Toxins are substances that can be created naturally by plants and animals or included in man-made items (plastic containers, cookware, makeup, toys, etc.). However, did you know toxins are also present in your environment?

In fact, there are over 70,000 industrial chemicals in your environment and 1,000 new toxins are introduced every year. Your body can handle up to 400-500 measurable toxins. What happens when those toxins become overloaded in your body?

Some scientists and researches believe that the overwhelming presence of toxins within your environment could be a root cause to many health issues. If you live within city limits, the existence of toxins is stronger than if you live in a rural area; but that doesn't mean you're not coming in contact with toxins on a regular basis.

What are the four steps to a toxin-free life?

The first step is accepting that there are toxins all around you. Step two is identifying those toxins within your life, such as those in both indoor and outdoor air, your cleaning products, food storage containers, toys, makeup, food, etc. The third step is prevention. Around 80 percent of the toxins that are found in your body are located in your gastrointestinal tract. Watching what you're putting into your mouth can help eliminate unnecessary toxins in your body. Finally, the last step is to eliminate these toxins. One way to do this is to do a cleanse.

If you want to learn more about the toxins within your environment, or want to check which products you should avoid, a great resource is The Environmental Working Group.

What else do you need to know about toxins?

Dr. Stewart Lonky joins Dr. Holly to discuss what toxins are, where they are present, and four ways you can live a toxin-free life.