subject: How To Protect Yourself Against Environmental Toxins [print this page] How To Protect Yourself Against Environmental Toxins
The increasing presence of toxic chemicals in our environment increases the risk of life-threatening illness. We need to get a regular & consistent blend of antioxidant & detoxifying nutrients into our bodies to help neutralize & metabolize toxic materials.-- Scientists estimate that 80% of cancers result from toxic environmental causes. Pollutants may also contribute to heart disease, kidney disorders, emphysema, anemia, liver disease, etc.-- The air we breathe, both indoors & out, as well as the water we drink & the food we eat, are all potential sources of toxic exposure.-- Scientific research shows that certain nutrients may boost the body's defenses against environmental toxins, by interfering with toxic reactions & preventing cellular damage, which may lead to disease.Just this month Japan Prime Minister Naoto Kan warned of more leaks & urged people within 12 miles of the nuclear plant to evacuate. After seeing this on the news, I urge everyone to get familiar with how to protect yourselves agains environmental toxins!WE LIVE IN A SEA OF TOXIC CHEMICALSNot just in Japan, but all over the world! Motor vehicle exhaust. Industrial pollution. Smog. Fumes from paint, cleaners, & hairspray. Smoke from barbecues, cigarettes, & fireplaces. Water tainted with pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, heavy metals, & chlorine compounds. Food containing residual chemicals & artificial additives. Today, pollution is everywhere, & it has become a primary threat to our good health.The American Cancer Society estimates that 80% of all cancers are either directly or indirectly related to chemicals & other toxic agents polluting our environment. Although some pollutants are no longer actively used, they will probably never be gone from the environment. We are exposed to more & more chemicals each year.Pollutants increase our risk for cancer & other illnesses, including heart disease, kidney disorders, emphysema, anemia, & liver disease.INDOORS OR OUT, THE AIR WE BREATHE IS CAUSE FOR ALARMNo one can choose NOT to breathe air, a crucial element that's difficult to control. Outdoors, our air is filled with the exhaust of millions of cars & other vehicles, factories, & power plants. Air quality evaluations are now routine in most major metropolitan areas, complete with "smog alerts" when pollution is severe enough to warrant staying indoors if you suffer from asthma or other breathing difficulties.Unfortunately, indoor air isn't any better & may even be worse. Inside modern buildings, air pollution can accumulate, combining outside pollutants with additional chemicals from indoor sources. Chemicals "gas off" from building materials such as plywood, wallboard, carpeting, & even furniture. Additional chemicals can enter the air from paint & varnish, strong cleaners, floor & furniture polish & wax, & personal care products such as hair spray & nail polish remover. Other sources of unwanted chemicals include barbecues, fireplaces, heating systems, & tobacco smoke. The risks are so significant that many researchers see indoor air pollution as a significant health hazard.IMPURE FOOD & WATER POSE CHALLENGESOur food & drinking water may contain residual pesticides & other agricultural chemicals or other cancer-causing contaminants. Like water overflowing from a rain barrel, these chemical assaults can combine to overwhelm the body's natural defense mechanisms & set the stage for serious health problems.ANTIOXIDANTS: YOUR DEFENSE AGAINST FREE RADICAL DAMAGEProviding your body with beta-carotene & ALL THE OTHER 599 CAROTENOIDS has been shown to play an active role in protecting delicate body tissues. In addition, Vitamin C & Vitamin E from natural plant sources provide antioxidant protection for both the watery & lipid portions of cells, respectively.DETOXIFYING NUTRIENTS HELP PROTECT AGAINST POLLUTANTSThe B-vitamins riboflavin, niacin, & pyridoxine help detoxify foreign substances inhaled or ingested. Riboflavin (vitamin B2) is an essential cofactor for several enzymes, including some involved in the detoxification of certain cancer-causing agents. Pyridoxine (vitamin B6) is similarly an enzyme cofactor; B6 deficiency has been linked to increased production of an agent which causes liver cancer.Magnesium is instrumental in both detoxification & tissue repair. Zinc protects the body against the effects of toxic heavy metals including mercury & cadmium. Cadmium is one of the most poisonous elements in our environment & inhibits the function of many of the body's enzymes.Selenium is an important trace element required by the body to defend against heavy-metal poisons such as cadmium, mercury, & lead. Recent research has shown a significant relationship between selenium intake & a reduced occurrence of certain cancers.GTF chromium boosts body defenses but you need other nutrients to help the liver detoxify food additives such as artificial coloring agents & other harmful chemicals. YOUR SOLUTION TO POLLUTION?We are NOT getting these nutrients in our foods in large enough quantities to be effective. Lack of knowledge about which foods to eat & how much of each to eat EVERY DAY & lack of time to be able to prepare food properly on a daily basis are all challenges that almost all of us face. Additionally, most foods are seasonal, meaning sometimes we get to enjoy them & then we cannot get them again for months. The only solution is to supplement the diet to help protect us from this polluted world! We spend thousands of dollars on our cars, our computers, our homes -- & yet most of the time we shop for our vitamin supplements based on price, not purity & potency! Now is not the time to skimp on the quality of your vitamin supplements! Choose your vitamin supplements like your life depends on it -- because it does!
