benzene can be found in many household products, including carpet cleaners, detergents, conditioners, nail polishes, paints, plastics, vinyl floorings, wood finishes, stains/lacquers, and many others.

Benzene can also be found in some soft drinks! Even if a soft drink doesn’t contain benzene at the time of manufacturing, if it contains vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and either sodium benzoate or potassium benzoate, benzene can form when exposed to heat or light. To avoid toxins found in household products, I recommend you switch to natural products. You can make your own cleaners with safe ingredients, or find natural products at your local health food store. If you are going to clean with conventional products, remember to wear rubber gloves because chemicals can seep in through the skin.

Bottom Line: Toxins are everywhere! Not just in the places mentioned above. Practice regular detoxification methods such as exercise (sweating) and fasting; and eat foods and take nutritional supplements that promote detoxification. For more ways to detoxify, refer to my book Toxic Relief.