Resilience Factors
There are effective ways to help our bodies heal & thrive!
Resilience Factors
• Avoid products with plastic ingredients, buy or make your own self-care and cleaning products • Switch from plastic to glass, ceramics, or stainless steel for storing and heating foods • Eliminate body’s stores of xenoestrogens with detoxification support • Eat “clean” foods, mostly plants, with plenty of fiber, antioxidants & omega 3s
Balance
The Serenity Prayer, made popular by the 12 Step Programs, reminds us that we can approach each moment with acceptance, courage and wisdom: “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” Touching inner peace despite difficult or fearful outer can be a powerful balm for the body’s immune system. Find what works –nature connection, prayer, mindfulness, cognitive behavioral therapy, exercise, self-care and/or being of service
Detoxification Support
• Sweat it out with exercise & saunas (especially infrared) • Fasting (autophagy) • Liver supporting herbs —milk thistle, dandelion, burdock, & artichoke • Fiber & omega 3 rich foods –flax and chia • Phytosterols – flax, non-GMO soy, licorice, red clover, saw palmetto, wild yam • Clean mostly plant diet—green juices, lots of colorful veggies, broths with parsley, ginger & turmeric, etc
Kicking Plastics
- Buy produce from local farmers (or grow your own) when possible
- Avoid foods wrapped in plastic and get food from bulk bins when possible
- Buy or make your own self-care and cleaning products (check out ACHS webinars & blogs.
- Switch from plastic to glass, ceramics, or stainless steel for storing and heating foods/beverages
- Advocate for better government regulations of plastics based on science that’s free of industry bias
Know your Plastics!
When plastics can’t be avoided, categories 1, 2, 4, and 5 tend to be less toxic:
#1: PET OR PETE (NYLON) - Single use bottles. Should not be reused or heated.
#2: HDPE (HIGH-DENSITY POLYETHYLENE) Milk and water jugs, juice bottles, containers for detergent, shampoo and motor oil, and toys. Limit how often you refill containers made of HDPE. # 3: PVC (POLYVINYL CHLORIDE) Bibs, mattress covers, plastic wrap, some food and detergent containers AVOID PVC The manufacture of PVC creates dioxin, a potent carcinogen that contaminates humans, animals and the environment. PVC usually contains phthalates. NOT RECYCLABLE #4: LDPE (LOW-DENSITY POLYETHYLENE) Grocery store bags, plastic wrap for household use and garbage bags #5: PP (POLYPROPYLENE) Ice cream and yogurt containers, drinking straws, syrup bottles, salad bar containers and diapers #6: PS (POLYSTYRENE) Styrofoam coffee cups and meat trays; opaque plastic spoons and forks AVOID PS. It can leach styrene, a known neurotoxin with other harmful health effects. # 7: OTHER (INCLUDING POLYCARBONATE, BIOPLASTIC AND ACRYLIC) AVOID Polycarbonate (contains BPA) - used in five-gallon water bottles, sports bottles, clear plastic cutlery INVESTIGATE other #7s - some include some bio-based plastics (compostable, NOT recyclable)
Getting Clean!
Health-related resources:
Made Safe https://www.madesafe.org/ Healthy Child, Healthy World https://healthychild.org/ Environmental Working Group https://www.ewg.org/ National Association of Environmental Medicine https://envmedicine.com/environmental-medicine/
Lifestyle Guides/Blogs:
My Plastic Free Life (blog & book by Beth Terry) https://myplasticfreelife.com/ Going Zero Waste (blog & book by Kathryn Kellogg) https://goingzerowaste.com/
Thank you!
I am excited to work together for a vibrantly healthy planet and people! -Dr. Jacqui McGrath
Questions? Jacqui McGrath ND Naturopathic Doctor jacquimcgrath@achs.edu