# How to manage toxins and energy A "toxin", broadly, is anything that the body can't process appropriately, for several possible reasons: - At least some organs react adversely to the substance (e.g., an allergy). - There's too much of the substance for the body's organs to process, though the body *does* use it (e.g., water). - The substance is legitimately dangerous to the body, so the filtering systems (e.g., liver, kidneys, immune system) must get rid of it. Regular exposure to small amounts of toxins (hormesis) will often make us *stronger*. - To avoid peanut allergies in children, expose them to peanut butter during [infancy](parenting-babies.md). - The existence of microplastics in our body systems means it exists, but does *not* necessarily mean it harms us. Chronic exposure to [some toxins](body-health-toxins-list.md) can be *very* devastating. - It takes 48 hours for the body to cycle out whatever it ate, and continuing to consume the same toxins during that time can develop a state of autointoxication. - Typically, fasting or eating healthy for 48 hours at a time can resolve many issues. But, other toxins can be unhealthy over long periods. - Most government exposure tests give a gigantic exposure to animals all at once (e.g., feeding a lab rat the proportional equivalent of 30 years' worth of an artificial sweetener within 3 days), then watching what happens. - This *does* track acute exposure, but answers *nothing* about chronic exposure to that chemical. ## Questionable toxins Even without being scientifically proven as dangerous or unhealthy, most synthetic things do *not* come from places most people would find acceptable. - Citric acid, while naturally occurring in plants, is usually farmed from fungi. - Vanillin, which gives a vanilla-like flavor is often derived from hydrocarbons (i.e., crude oil). Some carcinogens exist in most food, on surfaces, and even the air, but our liver and kidneys usually filter them out. - Generally, healthier eating and lifestyle decisions will make your body healthier and cut down on carcinogen intake. - Microplastics (i.e., less than 500 nanometers in size) which enter the body can cause inflammation in the stomach and brain, but cause no known long-term effects. The smaller the microplastic, the more severe the reaction. ## Specific toxins Plenty of animals send common diseases to us: - Pigs can give us whooping cough. - Both pigs and birds can give us the flu - Cows can give us measles, tuberculosis, and smallpox. Avoid touching powdered plastics directly (e.g., thermal paper for receipts, printer toner), since BPA and BPS disrupt the endocrine system and are absorbed into the body through the skin. Most pesticides and weed killers can directly damage the nervous system and genes, and can create issues like cancer and Parkinson's disease. Most deodorant is chemically formulated to inhibit sweating, and can cause side effects with prolonged use. Chemicals in the lining of tin cans, cosmetics, Teflon pans, and flame retardants in cushions have a combined soft link to reduced sperm count (and therefore lower fertility rates). Herbicides (e.g., Roundup spray) can cause a host of issues, including chronic kidney disease. Lead exposure has *many* risks, including a loss in IQ and multiple fatal illnesses. Hydrocarbon derivatives create a vast range of risks, but can often cause cancer. PFAS (formerly known as PFCs) is a broad range of perfluoroalkyls and polyfluoroalkyl substances that are chemically resistant to oil, grease, heat, and water, and are used is a wide variety of consumer applications: - Cleaning products, nonstick cookware, stain-resistant carpet coating, upholstery, textiles, paints/varnishes, and makeup/personal care products - They're also for foods that are hot or greasy and prevalent in fast food wrappers and microwave popcorn bags. - They dissolve in water, so they can easily accumulate and persist in blood and tissues. Cutting stone generates silica dust, which can develop silicosis in the lungs after enough exposure. ## Energy risks Beyond toxins, concentrated energy can also be dangerous. - Long-term exposure to x-rays and microwaves are known to cause cancer. - While the long-term effects haven't been tested, there may be risks to chronic exposure to [radio waves](engineering-radio.md) (e.g., cell phone towers, Wi-Fi signals). With all the risks from toxins and concentrated energy, [maintaining balance in life](people-goodlife.md) requires a safe, easy solution when working in any field that directly interacts with dangerous chemicals or energy: 1. Develop a habit of dogmatically using all [safety precautions](safety-riskmgmt.md) without any lapse. 2. Pay *very* close attention to what your body is telling you. 3. Only work in that field for 2-5 years, then [move to a field](jobs-1_why.md) that doesn't have those risks.