Unfortunately since the 1950s, thousands of dangerous synthetic chemicals and toxins have been introduced into our daily lives. They come from food manufacturing, prescription drugs and environmental pollutants released by industry and cars as well as pesticide spraying, and all jeopardize health and environment. When the body fails to detoxify the load of poisons, it becomes exposed to excessive free radicals, resulting in cancer, inflammation, allergies and other health problems, including autoimmune diseases.
Even refined natural food can eventually rob your body of its essential nutrients as it loses them during processing. Let me give you an example; smokers and heavy drinkers are unable to assimilate vitamin C in the same way as non-smokers and non-drinkers. They thus require a higher intake of the vitamin in order for the body to detoxify. (By the way, the same vitamin cleanses the body from more than 50 other undesirable toxic materials including exhaust fumes.) So smokers and drinkers should raise their daily vitamin C intake to 1000 mg instead of the recommended 200 mg.
Chemical additives in food, such as artificial flavors, colorings, preservatives and sweeteners (aspartame), are associated with health risks. Tartrazine, or E102 which is common food coloring, is known to produce allergic reactions in certain individuals and hyperactivity in some children. Children who ingest such chemicals excessively (in sweets) are likely to have decreased blood levels of zinc. A correlation has been found between this zinc deficiency and an increased risk of behavioral and immune system disruptions.
Unfortunately, tartrazine is one of the few hundreds of food additives yet to be tested. Let us hope researchers do further testing.
To our dismay, most fruits, vegetables, grains and seeds are also heavily sprayed with pesticides which can be cancer-promoting and toxic to the brain and nervous system, as well as causing birth defects and decreased fertility. Only organically grown foods are safe nowadays. Exposure to pesticides is related to many destabilizing health conditions, including mood-swings, aggressive behavior, memory decline, depression and even Parkinson’s disease.
According to studies, a prolonged ingestion of the chemicals may result in irritable bowel syndrome, asthma, eczema, migraine, and perhaps others as well. Unfortunately more and more vegetables and fruit are sprayed beyond the safe limit.
Not all water is safe. Bottled spring water can supply you with one sixth of your calcium needs. But not all bottled water is natural spring water; additionally, artificially carbonated water is neither healthy nor good for bones. Naturally carbonated water promotes mineral assimilation in your system. Artificially carbonated water does not attach to minerals in the same way, resulting in less than optimal mineral absorption and consequent bone loss. Tap water’s supply of calcium is minimal and it may contain substantial amounts of nitrates, trihalomethanes, lead and aluminum which rob the body of nutrients.
Seemingly inoffensive methods of cooking, such as frying and deep-frying, trigger imbalance in the body by producing free radicals that damage healthy cells. Heating oils excessively transforms their molecular configuration to unhealthy trans-fatty acids, promoting cancer, heart disease, inflammation, premature aging and destroying protective antioxidants such as vitamins A and E. Even healthy polyunsaturated fats (sunflower, canola) when overheated turn into harmful “trans” fats.
On the other hand, saturated fat (butter) or monounsaturated fats (olive oil) do alter with very high temperatures and become safer.
Not all toxic chemicals are in your food, but may also be in the containers that hold it — the soft plastic wrapping over fresh produce and plastic-lined cans and cartons holding drinks. Substances such as phthalates are used to soften plastics, encouraging a proliferation of breast cancer cells. It is advised to minimize the use of soft plastic film and bottles for food storage and use glass or hard plastic containers and paper bags. Furthermore, avoid putting wet and fatty food in direct contact with soft plastics.
Most pharmaceutical drugs and even common medicines (aspirin) can interfere with nutrient assimilation in the body and irritate the gastro-intestinal tract, triggering intestinal bleeding or indigestion that may cause undigested food particles to pass into the bloodstream. This tells the immune system to induce allergic reactions to ordinary foods, gradually undermining defenses and inviting inflammation. Others, such as acetaminophen, overload the liver, breaking down its ability to function properly.
Ironically, antibiotics themselves sometimes increase infection risks by decreasing the intestines microflora (beneficial bacteria) and promoting yeast infections. Such conditions create an inviting environment for unfriendly bacteria and yeasts, thus diminishing the body’s defenses and ability to absorb nutrients and encouraging bacterial (ameba) and yeast (candida) infections.
Here are a few suggestions to minimize the harmful effects of whatever robs us of the essential nutrients our body needs.
• Make sure to install water filters to improve the quality of your tap water.
• Look for organically grown or raised plants and animals for your food. If they are not available, thoroughly wash or peel your fruit and vegetables.
• Avoid deep-frying; instead opt for other cooking methods, such as grilling, broiling, sautéing, baking and steaming.
• Store liquids and soft foods in glass jars and hard plastic containers rather than in soft ones.
• Reduce your exposure to car exhaust and industrial fume emission.
• If you are not a smoker, avoid secondhand smoke as it is just as bad as smoking.
• Minimize frequent and long-term use of antibiotics, painkillers and other pharmaceutical drugs unless they are absolutely necessary. (You can also find healing in alternative medicine.)
(Mariam Alireza is a holistic science specialist. Send comments to [email protected].)
