Eddie Stone Explains How to Reduce Toxic Burden

Eddie Stone, founder of Touchstone Essentials, says the modern toxic burden is about more than chemicals.

It’s also the speed of life.

In a recent interview, he described roughly 105,000 to 110,000 different chemicals introduced over the past several decades through industrial manufacturing, farming and everyday products. Microplastics now fall into that category. But Stone argues the burden also includes the hurried pace of modern living — the fast food mindset, the constant demand for speed — that adds its own kind of stress.

What the Modern Toxic Burden Really Means

Stone, 62, has spent decades in the health space. He started looking at his own numbers after a disappointing insurance exam and saw similar patterns in his family. The term “toxic burden,” he explained, covers both physical pollutants — heavy metals, environmental contaminants in air, water and food — and the less obvious pressure of a lifestyle that demands everything now.

He said the body has an incredible natural ability to detoxify itself, but the modern load can overwhelm those systems. Katie, the podcast host, noted that detox is not something people do to their bodies. It’s an innate process. But because the burden is higher than ever before, the body needs support. The founder agreed, pointing out that harsh cleanses and extreme protocols often turn people off. He advocates for gentle, daily habits that work with the body rather than against it.

The challenge for families is that reducing exposure is only half the equation. Without a consistent way to support the body’s own detox pathways, the cumulative load may continue to rise. Stone’s approach favors small, manageable steps — like choosing better water or adding a daily supplement — over dramatic interventions that are hard to sustain.

Simple Steps to Lower Daily Exposure

Stone recommends starting with water. He suggests checking local water quality reports or testing well water. Even simple charcoal filters for the shower head or kitchen sink can make a difference for a few dollars a month. He pointed out that water is used not just for drinking but for cooking, showering and washing clothes, so it’s a constant exposure.

Air quality inside the home is another overlooked factor. The founder noted that the filter in an HVAC system is doing the same job as the lungs — trapping particles — but you can’t replace your lungs.

Changing filters more frequently and being mindful of harsh cleaning products in small, enclosed spaces like bathrooms can reduce damage to delicate lung tissue. He also encourages getting outside, walking in nature and doing breathing exercises where possible.

On food, Stone is a strong advocate for buying certified organic produce and foods as much as a budget allows. He said the price difference between conventionally grown and organic is often only 1 to 3 percent.

Cooking concentrates whatever is in the food, so pesticides, herbicides and fungicides become more concentrated in sauces and reductions. Even sourcing one-third of the budget organically can lower the overall exposure. Stone also mentioned gardening as a way to control what goes into food, though he acknowledged it’s not available to everyone. Even a small container garden can help.

The interview touched on supplements like zeolite as a gentle daily support — something Stone compares to getting adequate fiber. He said the goal is an ongoing process, not a one-time fix, because the exposure is daily and real.