Respect and Honor your temple and it will honor you...

Millions of people around the world today are suffering from obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure or are just feeling like crap because of our highly processed unnatural diet. Stressed out and too tired to cook a healthy meal, has us calling 1-800-Send a Pizza my way. Feeling like crap, unfortunately, has become the "new normal" for so many of us.

Feeling lousy inside and out can come with many side effects that we simply dismiss, are you carrying around extra weight, or feeling achy, are constantly tired, or stressed out? And to think those are not the bad side effects, this way of living also comes with an increased risk for all sorts of disease!

Detoxing your life isn't as simple as one might hope, as we live in a world where we are more worried about a germ than the chemicals and toxins that we are exposing ourselves to every day. So many toxins and chemicals make their way into our bodies every day and are linked to so many different cancers.

So what can we do about it? Below are a few tips that can help you avoid toxic chemicals in food.

1) Limit canned food and plastic containers.

Glass, stainless steel, and lead-free ceramic are great alternatives to storing food in plastic containers. Canned food is one of our largest exposures to the toxic chemical BPA. An independent study found that families can reduce their BPA levels by 60% in just three days by avoiding food packaging with BPA's.

2) Avoid non-stick pans.

They may seem convenient, but be wary of non-stick pans. Most non-stick cookware is made using PFOA – a toxic chemical linked to cancer and other health issues. Choose stainless steel, cast iron, or enameled pots and pans instead.

3) Popcorn the old fashioned way.

Most microwave popcorn bags are lined with PFOA's . This possible carcinogen shows up in french fry cups and pizza boxes as well. Try popcorn on the stove, or hot air popcorn poppers. You can also make your own microwave popcorn bags with a regular brown paper bag, follow the link here

4) Filter your drinking water.

Remove common contaminants like arsenic and lead from your drinking water by filtering with either a faucet unit or a filtered water bottle or pitcher.

5) Buy organic when possible.

Check out the “dirty dozen” list before you head to the grocery store. And remember organic doesn’t always have to be more expensive than pesticide-laden foods. Organic vegetables have come down in price and I often find great deals at Walmart in the grocery section. Wash everything in a sink of vinegar or lemon water to ensure no residue from the pesticide veggies.

6) Avoid food dyes.

Many foods on the market contain food dyes, 90% of which are derived from petroleum. Some studies show food dyes are linked to hyperactivity and other disturbing behavior in children.

Take Away Message: You are what you eat. Eating processed food, junk foods, or fast foods have been linked to causing sickness, cancer, and disease, as it's well seasoned and prepared with poison. Many people are sick; mentally, emotionally, and physically, because of being hooked to the 'taste' of these added chemicals and additives.

If you are ready to be "hooked on real food that will help you heal and will provide you with good health and wellness, one of the key components is to include foods that help boost the body’s natural detoxification processes.

• Cruciferous vegetables daily – at least 1 cup daily – includes broccoli, kale, collards, Brussels sprouts, and cauliflower

• Garlic cloves – 2 to 3 every day (or take a garlic supplement)

• organic green tea in the morning instead of coffee

• Fresh vegetable juices – includes celery, cilantro, parsley, and ginger

• High-quality, sulfur-containing proteins include eggs, garlic, and onions

• Bioflavonoids which are found in berries

• Dandelion greens to help liver detoxification, improve the flow of bile and increase urine flow.

• Celery to increase the urine flow and aid in detoxification.

• Cilantro may help remove heavy metals

• Rosemary, which contains carnosol, a potent booster of detoxification enzymes

• Curcuminoids (turmeric and curry) for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action

• Chlorophyll found in dark-green leafy vegetables and in wheatgrass.