If there is one thing I [Andrea Nichols] believe is true, it is that people with autoimmunity have a toxic body. I came to this conclusion based both on the research I have done and on my own personal experience.

Dr. Stephen B. Edelson states in his book "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Autoimmune Disorders", that he has never treated an autoimmune patient who has not been toxic, and that most of his patients have been either completely or significantly relieved of their symptoms once toxins were removed from their body. Dr. Edelson has written a whole chapter on the role of environmental toxins in the autoimmune process, and how removing these toxins provides people with the relief for which they've been searching.

We are all toxic for different reasons and to different degrees, but Dr. Edelson believes that autoimmune patients have the epitome of a toxic body.

The more discomfort you are in, the more pain you are feeling, the sicker and more toxic you are. Inflammation and irritation are classic signs of a toxic body. Although environmental toxins are not the only cause of the autoimmune process, it may be what is the root cause of the other factors such as candida, viral or bacterial infections.

We live in a toxic world. We are presently being exposed to hundreds of thousands of toxic compounds in the form of inorganic chemicals and toxic metals. These substances are everywhere, from the air we breathe, the foods we eat, the water we drink, the water we bathe in, the pharmaceuticals we take, the vaccinations we give our children, the smoke we inhale, the cleaning products we use, the pesticides and insecticides we come in contact with – the list goes on.

Our bodies have become virtual dumping grounds for hundreds of these toxic metals and chemicals. Studies indicate that we have between 400 and 800 toxic metal and chemical residues stored in our fat cells, and our tissues and organs.

The Environmental Protection Agency has estimated that we cannot metabolize most of these chemicals and metals. So what happens to them once we have been exposed? They accumulate in our fat cells, in our organs such as the liver, kidneys and brain, in our glands such as the thyroid and adrenals, and in the central nervous system.

Together, these chemicals and metals result in a chronic toxic overload condition in our bodies. As these toxins build up, they create free radicals and disturb cell membranes and enzyme activities. They bind to cell membranes and block the receptor sites for essential minerals, so that minerals such as iron, calcium and magnesium cannot be utilized and absorbed. This causes enzyme dysfunction, nutritional deficiencies, hormonal imbalances, neurological disorders, damages brain chemistry, which then leads to auto-immune disorders, cancer, and other debilitating chronic conditions.

Depending on your genetic predisposition for eliminating toxins from the body, you may tolerate more or less exposure to toxic metals and chemicals before showing negative effects such as an autoimmune disorder. Genetics also determine which part of the body that the toxins will attack.

The Most Common Sources of Metal and Chemical Toxicity

The heavy metals that most commonly cause poisoning are iron, lead, cadmium (found in cigarettes), arsenic and mercury.

Others include aluminum, antimony, chromium, cobalt, copper, manganese, nickel, selenium, tin, thallium and uranium.

Other sources of poisoning include pesticides, insecticides, fungicides, chemical warfare, radiation and common chemicals such as benzene, carbon dioxide, chloroform, dichlorobenzene, DDT, formaldehyde, hexane, toluene, trichloroethylene (TCE) and xylene.

Identify Your Sources of Toxins and Eliminate Them as Much as Possible

If you are experiencing autoimmune disease symptoms, then check out the common toxins that you may be exposed to, both at home and at work, and take steps to reduce your exposure.

Sources of toxins include:

· Mercury amalgam fillings
· Pharmaceutical medications
· Recreational drugs
· Cigarettes
· Alcohol
· Caffeine
· Pesticides
· Insecticides
· Food additives
· Processed foods
· Artificial sweeteners
· Sodas
· Perfumes and synthetic fragrances
· Household cleansers
· Tap water
· Laundry detergent
· Air fresheners

Next, Cleanse Your Body of These Toxins

The toxins that have accumulated in your body and that are making you sick must be removed in order for your immune system to function normally again.

According to Dr. Stephen B. Edelson, a well- known autoimmune disease specialist, he has never treated an autoimmune disease patient that wasn't toxic.

So even if you think you don't have toxins because you eat pretty well and stay away from alcohol and cigarettes etc., if you are sick, hurting and tired, you are toxic. So you can choose to operate from this assumption and get rid of these toxins as quickly, thoroughly and safely as possible.

For those of you who are scientifically minded and want to know exactly which toxins are in your body, there are some reliable tests that can help you:

If you choose to work through a doctor or other health care practitioner, be sure to ask for a "chelation 24 hour challenge test". A regular blood or urine test will not detect the presence of toxic metals unless the exposure has been fairly recent, within the last 3 weeks. A chelation challenge test is the most reliable way to detect heavy metals. It is, however, expensive and requires a visit to a health care practitioner's office.

A less expensive but almost equally effective and reliable way to test yourself for heavy metal toxins is to use a Heavy Metal Screen Test or do a Hair Analysis.

The Heavy Metal Screen Test is an inexpensive state-of-the-art scientifically proven screen developed in Europe that you can do in the comfort of your own home. You can test yor saliva or your urine (urine is recommended) and it will tell you instantly whether you are carrying unbound toxic metal ions, specifically identifying mercury, lead, cadmium, copper, nickel and zinc. This is the simplest and least expensive way to determine whether you are a carrying toxic metal load.

To learn more about the Heavy Metal Screen Test, click here >>>

A Hair Tissue Analysis tests your hair for 8 toxic metals as well as 15 essential minerals and 15 trace elements. This test costs more than the Heavy Metal Screen Test and it is more comprehensive. It will give you a very good picture of what has been happening inside yor body over the last 2 or 3 months. You will need to send a hair sample to the specified lab and then wait 2 - 3 weeks for the results.

A hair analysis is usually only available through a doctor's referral. However, we have found a way to offer our readers a Comprehensive Hair Analysis that does not require a visit to a health care practitioner's office. This is the very same test that is used by doctors, only we offer it at a much lower cost.

Both of the above-mentioned tests are a helpful way to determine the nature of your toxicity, and they are an excellent way to chart your detoxification progress.

To Learn More About A Comprehensive Hair Analysis Test, click here >>>

EBN™ (Evenbetternow) Bentonite Clay is a 100% pure pharmaceutical grade bentonite clay that has a very high cation exchange capacity (CEC) of  98-107 meq/100g.  This creates a very high ionic surface charge when mixed with warm water. EBN™  Detoxifying Bentonite Clay not only draws out chemical toxins and pollutants from the body, it also assists in pulling out heavy metals that many experts in the field of environmental toxicology believe is a primary factor in many diseases today.

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Bio-Chelat™ is a patented heavy metal chelator that you take orally, a few drops under the tongue. It works to remove the metal toxins that are tightly bound to the tissues and organs (including the brain). Bio-Chelat™ is the only natural heavy metal chelator that has been clinically studied, and has no side effects according to the manufacturer. It works extremely well on its own or in tandem with EBN™ Detoxifying Clay.

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Two Important Products to Support Chelation and Detoxification
Christopher's Kidney Formula
	This formula is specific for the kidneys. Approximately 80% of the body is liquid, and much of this fluid must be pumped and filtered through the urinary system. We generally do not take the best care of this delicate urinary tract in normal times. In times of detoxification, when many contaminants are being filtered through the urine, even more care is needed. Over the years, Christopher's Kidney Formula, a synergistic blend of herbs, have been used with people who have been afraid to be out in public because of a lack of control over the urinary tract and because they've been unknowingly voiding urine.
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After using this formula, many people have found relief from this condition and are living normal lives again. This formula will also strengthen the kidney function in order to pump and filter a new inflow of contaminants as a result of any chelation or detoxification program. Christopher's Kidney Formula is in a pure 100% vegetable-based capsule. Most of the herbs in this formula are wildcrafted or organic.
Liver Detoxifier & Regenerator

As the largest glandular organ in the body, the liver spends its days carrying out hundreds of crucial metabolic functions. Two, however, are of foremost importance. The first is to synthesize bile to aid digestion. Every time you eat, your gall bladder releases its reserve of bile through ducts into the digestive tract. This allows semi-digested food to pass from the stomach to the small intestines. The second, is to make sense of the waste, toxins, and nutrients following digestion. After a slow trip through the esophagus, stomach and small intestine, the remaining nutrient-rich liquid arrives at the liver.
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From there it goes into action by filtering out toxins and waste, while determining which nutrients will be used, and which will be stored. If the health of the liver is compromised in any way, then its ability to filter toxins can be impaired and some of these contaminants can be stored in the tissue and bio-accumulate there. This can be the situation in individuals who have a heavy toxic load in their bodies of heavy metals, chemicals, food additives, plasticizers, pesticides, etc. At the forefront of liver science is Dr. Samuel Verghese, M.D. In addition to being a world-renowned expert in complementary alternative medicine, Dr. Verghese has traveled to some of the most remote regions of the world, treated thousands of patients, and developed some of the most unique natural supplements available. Liver Detoxifier & Regenerator has been clinically developed by Dr. Verghese. Until recently, it has been used exclusively in his private practice. The formula is a proprietary blend of herbs and nutrients designed to support healthy liver function. Dr. Verghese offers a unique detoxification process which includes supplementing with this liver formula. He has stated that he has had patients with as few as 25% healthy liver cells make wonderful recoveries. We believe this to be the best liver formula to take while in the midst of a chelation or detoxification process.