In short
Toxic overload is when your body is carrying more than it can comfortably process from food, skin products, chemicals and stress. Claire's five ways to lighten the load are sweating, sauna, plain water, dry body brushing and swapping to simpler natural products.
Most of us give little thought to the load our bodies carry until our health starts to wobble. We're encouraged to think it's all down to luck and genes. In this blog I'll explain what I mean by toxic overload, how I believe it affects mental, physical and spiritual wellbeing, and five natural ways to lighten your load.
Toxic overload
By toxic overload I mean the point where your body is carrying more than it can comfortably process. It shows up differently in everyone: low energy, skin flare-ups, poor sleep, feeling run down, or hot flushes that won't let up. There's no one-size-fits-all with health, as I never tire of saying.
Your tipping point
Each of us has a tipping point, and most of us have no real idea where ours is. It's why one person can smoke twenty a day into their eighties and another can't. You often don't know until your body starts shouting.
Mental messages
Our minds do try to warn us: don't eat that chocolate bar, drink that pint, smoke that cigarette, stay in that relationship... But we ignore our own warnings, especially when the person next to us is hoofing it down with seemingly no consequences. It's no coincidence overloading is a group activity. Think about that one!
What we inherit
We aren't born a blank slate. We rely on our mothers for the building blocks we're made from, and science is discovering that our parents' and grandparents' lives can leave marks on how our genes behave, through something called epigenetics. Such far-reaching consequences.
Today's busy world
Along with what we're born with and what we choose to take in, there's everything life throws at us that we can't control. We come into contact with thousands of man-made chemicals every day. Let's look at a few.
What we eat
Much of our food is packed with preservatives, sugar, salt and pesticide residues. I believe our bodies work hard to process all of this, and eating as fresh and unprocessed as you can takes some of that pressure off.
What we put on our skin
Many skin and hair products are based on strong detergents like sodium lauryl sulphate, which can strip your skin and hair of their natural protection. Check the label! Makeup can contain a long list of chemicals too. We laugh at the Elizabethans painting their faces with lead, but do we really know what's in ours?
I prefer natural, aluminium-free deodorants and simple, plant-based skin care. If you don't like the way you smell, try eating differently!
Screens and tech
We live surrounded by screens, phones and wifi. As I explain in my blog Humans are made of Energy, I believe we're energetic beings, and I notice that too much screen time leaves many of us drained and wired. Time away from tech, and outside in nature, is one of the simplest resets there is.
5 natural ways to lighten your load
Here's the good news: it's never too late to start.
Get sweating. Do whatever it takes to get your heart rate up. Exercise also keeps your lymphatic system moving, which helps your body do its own clearing.
Sauna. Some people love a regular sauna, especially an infrared one. If you've got access to one, great; just replace what you lose with lovely clean water.
Drink water. Plain water is your best friend. Start the day with warm water and a squeeze of fresh lemon. Read my blog You are what you drink - Wonderful water to see why water matters so much.
Body brushing. Your lymphatic system has no pump, so it needs all the help it can get. Dry body brushing every morning is a fantastic way to support it and gives you a load more sparkly energy. I defy anyone not to feel invigorated after a good brush!
Swap your products. Change one cleaning, skin or hair product at a time for a simpler, natural alternative. Small swaps add up.
Final word
I've explained what I mean by toxic overload and five natural ways to lighten your load. If you think you might be reaching your own tipping point, or you'd like support, come and have a bespoke wellbeing consultation. If you have symptoms that worry you, please see your GP too.
If you're a self health enthusiast, take one of my self health workshops, where I cover all sorts of ways to use essential oils for wellbeing. You can also buy essential oils from me.
Frequently asked questions
What are signs of toxic overload?
Everyone is different, but low energy, skin flare-ups, poor sleep and feeling run down are common. See your GP about any symptoms that worry you.
What is dry body brushing?
Brushing your dry skin each morning towards the heart, to support your lymphatic system, which has no pump of its own.
Is it worth switching to natural products?
Claire suggests swapping one cleaning, skin or hair product at a time. Small swaps add up.
Want some support?
Book a free 15-minute consultation and we can talk it through together.