Environmental Toxins and Our Health

As a result of the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan there is elevated concern over the health and environmental consequences that may result from the damaged nuclear reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.  While the full impact of this ongoing crisis is not fully understood, experts seem to agree that the United States is not susceptible to significant health risks at this time.  While that is positive news; it brings an urgency to understand the seriousness of environmental and industrial pollution and the potential health risks.

 The complex affects of a nuclear disaster and the human body’s ability to reverse the damage of high levels of nuclear radiation are not very optimistic.  It raises the question about the cumulative effects of the toxic chemicals that we come into contact in our everyday lives.  Our bodies are under constant assault from pollutants in our environment.  Most of us are aware of the dangers of lead, mercury, asbestos, mold, cigarette smoke, radiation and other hazardous materials. What we need to be especially concerned with is the toxins we come in contact with in our daily lives through the food we eat, the water we drink, the air we breathe and the consumer products we use.

What are the cumulative effects of low level toxins that accumulate in our body tissues over time?  As environmental research advances it is becoming more apparent that the environmental toxins we come in contact with could be a threat to our health and longevity.  Environmentally triggered illnesses are becoming more widely recognized.  Chronic multi-symptom illnesses such allergies, autism, ibs, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia and other immune disorders have been linked to environmental sensitivities.

There are a number of things we can do to help strengthen our bodies to better cope the toxins in our environment.  Eating a highly nutritious diet, getting sunshine, exercise and performing routine metabolic cleansing to detoxify the body may help to reverse the cumulative affects of environmental toxins.  It’s also important to recognize possible hidden food allergies that can act as source of internal toxicity that can weaken our body’s natural defense and ability to tolerate external toxins.  Most importantly, we need recognize the risks and make a conscious effort to avoid adding chemicals to our lives and strive to live a natural, non toxic lifestyle.

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Our Connection to Earth: The Crisis in Japan

  

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Our connection to the Earth has become very apparent in the wake of the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan.  On top of this catastrophic disaster, we are collectively faced with an unprecedented nuclear emergency.  Despite the devastation, the people of Japan have demonstrated exemplary calm and kindness throughout this crisis.  As our hearts go out to the people of Japan and we pray for the healing of the people and our beloved Earth we should also take action in regard to our environmental concerns.  It’s time that we act collectively to have greater influence and more of a positive environmental impact.  The following organizations help inform and create positive environmental change.

The Earth Charter

http://www.earthcharterinaction.org/content/pages/Read-the-Charter.html

World Watch

http://www.worldwatch.org/mission

National Resources Defense Council

http://www.nrdc.org/

In addition, the links below will provide up to date information on the crisis in Japan as well as links to organizations that are providing assistance to the devastated area.

CNN-Latest News

http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2011/japan.tsunami/index.html

CNN-How to Help

http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/impact.your.world/

International Atomic Energy Agency

http://www.iaea.org/

World Health Organization

http://www.who.int/hac/crises/jpn/faqs/en/index.html

Union of Concerned Scientists

http://ucsusa.org/