Living in a Toxic World: How to Reduce Exposure & Detox Your Life

Submitted by the Metagenics Marketing Team

Modern advancements in industry and technology have made life more convenient—but they’ve also introduced harmful environmental toxins into our daily lives. From heavy metals in food to pesticide residues in water, many contaminants enter our bodies without us even realizing it.

While you might assume that food, supplements, and household products are free from toxins, studies show we are regularly exposed through water, air, and even personal care items. Common environmental toxins include:

Heavy metals (lead, mercury, arsenic)
Pesticides and herbicides from conventional farming
Plasticizers (BPA, BPS) in food containers and packaging
Flame retardants in furniture and electronics
PCBs and industrial solvents

Take lead, for example. This heavy metal is known to negatively impact human health.¹ While some metals are naturally occurring and found in plants in healthy soil, ²human activities have increased their presence in the air, water, and food supply. Levels of lead occurring naturally in soil range from 50 to 400 parts per million.³Even organically grown crops can absorb these contaminants through rain or soil exposure.⁴

But here’s the good news—you can reduce your exposure by making small, intentional lifestyle changes.

Simple ways to reduce toxin exposure

Here are four ways to protect yourself from toxin exposure:

Stay informed on safety guidelines

The first step in reducing toxin exposure is awareness. Organizations like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provide safety guidelines on heavy metal intake and environmental exposures.^5,6

Action: Stay informed about toxic ingredients in food, water, and household products empowers you to make better health decisions. Check the EWG’s database for the latest research on food safety and contamination levels.

Detox your home: Swap toxic products for safer alternatives

Your home should be a safe haven, but common household items may be exposing you to heavy metals and xenoestrogens—compounds that imitate the hormone estrogen. Xenoestrogens include:

Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) commonly found in mattresses, carpets, electronics, and more.
Aluminum has been found in pots, pans, and various personal care products.
Scented candles and air fresheners can contain xenoestrogens and other harmful compounds.⁷

Plastic containers are another place where xenoestrogens lurk. While convenient, plastic containers such as water bottles and bags include chemicals that mimic estrogen in the body. Two of these chemicals, bisphenol-A (BPA) and bisphenol-S (BPS) are especially detrimental in extreme temperatures, as high heat can cause both to break down and leach into foods and liquids.⁸

Action: Opt for BPA-free glass or stainless-steel containers instead of plastic to reduce exposure.⁸

Shop smarter for food

What you eat plays a significant role in your exposure to toxins. Reduce pesticide intake by choosing organic options from the Environmental Working Group’s “2024 Dirty Dozen” list. If organic isn’t an option, the “2024 Clean 15” list highlights non-organic produce with the lowest pesticide levels.⁹

When it comes to animal products, choose organic meats and wild-caught seafood over farm-raised. Some fish offer more health benefits than others. Large fish like tuna and swordfish tend to accumulate higher toxin levels, so opting for smaller fish, like salmon and sardines can reduce exposure.

Filter your water

Your tap water may contain heavy metals, pesticide runoff, and environmental estrogens like chlorine and fluoride. A 2008 study found 85 manmade chemicals in municipal water supplies across nine U.S. states.¹⁰

Action: Water is essential for detoxification. Invest in a high-quality water filter can help you stay hydrated without unwanted contaminants.

Metagenics offers a variety of metabolic detox products for supporting individual health goals:

Formulas for 10-day metabolic detox: Clear Change® Plus 10-Day Detox Program, Clear Change® Plus pH 10-Day Detox Program, Clear Change® 10-Day Detox Program
Formulas for 28-day metabolic detox: Clear Change® Plus 28-Day Detox Program, Clear Change® Plus pH 28-Day Detox Program, Clear Change® 28-Day Detox Program
Formulas to support metabolic detox: AdvaClear®, Candibactin-BR®, GlutaClear®, Renagen™ DTX, Milk Thistle Extract, SulforaClear, UltraClear® Detox Powder, UltraClear® Plus Detox Powder, UltraClear® Renew Detox Powder

References

Jaishankar M et al. Toxicity, mechanism and health effects of some heavy metals. Interdiscip Toxicol. 2014;7(2):60-72.
Heavy metals in plants: What’s really toxic? New Hope Network. Available at: https://www.newhope.com/managing-your-business/heavy-metals-plants-whats-really-toxic.
Learn about lead. The United States Environmental Protection Agency. Available at: https://www.epa.gov/lead/learn-about-lead.
Metals as contaminants in foods. European Food Safety Authority. Available at: https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/topics/topic/metals-contaminants-food.
Metals. U.S. Food & Drug Administration. Available at: https://www.fda.gov/food/foodborneillnesscontaminants/metals/default.htm.
Framework for Metals Risk Assessment. United States Environmental Protection Agency. Available at: https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2013-09/documents/metals-risk-assessment-final.pdf.
(7) Zota A et el. Reducing chemical exposures at home: opportunities for action. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2017 Sep; 71(9): 937–940.
(8) Ben-Jonathan N et al. Bisphenols Come in Different Flavors: Is “S” Better Than “A”? Endocrinology. 2016 Apr; 157(4): 1321–1323.
EWG’s Dirty 12™/EWG’s Clean 15™. Available at: https://www.ewg.org/foodnews.
Martins C. Sample concentration and analysis of human hormones in drinking water. Thermo Fisher Scientific. Available at: http://nemc.us/docs/2015/presentations/Mon-High%20Performance%20Liquid%20Chromatography%20in%20Environmental%20Monitoring-16.8-Martins.pdf