“Did you sleep on poison?” Cardiologist reveals why your nightly shower matters for detox and heart health – The Times of India

Cardiologist Dr. Jack Wolfson, with over 25 years of active practice, has one question that will raise your eyebrows: Did you sleep on poison last night? Although that does sound shocking, his message brings to light one very critical consideration about health which many of us fail to recognize-the timing of when you shower and how it impacts your exposure to environmental toxins. As the number of chemicals rises in our day-to-day life, certain simple habits go a long way toward long-term well-being.

All day long, our skin, the largest organ in the body, is exposed to thousands of chemicals: plastics and phthalates in packaging; parabens, common in personal care items; PFAS, otherwise known as-“forever chemicals”; pesticides lingering on food or in surroundings; and toxins produced by mold or certain bacteria. And Dr. Wolfson says there are thousands of these substances that people are in contact with every day. The problem is, many of these contaminants don’t just stay on the surface of the skin, but can penetrate the skin and enter the bloodstream, contributing to inflammation and oxidative stress that drive heart disease and other chronic conditions.

While many people feel that the fresh morning shower is the best way to wake up, Dr. Wolfson warns that the problem with showering only in the morning means you spend the whole night sleeping atop accumulated daytime toxins. Your skin, your bedding, pillowcases, and sheets then become a source of chronic chemical exposure throughout the night. Just imagine-lying on those surfaces for hours and allowing those poisons to be reabsorbed into your body when it’s supposed to be resting and repairing.

Dr. Wolfson’s suggested solution is quite simple-shower at night before going to bed. This practice scrubs off toxins and chemicals from the day, which cleans your skin so you won’t transfer those poisons into your bed. Now, clean sheets become a truly clean environment, supporting natural detoxification during sleep.Sleep is the time when the body undertakes important repair work. The liver and the lymphatic system are more active at night, breaking down waste products and eliminating them from the body. A clean-skin surface free of toxins aids these natural processes. It also allows the pores to breathe during the night and helps in skin regeneration without interference from surface impurities. As much as the hours we sleep are important, practicing proper sleep hygiene is also of utmost importance when it comes to our health.

It is such an important thing not to compromise your cleansing routine with harsh products. Most soaps and cleansers contain man-made fragrances, parabens, and sulfates, adding to the toxic burden in what is supposed to be a cleaning of the skin. Dr. Wolfson advises choosing gentle, all-natural, plant-based cleansers free from these chemicals. Products with fewer ingredients and no-artificial additives reduce the risk of irritating the skin and provide cleansing without adding new toxins.Think of simple homemade remedies, like oatmeal scrubs or light coconut oil cleansers with some essential oils that are antimicrobial and soothing. These work well in taking away impurities without compromising the integrity of your skin’s natural barrier.

While showering at night is an important part of your routine-it is only one part of a lifestyle that promotes detoxification and heart health. Drinking plenty of water will hydrate your body and help the kidneys excrete toxins. Eating organic and minimally processed foods high in antioxidants helps your liver metabolize poisons. Regular movement, both cardiovascular exercise and lymphatic-stimulating activities, will help your body efficiently clear waste products.Sleep quality is important, too, as restorative sleep allows the body to reset hormonal balances and repair cellular damage. Minimizing the use of plastic-especially for food packaging and water bottles–helps reduce ongoing exposure to phthalates and other chemicals.

The modern environment exposes us to chemicals in ways and at levels never before encountered by humans. It is impossible to completely avoid them–but there are very effective ways of reducing the burden on our systems. Switching your shower from morning to night is a simple step in the right direction toward lowering your chemical load. Used in conjunction with natural cleansing products and a healthy lifestyle, it supports your body in its efforts to heal and flourish.Let tonight’s shower be a calming, cleansing ritual of both body and mind. Sleep peacefully, wake refreshed, knowing you have done your part to protect your body from toxins we often cannot see.