Owner, Stacey Francois story and personal health journey
Today is the day! A very exciting and life changing day for me. As you read this, on Tuesday morning February 6th 2024, I am finally getting surgery to remove my breast implants of 27 years. I checked in at 7:00am to the surgery center and in 2 hours, when our newsletter and blog finds its way to your inbox, my surgeon will begin a 2 1/2 hour procedure to remove the smooth mentor sub-muscular implants that came with years of BII (Breast Implant Illness) symptoms: systemic inflammation, skin problems, joint pain, hair loss, chronic “ice pick” headaches, heart palpitations, circulation issues, hormone imbalance, elevated transferrin saturation and liver enzymes, UTI’s, and GI problems.
Along with acute issues including breast tenderness, capsular contracture, and pectoral discomfort. My body wanted these out from the very beginning. I had my first augmentation when I was 21 years old and I am now 48. I’ve spent more years of my life in this augmented state than in my natural body. My first symptoms began just days after my first surgery and I would have continued for several more years if it wasn’t for some recent testing and soul searching. Why was I putting myself through all of this? My goal is to live my longest, healthiest, pain-free, happiest life possible. I know that this “new me” will not only be physically challenging, but emotionally difficult as well. I’ll be testing my mental strength with this one, as the healing portion is long and restrictive. A full year to be exact, but don’t get me wrong, I am so ready.
My health is a big focus for me. I have a rather petite frame with a more athletic build. I never did have a ton of breast tissue, but it was fitting. Over the years I’ve had several surgeries in hopes of resolving some of these issues. They never did get better. That being said, not everyone has BII problems with implants. I have just unfortunately struggled and my recent health testing results were very eye opening for me. Specifically my Total Tox Burden measures. Many of my symptoms are a result of a heavy metal burden that breast implants generally exacerbate.
We live in a sea of toxins and we all carry significant amounts of heavy metals and environmental toxins in our bodies. Even if you don’t have implants, eat all-organic foods, drink filtered water, and use non-toxic home and body products, you will still come in contact with numerous toxins as a part of daily modern life.
Thankfully, we can support our health and buffer the impact of these toxins on our bodies. Strategies outside of having surgery, include a diet that helps your body detoxify regularly and minimizes toxic exposure, anti-inflammatory protocols to buffer the effects of toxins in your body, supporting the pathways of elimination, and including binders in your regular protocol to “sponge up” toxins in your system.
ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DIET
Toxins can induce inflammation in the body. A key strategy is adopting an anti-inflammatory diet to lessen this impact. While organic foods may still carry toxins due to environmental contamination, choosing items free from pesticides, hormones, and antibiotics help reduce your overall exposure. Maintaining stable blood sugar by avoiding sugars and processed carbs is critical, preventing energy crashes and overeating.
It’s vital to steer clear of foods that trigger inflammation, especially if you have sensitivities. Common immune-reactive foods include gluten, dairy, soy, egg, and corn. Complementing dietary changes, certain supplements like resveratrol and curcumin in liposomal form can counteract toxin damage. Liposomal or absorbable glutathione is another effective way to lower inflammation, with additional support from n-acetyl-cysteine, cordyceps, Gotu Kola, milk thistle, L-glutamine, and alpha-lipoic acid to boost intracellular glutathione levels.
BINDING TOXINS IN YOUR BODY
Taking nutritional compounds on a regular basis that bind with toxins for easy removal is another way to buffer your body. Binders can help remove heavy metals, environmental toxins, mycotoxins from molds, infectious bacteria, and fungal infections from your body.
Here are some examples of effective binders:
- Modified citrus pectin: This is derived from citrus peel and processed in a way that it allows it to enter the bloodstream and bind with toxins for safe elimination from the body. Modified citrus pectin also serves as a great “prebiotic,” or a nutrition source for your good gut bacteria. A healthy gut microbiome is critical to helping protect you from toxins. Look for a source that is free of fillers.
- Activated charcoal: Activated charcoal is a popular and affordable binder for toxins. It can also help soothe common digestive complaints.
- Bentonite clay: Bentonite, montmorillonite, and illite (French clay) are used to bind toxins. When mixed with water, these clays develop a sponge like quality and take on an electrical charge to attract harmful compounds. Look for a quality product that does not have lead contamination.
- Zeolite: Zeolite is formed from volcanic rock and ash and is a well-known binder for heavy metals and other toxins.
- Chlorella: Chlorella is a blue-green algae that has an affinity for mercury and lead. It is also rich in B vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. You may need to avoid chlorella if you take blood thinners.
- Silica: Most people think of silica to improve their hair, skin, and nails, but it’s also good at binding metals such as thallium that are harder to detox.
YOU MUST SUPPORT YOUR PATHWAYS OF ELIMINATION WHEN YOU DETOXIFY
While binders effectively attach to toxins, faulty elimination pathways might create additional toxicity in your system. Adequate mineralization is crucial, as lacking minerals can allow heavy metals to bind to cellular receptors. Supporting toxin elimination involves promoting optimal liver and gallbladder function, maintaining healthy bowel elimination, and caring for your kidneys and bladder. Consuming 25–38 grams of fiber daily, staying hydrated, incorporating liver-friendly foods (such as bitters and greens), regular exercise to stimulate the lymphatic system, and consistent sweating are methods to facilitate the efficient removal of toxins from your body.
AVOIDING CHEMICAL SENSITIVITIES
While aiming to reduce our general toxic load, it’s crucial to prioritize preventing the development of chemical sensitivities. Ultimately, the presence of an immune reaction to toxins can be more significant than the overall toxic burden. Reacting to a toxin is akin to reacting to gluten or dairy, posing challenges in elimination, particularly when the toxin is widespread in the air, like benzene, or in plastics, such as BPA.
This is why it’s so important to live an anti-inflammatory lifestyle and test for heavy metal or toxic burdens. If you already have chemical sensitivities, call our office today and ask about methods to lower your sensitivity so you can increase your quality of everyday life. If you have chronic issues, inflammation, joint pain, or even weight gain, call to schedule your testing today!
Stay tuned for my post-surgery blog. I will keep you all updated and share my continued journey as I navigate this new phase of health and healing.
