OH! Magazine - Australian Version November 2013 (Australian Version) | Page 12

( Body / Brain Performance )
PAUL
TAYLOR

THE 80/20 LIFESTYLE:

REPROGRAM YOUR GENES FOR HEALTH,
HAPPINESS AND VITALITY

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PART 3:

GUARD AGAINST DAMAGE
e are constantly exposing our bodies and brains to
environmental toxins and insults, and they have a
number of elaborate mechanisms to both prevent damage and
repair any damage that does occur.
It’s important to realise that our capacity to guard against
damage is limited and if you want long term physical and mental
health, it is important to both reduce our exposure to damage
and increase our defensive capabilities.

Choose wild fish rather than farmed, grass fed meats, and
minimise your intake of canned and processed foods. Also, be aware
that anything you put on your skin or hair can raise toxins, so go for
organic soap, deodorant, toothpaste and natural personal care
products and cleaning products where possible. When making home
improvements, choose non-toxic paints, carpets and sofas and buy a
good water filter – and drink from a glass, ceramic or metal water
bottle. See www.ewg.org for additional tips about avoiding toxins.

Sleep

Detoxify

We now know that sleep is important for memory consolidation
and both physiological and psychological repair. Recent research
has shown that when we sleep the brain removes toxins, while
lack of sleep causes damage. Aim for at least seven hours of
sleep, four times a week.

Some things that have been scientifically proven to help you
detoxify are sweating (through exercise and/or sauna), drinking
plenty of water, and eating lots of dietary fibre and vegetables,
as these support the liver to detox. Examples include the
broccoli family, onions, garlic, beets, the spice turmeric, as well
as citrus fruits and grapes. Avoid alcohol, sugar and processed
foods when detoxifying. Some useful supplements include high
quality fish oil, chlorella and glutathione.
If you suspect heavy metal contamination, consult a qualified
health professional (ideally an integrative doctor) to get a toxicology
test and advice on appropriate metal chelation therapy.

W

Environmental toxins
Don’t smoke, reduce your exposure to plastics (bottles,
containers, etc.), eat organic food where possible, and wash
non-organic fruit and vegetables to minimise exposure to toxic
herbicides and pesticides.

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