Great Sex, Naturally by Laurie Steelsmith Read Free Book Online Page B

medication—but check with your doctor first. Abstain from all alcohol, recreational drugs, and smoking. It’s best to eat only organic foods, and important to avoid all junk foods, refined sugars, fried foods, and processed food products.
    Getting Started: Remove the Obstacles to Health and Pleasure
    Some people have the misguided notion that a cleanse involves only your body. But to be effective, it should also involve your surroundings, because some of the pollutants you want to eradicate from your tissues may come from common consumer products you’re exposed to right in your own home. Every day, you may be running a gauntlet of chemical assailants with potentially serious consequences for your health and sexuality. If you don’t remove them before you begin cleansing your body, your cleanse may have limited benefits—like bailing out a leaky boat without plugging the holes.
    This is why it’s essential to launch the Great Sex Detox by finding natural alternatives for as many items as you can that may release toxic chemicals in or around your household—including your cleaning products, cookware, personal-care products, food-storage containers, and more.
    —The cleaning products stocked in many homes are a case of chemical overkill, needlessly laced with powerful toxic chemicals. Numerous household cleaning agents include cancer-causing compounds, neurotoxins, chemicals associated with decidedly unsexy symptoms, and ingredients linked to birth defects. There’s a plethora of safe, natural alternatives you can use to keep your home clean—arguably much cleaner than if you use toxic pollutants—and you probably already have a number of healthy options on hand. Vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice, castile soap, borax, and salt can be used in various combinations, with a little practice, to meet all your cleaning needs. You can find suggestions for cleaning your home safely by browsing the website of the Environmental Working Group (EWG), and nontoxic cleaning agents are available at many health-food stores.
    —Next, let’s take a look at your cookware , and those Teflon pans. If you use nonstick pans to cook with, you may be exposing yourself to potential health risks that can seriously subvert your sexual energy. Sure, they’re convenient, but at what awful price? According to a 2006 news release from the EWG, a panel of experts confirmed that a toxic chemical used in nonstick pans can cause cancer, and may be associated with birth defects and other health risks. The chemical, which doesn’t break down in the environment, ends up in your bloodstream when you use these pans. Healthy alternatives to nonstick pans include stainless-steel and cast-iron cookware.
    —Another area of concern, your personal-care products , includes everything from your shampoo, deodorant, and toothpaste to your makeup and nail polish. Many commonly used items contain ingredients that are neither health-supportive nor libido-friendly. Some contain phthalates and other potentially harmful synthetic chemicals, including ingredients that could be potentially cancer initiating. Safe, healthy alternatives to chemically laden personal-care items abound at your local health-food stores and online. For information on chemicals in your cosmetics, visit the EWG’s Skin Deep website at: www.cosmeticsdatabase.com .
    —And what about your food-storage containers ? You may not be aware that the chemical bisphenol A , or BPA, found in many plastics and commonly used in containers, can be released into foods and beverages, especially with temperature elevations. BPA can compromise your health and sexuality in multiple ways: it has estrogen-mimicking effects; potentially causes hormone disruptions in women and men; and may contribute to infertility, breast cancer, and early puberty in girls. Furthermore, exposure to BPA during pregnancy could negatively affect the fetus. To decrease your exposure, replace plastic food containers with glassware, and