The other major concern is for our children. This young generation we are charged to care for now is the first generation of children predicted NOT to outlive their parents. Makes me so sad. I did a terrible job with my two older daughters in terms of feeding them correctly (ignorance is no longer blissful) and I see them suffer from that in their 20s and 30s. My "second chance" is now present in Journey, my 11 year old. With my head out of the sand about nutrition I have the opportunity to raise a healthier and happier person.. So feeding my family well is very important to me!
Toxins and chemicals are a reality of our present day world. With all the commercial production of foods, society has the need to grow more and more crops, keep them from spoiling longer, genetically engineer them to resist pests and produce more yield, etc. With this technology comes danger. There are 100s of chemicals in all these production steps that as a society, we have lost the ability to isolate what one or more of these toxins are really doing to our body. The ability to study this has been diluted by the pure volume of them. Not only do we get these toxins from our food, we get them from the air we breathe, the water we drink, and what we put on our skin. The more I research, the more alarmed I become. The medical professionals are busy prescribing more chemicals to treat the symptoms we display and help us be more comfortable short term, but who is watching out for us long term and addressing the roots of the problems. I see very few actions designed to prevent the problem in the first place.
Pesticides - Far too common on our produce! Some pesticides harm our neurological systems, some alter our hormone productions, many harm our reproductive systems, and even some cause cancer. Organic produce will reduce the load of these toxins.
Dioxins and PCBs - These toxins are a result of combustion (fires - think about the controversy recently over grilling our food). They are stored in the fat of animals and humans. One way to reduce these is to limit the amount of smoked foods and trim fat from the meat we eat in addition to eating a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables.
Phthalates - think PVC, a plastic used in pipes and other soft plastics. Also found in fragrances. These chemicals disrupt our endocrine system (think hormones) and have been found to lead to reproductive disorders and diabetes. They are found in processed and packaged foods and in fragrances. Look for fragrances that use essential oils as opposed to those without the word "fragrance" on the label.
Perfluorcarbons- Found in non-stick cookware. Teflon coatings release perfluorcarbons into our foods, especially when the coating is scratched. If you use pans with this coating on them, avoid metal utensils that can scratch the surface of the pans.
Perchlorate- found in our water supply, along with a multitude of other contaminants including chlorine, flouride in un-regulated amounts, prescription drug residues, mercury, pesticides, etc. Strongly consider a water filtration system or at least using a filter on drinking water. Even bottled water does not protect you from contaminants as it only has to meet minimal requirements identical to those in all drinking water. Bottled water may be an even bigger risk, as the plastics used to house the water may be adding additional chemicals to the water.
Bisphenol A (BPA) - used in the production of many hard plastics (like water bottles and baby bottles), this chemical can leach into food or water, especially when heated. BPA is an endocrine disruptor and may be linked to breast and prostate cancers, heart disease, and diabetes in addition to infertility problems. Consider using glass containers instead of plastics and never re-use water bottles! Look for certified BPA-free plastics.
Mercury - Fish is a wonderful nutritious food.. great for brain and heart health, unless it is contaminated with mercury. There is also mercury found in silver dental fillings that can leach into your body. Mercury contamination can harm the brain, nervous system, kidneys, heart, lungs, and immune system. There are several resources available to investigate what seafood items are least likely to be contaminated by mercury. Here is just one: http://www.eatingwell.com/healthy_cooking/healthy_cooking_101/shopping_cooking_guides/green_choices_seafood_buyer_s_guide
Quite a daunting list, don't you think? It appears almost impossible to avoid all these chemicals and I think it is impossible .... but you can minimize it for your family with just a little education. The human body is an amazing creation! Our bodies take care of us and our liver, lymphatic system, blood systems, and kidneys work hard to eliminate these chemicals and toxins every day. We owe it to our own health and the health of our children to do our part! I know that I used to be blind to these issues until it became evident to me that so many people were suffering from health issues related to toxin overload (including me and my own family).
Did you know that our wonderful human body even another mechanism to protect us from this toxic load? We store toxins that can't be eliminated through our own internal devices in fat cells! Yes, that is a large reason why so many of us carry around extra weight! But what can you do to help yourself? Try some gentle internal cleansing that supports your liver, digestive system, lymphatic system, and blood to clear the overload of toxins. That is what I do for my family in addition to some sensible diet changes. Check out this video for more information: http://www.isamovie.com/AreYouToxic.html
And to be entirely fair here, I want to give you one final link to finding more information on the "7 Simple Ways to Detoxify your Diet and your Home". It has been a valuable resource to me, in addition to many others: http://www.eatingwell.com/food_news_origins/organic_natural/7_simple_ways_to_detox_your_diet_and_your_home
Take care and get well soon!
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