Toxic burdens plague us all and, hard as we may try, we cannot control EVERYTHING around us.  Although we may have less ability to quickly change some things (such as our regional air quality or the chemical residues in city water supplies), we do surely have great influence on and can change other things (like the foods we choose to eat and the chemicals we use to clean our homes!).  While we may not be able to exercise choice on all levels, we can think twice and choose well on that which we bring into our home environment, into our bodies and into so many other levels of our existence.

Although we may feel that we have less freedoms than we once did, most of us still have ample opportunities to read labels, vote with our dollars and work to surround ourselves with our best possible choices. 

Some examples of things to consider when truthfully examining areas in which you may grow and improve include (but are not limited to!) diet, hydration, sleep, physical activity, thought patterns, and other lifestyle factors. 

Let's take a little closer look at each point:

• poor diet- nutrients are not rich in all foods so we much choose those which meet our recommended daily intake and enrich our lives!  Fill daily nutrient needs first then consider allowing for a little "treat", if you're even still interested.  Once we've fulfilled daily nutrient needs, we may begin to feel more satisfied and may even 'lose our taste' for 'junk food'.  Synthetic chemical-laden "phood" (not viewed as food thus called this by some) and 'better living through chemistry' need not necessarily apply to ingredients used to create our meals.  As a general principle, choose whole foods that grow in nature and avoid stuff that is fabricated in a lab and even chemically modified or preserved in order to be able to sit on a shelf for a far more excessive time than perhaps any food ever should!  Even if we still crave or desire something, we can always work on moderating intake and maybe even find ourselves satiated by an improved version of an old beloved comfort food (which we may possibly enjoy a bit more regularly without guilt, shame or regret if choosing a modified version). For more info on recipe conversion and deceptively delicious improved versions of your old favorites, don't hesitate to reach out via the contact page.
• poor sleep- while sleep patterns vary from person to another and there is no one hard fast rule for exactly how much and from what time to what time sleep must occur, sleep experts do generally suggest that one gets 7 to 8 hours of sleep daily. It's even suggested that one aim to obtain sleep during the hours of 10pm and 2 am when possible, as these hours may prove to work with a body's natural sleep and wake cycles in a way that leaves one feeling more refreshed than if one got an equivalent amout of sleep outside the hours of 10 and 2.   For more information on sleep and supporting healthy sleep hygiene, read this blog.
• dehydration- just don't. Our bodies are largely composed of water and not only does this precious resource fill our cells and the spaces between, it also vital for allowing the body to metabolize food, to break down and excrete toxins, to help lubricate joints and so much more!  Without this lifegiving fluid none of us could exist. In fact, with the exception of very rare cases, death ensues within days if we have no access to fresh water. Just stay hydrated and learn to love the basic flavor or lack thereof of cool, clear, water!  Beverages don't have to be exciting to hydrate and support health but if you can't shake the feeling that they should be, then try getting into the habit of sipping herbal tea.  Hydrating liquids, naturally flavored by nutrients- win-win!
• negative thought patterns and self-talk- self-depricating "humor" really isn't that funny especially when used more than as a once off type of thing (if even that). Cultivate kindness toward others, beginning with self. If it seems difficult or impossible to find anything nice to say about yourself then please consider reaching out to a health care provider who can help you strategize on finding ways to positively support yourself and your mental and emotional well-being. You may also appreciate meditation classes as a tool to help reframe your thought processes and help shape more positive outcomes in your world.
• inadequate physical activity/sedentary lifestyle- health care professionals suggest a 1/2 hour of daily physical activity for most adults. Although nutrient needs change over the course of our lives depending upon our where we are in our life cycle (adolescence, pregnancy, convalescence, etc.) physical activity needs do not, so find something enjoyable that you can do for at least 20-30 minutes a day, even if that means doing an exercice video, taking a local yoga class, making a pact with a friend to walk around the block after work, walking briskly on work breaks, riding an exercise bike, hitting the treadmill or any of the countless other ways to move your body!  While the saying "no pain no gain" need not apply to physical activity, "use it or lose it" applies to us all!  Decrease in muscle mass occurs within a few short weeks of immobility so this use it or lose it principle is for real!  Plus, your body's muscle cells burn or metabolize more calories than an equal amount of fat cells so if you get lazy on moving those muscles, then you also may begin to require less calories.  Then, if you don't adjust and lower caloric intake, you may rapidly pack on the pounds.  Even if you do lower caloric intake, you still may find it increasingly difficult to achieve adequate or optimal nutrient intake levels so moving it really is a better case scenario! 
• inappropriate/excess use of pharmaceutical medications- while medications can surely support health and even be lifesaving, the average adult is on approximately 5 pharmaceutical prescription which are not without their side effects and (in some cases) contraindications with other medications and even foods.  While doctors aim to consider all factors, sometimes communication between practitioners can fall short (like the amount of one-on-one time you may actually have with your doctor) leaving us with chemical cocktails that may not be entirely in our best interest.  While it's critical to be educated on what you may take and why, it is nevertheless, vital that you do not stop taking any medications without first clearing this and establishing a protocol with your practitioner.  An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure so ensure that you avoid any health complications that result from failure to communicate your wishes or failure to clear any changes in medication dosages with your physician.  
• synthetic chemical exposure in the home- although keeping a tidy home can be good for both physical body and psyche, using toxic chemicals to "clean" things may not be the healthiest for people or planet. From the phosphates in laundry detergents to the known carcinogens in jewelry cleaners and dry cleaning and from triclosan in antibacterial soaps to chemicals in oven cleaners, toxins ubiquitously lurk in far more places that one may ever imagine.  It is always advisable to shun questionable chemicals  and choose safer alternatives like baking soda, vinegar, salt and naturally antimicrobial organic essential oils, like lemon, lemongrass and thyme.  While the saying 'cleanliness is next to Godliness' may be rooted in good intentions, excess exposure to the toxins that "clean" may just send you to your grave to meet you maker sooner than is necessary!  
• cigarette smoke- whether first or second, it goes without saying and is always suggested that one avoid exposure at all costs. 

Of course, there are numerous other burdens that we may encounter but the examples above are a good starting point when choosing to examine and accept that each and every one of us can surely improve upon ourselves in some way or another for the greater good of all!  I hope that even this simple read is just enough to encourage you to take the time to look within and examine what may be holding you back from being an even better version of yourself!  Now that's something for which I'll always be happy to cheer you on!