Friday, 30 July 2010
Food & Drink Living Better for Your Health
 
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Living Better for Your Health
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Written by Adam Curren   

AppleWe are exposed to thousands of chemicals everyday in our environment, and through food and water. These harmful chemicals can wreak havoc on the immune system and brain and if exposure to these dangerous toxins isn’t reduced, we’ll continue to see an increase in acute and degenerative disease.

This article will highlight key areas in our lives that are exposed to numerous chemicals that have negative effects on our health. I’ll also identify a few ways that we can begin living better now.

Illness can often be traced to one or more of three sources: Diet, Genetics or Environment. If the body is constantly dealing with toxins from many sources, there will be times when the body can no longer fulfill all its other major functions, leading to premature aging and disease. Ever growing research links brain disease like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Depression and Autism with environmental toxins, chemicals and altered fats in our food supply.

Diet


Over 3,000 chemicals are added to our food supply today with another 1,000 introduced each year, including Aspartame, Chlordane, Fluoride, Dioxins and pesticides. These chemicals have been known to cause immediate effects such as headaches, nausea, dizziness and fatigue; and are also build up in our bodies causing long term effects such as Cancer, Immune System Depression, Muscle and Vision Problems and Reproductive Disorders.

Avoiding all of these chemicals is almost impossible, but there are a few things we can do to reduce our exposure. Choose organic foods and avoid processed and artificial additives. Take the time to learn how to shop smart. Your eating habits will likely have to change, but you’ll find that organic actually tastes better.

These toxins store up in our bodies at the cellular level and will eventually cause poor health conditions if not eliminated. One thing we can do for this issue is to cleanse the body of toxins on a regular basis. Replace aluminium cooking pans with stainless steel as many studies have linked aluminium to Alzheimer’s. Eat more fruits and vegetables and try to limit your consumption of canned foods. The fresh fruits and vegetables will help kill free radicals in your body, which build up from toxins. When we begin feeding our body living – clean foods, we’ll begin to feel a difference in our overall health and vitality.

Environment


Some of the chemicals we’re exposed to in our environment include: Asbestos, Chlorine, Formaldehyde, Heavy Metals, Lead, Phthalates and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). According to the EPA, indoor air is 2-5 times more polluted than outdoor air; due to the large presence of VOC toxins in household products such as: Drinking Water, Carpet, Paints, Deodorants, Cleaning Fluids, Cosmetics, and Air Fresheners. Metals like Arsenic, Mercury, Lead, Aluminium and Cadmium, which are prevalent in many areas of our environment, can accumulate in soft tissues of the body. These heavy metals are found in our Drinking Water, Fish, Vaccines, Pesticides, Antiperspirant, Building Materials and Dental Fillings. Add electromagnetic pollution, irradiation, ultra pasteurization, fluorescent lights and toxic additives like MSG and Aspartame to the equation, and we arrive at one explanation for rising rates of acute and degenerative disease.

What to do


Household cleaners and products - Begin replacing toxic household cleaners in your home. There are safe, effective and natural alternatives that cost the same and can be found at most major retailers or by searching online. Use natural brands of toiletries, including shampoo, toothpaste, antiperspirants and cosmetics.

Cigarette smoke - first and second hand - If you smoke, odds are you’re aware of the health risks. If you are not willing to do what it takes to quit, at least reduce the exposure of second hand smoke to other people by not smoking indoors.

Pesticides - Avoid using them in your home and garden. It’s likely that you’ve consumed enough pesticide this week through your food, that you’d be able to keep the bugs away with your saliva alone. Again, many natural alternatives can be found at major retailers or online.

Conclusion


Due to the exposure of numerous chemicals from multiple sources, doctors are often unable to diagnose or properly diagnose the symptoms related to ingesting and breathing in these toxins. There is not much we can do to avoid all of the chemicals that we are exposed to everyday, besides move to Fiji and live in an underground bunker. However, there are measures we can take to reduce some of our exposure. Supplementing your diet with a highly soluble Vitamin C will do wonders for your immune system. If we can begin taking initiative regarding our own health and begin to apply the tips shared today, we’ll be on our way to a healthier life.

References


  • http://www.westonaprice.org/envtoxins/ article: Environmental Toxins
  • http://womenshealth.about.com/cs/azhealthtopics/a/envtoxrephealth.htm article: Environmental Toxins and Reproductive Health
  • http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2005/02/19/common-toxins.aspx article: How to Avoid the Top 10 Most Common Toxins
  • http://www.socialworktoday.com/archive/marapr2007p37.shtml article: Chemical Kids — Environmental Toxins and Child Development By Dan Orzech Social Work Today Vol. 7 No. 2 P. 37
  • http://envirocancer.cornell.edu/FactSheet/General/fs45.chemical.cfm articles: Environmental Chemicals and Breast Cancer Risk

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More information about this topic in our food & drink section.

Written by Adam Curren

 


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