Toxins are agents or poisons that are either created by the body or come from external sources that are capable of causing the body harm. For instance, car fumes, tobacco smoke, drugs and air pollution are all toxins. Toxins are a major contributor to the aging process, so the goal therefore should be to limit our exposure as much as possible.

Avoiding toxins is not as simple as giving up the cigarettes because we come in contact with toxins in our day to day lives that we are often unaware of. Many individuals are shocked to find out that many shampoos, toothpastes and mouth washes contain a specific ingredient, SLS Sodium Laureth Sulfate, which is considered an irritant by some and a toxin by others. SLS is a foaming agent and there is great debate over its possible effects on the body including whether or not it is a carcinogen (there is no proof).

The point is not to cause mass hysteria or to get you to throw out all your shampoos and tooth pastes just in case. Instead you should simply be aware that we come in contact with agents each and everyday that we do not know everything about. Our bodies do have certain mechanisms (i.e. vomiting) that help us get rid of toxins but we need to do what we can to help it out. For instance, in defense against toxins that do enter our bodies the cells of certain organs begin to rapidly reproduce to replace affected cells, this rapid reproduction leads to increased chances of mutation. Mutation in cells can lead to cancer.

Toxins affect us to varying degrees. For instance, some cause fatigue or minor irritations while others cause allergies, asthma, or cancer. Whether or not the effects are extreme or subtle they all have an effect on our overall health and therefore the aging of our bodies. This is the big dilemma because many of the products that we use contain ingredients that are not proven safe or proven to be dangerous therefore in many instances we do not know what we are subjecting our bodies to.

The possible threat of toxins is one of the reasons why so many individuals are "going organic" and "going green". This trend does indeed have positive effects on the environment but in reality that translates to a safer place for use to live. For instance using green house hold cleaners is good for the environment, but at the same time they are "health friendly" to you as the consumer.

Being aware and educating yourself about the products you use is your best defense against toxins. Making small changes can have a big impact on the over all health of you and your family not to mention the environment we live in.

Aging is an absolute but the how and when is greatly affected by what we subject our bodies to including the environment we live in. For most people the houses live in are actually more polluted with toxins then the smog filled air outside there doors.