How to Reduce Your Child’s Toxin Load As They Go Back to School
It is that time of year again when the little one’s head back to school and we begin our more structured routines. But this year is a bit different than past years with more concerns about the spreading of viruses. Schools will be taking more precautions on cleaning and sanitizing to eliminate the breeding and spreading of germs. That might set a lot of minds at ease knowing that these extra measures are being taken, but for us who understand that these cleaning products are harsh on our systems might be a bit worried for our children.
Students will be required to use alcohol-based hand sanitizers before entering the classrooms and again if they leave for the restroom or touch anything in the room that is not at their desks. What is happening to their bodies when being exposed all day almost every day to these harsh solutions?
Alcohol, bleach, antibacterial, and antiseptic products damage the top layer of our skin, burning off the oils that help protect our skin’s pores from absorbing bacteria and germs. This leaves our skin, our largest organ, our first line of defense, vulnerable. In addition to physically touching these products, the smells and fragrances are called endocrine disruptors, causing hormonal imbalances over time and overstimulating our adrenal glands.
I had been able to provide my daughter’s teachers with the healthier products I would prefer to use for cleaning, which has always worked. I replenished them monthly, the teacher doesn’t have to spend their own money and everyone wins, but this year will be a big NO for that. The Department of Health has required the products to be used, so the best thing we can do is help our children’s bodies to gently detoxify and eliminate these chemicals when they come home.
Dry Brushing
Dry brushing is one of the best ways to move toxins along that were absorbed by the skin to be properly eliminated by the body’s lymphatic system. It helps to eliminate toxic build up on the surface of the skin and increases lymphatic drainage. There are many dry brushes on the market now, and you can get one for less than $10. Always brush in single long strokes towards the heart. It’s best to do before a bath or shower to wash away the dead skin cells. This can be very stimulating for some, so it would be best to test this for the first few times away from bedtime to ensure you are not disrupting your child’s sleep patterns.
Epsom Salt Baths
Epsom salt baths are super easy for children because we just have to add some salts to their nightly bath. For a detox bath, add at least two cups of Epsom salt to bath water and soak for 40 minutes. The first 20 minutes will give your body time to remove toxins from your system, while the last 20 minutes will allow you to absorb the minerals in the water.
Sleep
Sleep is the best thing you can do for your body. Our body has so many functions, during the day it’s main goal is to keep us alive, it digests our foods, burns fats and glycogen for energy and much more, but when we sleep that’s when the magic happens, our body detoxes, regenerates, and prepares for the next day. Without sleep, your organs, especially your liver, do not get to do all their functions, which will break down your systems over time.
Vitamin C and D
Foods rich in Vitamin C and Vitamin D help to promote a healthy immune system. Always get your nutrients from food first, then fortify with supplementation. Focus on eating foods like raspberries, red bell peppers, oranges and other citrus fruits, full-fat cheeses and yogurts, and eggs with yolk. The sun is the best option for Vitamin D.
Movement
Play, jump/rebound, and dance helps move cells and causes the valves in the lymphatic system to open and close simultaneously, increasing lymph flow as much as 15x. This boosts immunity and removes toxins.
Herbal Supplements & Super Foods
Consuming Sprigs Daily Super Greens and Kids Reg Ease helps provide the body with vitamins and minerals and supports healthy elimination (1-3 times a day), which is key for removing toxins.*†
Lemon Water
Lemon water keeps the liver and body’s detoxification pathways clear and running. It also helps to keep stomach acid acidic to help disinfect internally. Stomach acid is the body’s natural disinfectant. If your child doesn’t like lemon water then just keep them consuming purified water all day long.
You do not have to do all of these to be successful as that might get a bit overwhelming, but instead, try a few that speak to you and maybe mix them up weekly. I also encourage you to do your research on products with the EWG, Environmental Working Group. You can also offer to purchase products for your child’s teacher and educate them on what products are safer to use. While we can’t always control what toxins our children will be exposed to, we can take measures outside of the classroom to keep them healthy.
†This product is not intended to be used to treat chronic constipation, which may be a symptom of a serious disease.