Watch this video by Dr. Mercola to see why getting the flu shot makes no sense. Some reasons include:

The majority of the 30,000 “scare” flu deaths are really pneumonia related deaths and the flu only causes about 1,000 deaths a year.

Of the million who get the flu, most are elderly with compromised immune systems and more susceptible to pneumonia

Numerous studies report that the flu vaccine will not protect against pneumonia (obviously) and no study conclusively proves that the flu vaccine protects against the flu either.

Prevention is a much safer and saner way to avoid getting the flu in the first place. Please watch Dr. Mercola’s video for proven advice on health tips such as Vitamin D intake that will boost your immune system and protect against the flu naturally.

I’m always on the lookout for nutrients, foods and lifestyle information that will make our bodies and minds healthier and our lives happier, but this little gem has escaped my radar so far, and I suspect that mainstream awareness needs to be raised, starting now! This is about a simple and inexpensive synthetic amino acid related to common household vinegar called EDTA (EthyleneDiamineTetraAcetic Acid).

EDTA was developed by the Germans in 1931 to reverse heavy-metal poisoning from the ingestion of lead, mercury, aluminum, cadmium, and more, especially rampant from the battlefields from World War 1. Chelation therapy is not some new and trendy miracle cure, but for various reasons, it’s one of the best guarded secrets out there flying beneath the mainstream health conscious radar, known for health improvement. If you realize even one or two gains from a huge list of alleged benefits, EDTA deserves to be classified as an astounding miracle compound.

EDTA works on the principle of chelation therapy, and without being too technical, see “chelation” at Wikipedia, works by removing excessive levels of 13 minerals from your body — lead, mercury, nickel, cadmium, and aluminum — all toxic heavy metals. It also removes calcium from arteriosclerotic plaque. That’s the stuff that hardens the arteries and constricts blood flow to and from the heart. Studies have shown that by reducing harmful plaque, EDTA reduces blood pressure in about 60% of high blood pressure patients. Not only that, EDTA can reduce or reverse the effect of a stroke, particularly after the stroke, but even as late as two years following a stroke and it can reduce the need for bypass surgical procedures. EDTA can greatly reduce the need for lower extremity amputations.

Now comes a whole laundry list of benefits, as if the above wasn’t enough. EDTA dissolves kidney stones and protects against iron poisoning and toxic iron buildup in the liver. Regular use has also been shown to improve memory as well as of cholesterol buildup in the liver, thereby reducing blood cholesterol levels throughout the body. By cleaning out our arteries and vessels, EDTA chelation reduces or relaxes excessive heart contractions, helping to normalize 50% or better, of irregular heart rhythms. The risk of heart attacks or strokes is greatly reduced, especially as we age.

EDTA chelation helps to prevent and reduce osteoarthritis. It reduces and alleviates the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Chelation helps to smooth skin wrinkles and aids in restoring softer and more youthful skin in general. In addition, it helps to lower insulin requirements for diabetics. It even dissolves large and small blood clots. Studies and clinical trials have also shown that EDTA chelation can reverse diabetic gangrene as well as restore impaired vision, particularly in the diabetic whose suffering from macular degeneration. Diabetics should undoubtedly talk to their nutritionists about EDTA.

EDTA chelation treatment can help patients with very advanced chronic diseases and in the majority of cases bring the patient back to normal functioning. The treatment can clean up the blood vessels and organs of even the most severely ill patients, and many times the patient can then be successfully treated with the usual conventional treatments. However, medical science in the U.S. seems to be geared more to curing the disease after it’s onset, rather than overall prevention. I just have to wonder why more press and education isn’t made readily available, stressing simple and effective remedies, such as the subject of this article.

If I were a conspiracy theory advocate, I would almost suggest, as many people have, that the amount of money involved in treating crisis conditions would preclude the revenue generated from illness prevention, or wellness advocacy. It may end up shaking the current status quo from it’s complacency, possibly revolutionizing health care, as currently practiced in America. How much better would it be if we could spend more resources and attention on keeping people well, rather than concentrating on trying to make people better after they are sick. We should concentrate on health improvement and maintenance, possibly embracing non conventional methodology presently outside the current confines of empirical medicine.

Chelation therapy is great stuff but it’s not a cure. There is no free lunch, so to speak. It can help in reversing some diseases very well, open blocked blood vessels, and restore circulation, but it is not a cure. If you don’t pay attention to diet, if you don’t stop smoking, if you don’t take the proper nutritional supplements, if you don’t exercise regularly, if you won’t make the lifestyle changes necessary for good health, then eventually you’ll be back to square one or worse. EDTA is very inexpensive, can be purchased over the counter, and is definitely worth a longer look. Thanks for reading.

About the Author:
I specialize in general interest short article content, especially for my own content sites. I love to write and I look forward to contributing many many more submissions, hoping people will find some useful or entertaining info. http://www.healthcontentsite.com

Buy the book: Everything You Should Know About Chelation Therapy

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We all live in a contaminated world and most of us realize we could benefit from some full body detoxification. But how many of us actually have the time to do 7 day juice fasts, the money to spend on clove capsules, dandelion root, black walnut tinctures, coffee enemas, and aged garlic pills, or the energy to deal with feeling horrible for 3 days straight from detoxing too fast? The easiest, cheapest, and safest way to detox is by assisting your body in its natural detoxification processes. Below are the 5 most effective ways to accomplish this goal.

1. Increase your Selenium
Chronic exposure to environmental toxins, including chemotherapy drugs, radiation and other toxic medicines, increases the requirement for selenium. Many of the benefits of selenium are related to its role in the production of the antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase. This enzyme is responsible for detoxification in the body and each molecule of this enzyme contains 4 atoms of selenium. Selenium supplementation has been found to protect the liver in people with alcoholic cirrhosis. Smokers, in particular, have depleted selenium levels and should make every attempt to increase the selenium in their diet. Foods sources of selenium are the safest and most easily utilized by your body. These include:brazil nuts, broccoli, brown rice, chicken, dairy products, garlic, onions, molasses, seafood, vegetables and whole grains.

2. Add some Zinc
Free radicals occur naturally in the body, but environmental toxins (including ultraviolet light, radiation, cigarette smoking, and air pollution) can also increase the number of these damaging particles. Free radicals are believed to contribute to the aging process as well as the development of a number of health problems including heart disease and cancer. Zinc can protect your body from the harmful effects of toxins by 3 separate mechanisms: -The antioxidant properties of zinc can neutralize free radicals and may reduce or even help prevent some of the damage they cause.

• Zinc is a constituent of the important antioxidant enzyme Superoxide Dismutase.
• Zinc is needed for the proper absorption of Vitamin E (yet another important antioxidant).
• Food sources include: egg yolks, fish, lamb, legumes, mushrooms, pecans, oysters, poultry, soybeans, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, parsley, and kelp.

3. Go natural
Every day we choose to introduce toxic chemicals and compounds into our bodies, our cleaning supplies, lotions and shampoos, fruits and vegetables, even our medicines. Small changes in your shopping list can make a world of difference. As a rule of thumb it’s best to “go natural”. Try using baking soda or vinegar in place of your chemical-laden cleaning supplies. Buy organic produce whenever possible. Beware of your over-the-counter medications. Many contain unhealthy fillers, binders and flowing agents. Many antacids contain toxic aluminum. Aspirin and Ibuprofen can stress the kidneys. The absolute safest over-the-counter medications are homeopathic medicines. There are many versions of homeopathic medicines available, the least toxic of which are water-based homeopathics rather than lactose tablet or alcohol-based forms. Go to your local healthfood store or shop on the internet to stock your medicine cabinet with non-toxic homeopathic alternatives.

4. Stay hydrated
The body’s water supply is involved in nearly every bodily process, including digestion, absorption, circulation, excretion, body temperature, and nutrient transport. Help your body detox naturally by drinking enough water to allow optimal functioning of all these bodily processes. Drink at least 8 eight-ounce glasses of water a day. Caffeine is a diuretic so if you are a moderate to heavy coffee or tea drinker you should match each cup of coffee or tea with a glass of water. If you are drinking tap water make sure to filter it. If you purchase your water then steam-distilled is best.

5. Detox homeopathically
Many herbs may be effective in detoxification but the risk of side effects and interactions with other medications can make these a dangerous choice. Homeopathic medicines, on the other hand, have never caused side-effects or drug interactions in over 200 years of use. They work by stimulating the body’s natural healing processes. Homeopathic medicines are wonderfully inexpensive and easy to use. Many homeopathic products are available for any type of cleansing and detoxification: liver detox, lymph detox, blood & kidney detox, heavy metal detox and more. If you are unsure of what areas need detoxing in your body its best to start with a blood & kidney detox and then move on to a liver detox. If symptoms still remain then begin targeting with homeopathic formulas that address specific causes such as heavy metals, chemotherapy, etc.

Happy Detoxing!

by Nicole Evans
About the Author: Nicole Evans is an alternative medicine researcher/developer turned medical student. She also works with King Bio, a homeopathic company dedicated to empowering people to safely and naturally improve their health. For cutting edge contemporary homeopathic medicines visit: http://www.kingbio.com/naturalmed/index.html

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These problems were largely overcome after the publication in the Journal of Advancement in Medicine in 1993 of a study by L.T. Chappell et all, who looked at the effects of chelation therapy on nearly 23,000 patients. Of them, more than 85% showed an objective benefit from chelation therapy. Since that time, the number of success stories has continued to increase.

Unfortunately, the problem of toxins such as heavy metals accumulating in our bodies has also been increasing. We are repeatedly told by environmentalists that planet earth is getting more and more poisoned from the build up of toxins including lead, mercury, aluminum, cadmium, arsenic and others. The adverse effect on human health of these heavy and light metal poisons has become so great that a name has been assigned: Toxic Metal Syndrome. It has been estimated that more than 90% of all the people living in the industrialized world have at least one of the health problems associated with living in a toxic environment.

Listed below are only a few of the behavioral, structural and functional abnormalities linked to three of the most problematic toxic heavy metals:

Mercury
Depression, hallucinations, obsessive-compulsive behavior, chronic fatigue, suicidal and aggressive behavior, anxiety and attention deficit disorder.

Lead
Spinal cord alterations, kidney damage, increased heart rate, suppression of the immune system, birth defects.

Copper
Skin problems such as eczema and rashes, headaches, muscle pain, decreased red blood cell count, cirrhosis of the liver, hepatitis, convulsions and seizures.

Detoxamin EDTA works differently from traditional chelation therapies, in that it does not have to be administered as an intravenous drip in an outpatient environment by trained nurses or other medical personnel. Instead, Detoxamin EDTA is available in a suppository form that can be used in the privacy of one’s own home. In severe cases, it is recommended that one suppository be taken every night for 90 days.

For less severe cases, such as individuals who are interested in chelation therapy for prevention or anti-aging, Detoxamin should be taken every other night for 180 days. In addition, supplementation with vitamins, minerals and trace minerals should also be taken on a daily basis.

Author: Robert Scheer
About the author: Robert Scheer works as a free lance writer as well as consulting for the Detoxamin EDTA Info web site.

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We are now living in a polluted and “chemicalized” world. The truth is that we are actually destroying our planet with artificial chemicals, toxins and materials that will never biodegrade. Don’t do the same with your body.

A Detox Diet will help rid your body of toxins found in the air. There are a multitude of toxins in the air and you are struggling under multiple environmental toxins with each breath you take. In 2002, US facilities released 4.7 billion pounds of toxins into the atmosphere. Whats worse is that 72 million pounds were known carcinogenss.

We also need to worry about global air pollution. Studies show an alarming amount of made-in-China pollution rides to America on the jet stream and ends up in our lungs. It seems that absolutely clean air is impossible to find anywhere on planet earth today.

Gasoline and diesel fuels contain toxic substances that can cause adverse health effects in people. Diesel exhaust is particularly concerning as it contains over 40 different substances identified as toxic air contaminants that have been linked to lung cancer. Air pollution is associated with more than just cardiovascular disease. It is also implicated in cancer, arthritis, asthma and premature death.

Our water also contributes to our chemical body burden. “Chemicalized” water is one of the factors that causes toxic overload. Here are some of the substances you may be drinking on a daily basis: chlorine, fluoride, pesticides, chemicals and heavy metals used by industry and agriculture, in addition to the second hand pharmaceuticals recently confirmed in many municipal drinking water sources.

Unless you eat strictly organic, the food you eat is also contributing to your toxic burden. Chemicals released by coal-burning power plants find their way into the food chain. Once released into the atmosphere, mercury, a highly toxic metal, settles in lakes and rivers, where it readily moves up the food chain to humans.

10 percent of American women carry mercury concentrations that can put a fetus at risk for neurological damage. Exposure to high levels of mercury can also harm our brains, hearts, kidneys, lungs and immune systems.

On top of that, commercially grown food is loaded with pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. With developing immune and nervous systems, children are the most susceptible victims. Research found that 84 percent of fruits and vegetables given to children at school contain one pesticide and 65 percent of the samples contain two or more pesticides. Every day an estimated 1 million children eat or drink unsafe levels of chemicals from food.

These poisons used in modern farming are known to cause cancer, birth defects, infertility and nervous system damage.

Although we have banned a few chemicals here in America such as DDT, chlorobenzilate, hexachloro, and aldrin, they are still making their way here through commercially grown foods from developing countries like Mexico and imported right back here. Know that more than half of winter produce comes from Mexico.

There was a point in time, as recently as fifty or so years ago when our bodies were capable of clearing daily exposure of toxins. That is no longer the case because we are inundated with unregulated, toxic chemicals in our air, water, food, cosmetics and personal care products. When our toxic load reaches a certain point, damage to the immune, neurological, and endocrine systems is inevitable.

While this all seems overwhelming, there are ways to approach the problem. A Detox Diet two to four times a year will make a huge difference not only for your health and the quality of your life, but also for the future of your children.

Buy the DVD: Detox to a Healthier You

Cathy Vignola (http://cathyshealthtips.com) is a staunch advocate for healthy living and an energized, productive lifestyle. Whether it’s finding the healthy diet right for you or which beneficial energy boosting supplements are the most effective, Cathy’s sound advice will help you make the right decisions in your body’s nourishment.

As a certified Holistic Health Counselor accredited by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners (AADP) she has the qualification to make proper suggestion on virtually anything plaguing your body’s productivity.

Article Source: http://www.uberarticles.com/articles

Author: Paula Rothstein

It was not until I became pregnant with my son that I began to scrutinize a world overrun with chemicals. I thought I would be done with the research portion of the program following a few hours on the internet one Saturday afternoon. Three years later, stacks of books, newspapers, magazines, countless hours following online leads, numerous conversations with environmental advocates, I am no closer to understanding chemical exposure but I have added reason to be concerned.

Environmental scientists have been sounding the alarm for years but not much is being done to stop the poisoning of our supply of food, air, and water. For every step forward we take, we slip back even further as thousands of new chemicals are introduced each year with almost no testing being done as to how these chemicals will react when combined together.

During this journey I have learned that it is not only the future at issue but where we are right now. Consider today’s escalating disease statistics and if you delve just a little bit deeper than acknowledging sickness and disease is running our economy and our lives, you will see that chemicals and a varied mixture of chemicals are at the ship’s helm determining our course and will continue to do so long into the future.

When I learned that a vast majority are not similarly concerned at the daunting statistics associated with chemical exposure, it occurred to me that when evidence is unpleasant and would require too great an effort to change the outcome, one inevitably redefines what is normal. Apparently it is now normal to have bodies that deteriorate after death at a slower rate because of all the preservatives contained therein!

It is normal to have our infants and small children injected with dangerous chemicals, such as mercury, aluminum, MSG, and formaldehyde - chemicals linked to disorders ranging from brain and nerve damage to autism and attention deficit disorder - and call it vaccination from disease.

Apparently it is now normal to be surrounded by people with chronic ailments, drugging symptoms into submission until the next symptom emerges (as a side effect) and needs another drug to suppress that symptom. Conditions such as fibromyalgia, autoimmune disorders, multiple chemical sensitivities, osteoporosis, heart disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s Disease, ADD/HD, autism, brain tumors, crippling pain, not to mention frequent colds and viruses, strep throat, ear infections, and subsequent overuse of antibiotics and pharmaceutical drugs. I do not even work in an industry that is at high risk for chemical exposure but the topic of disease has now replaced “water cooler chatter”.

It is now normal to be young and yet have attended several funerals of friends who have died of cancer.

I began to study nutrition and supplementation like I have never studied it before - and I was no slacker during previous years. My son was not going to succumb to a life of ill health - not on my watch! And as I implemented my strategy I quickly learned that I did not have the support of my peers, medical advisers, corporate America, government, and certainly not the pharmaceutical drug industry which, of course, would prefer I use their method of immune support - vaccinations!

My desire to detoxify and arm the immune system was met with mockery from nearly everyone I encountered until I slipped slowly into the sub-subculture of natural health where I found acceptance, although there is always reason to disagree.

Some of the individuals I have come to admire most have been driven from the country and have opened clinics in Tijuana, Mexico, and some are merely isolated from their peers for practicing “quackery”. Numerous medical doctors have become licensed naturopaths just so they could drop ties to the pharmaceutical drug companies and actually help people get well. Others try to lead their patients to better health by carefully chosen words, trying to not upset the guarded mindset of those who need to believe they are not being poisoned by the food they eat, air they breathe, water they drink, and the very alluring appeal of consumerism which is cloaked in chemicals.

It occurred to me that I live in a country where the word “choice” is a battle cry from every corner, an undeniable right, and yet there is to be no choice when it involves caring for your health naturally. Your health insurance provider will not reimburse you for it, the pharmaceutical drug company will not tolerate it, and your doctor is not allowed to recommend it.

“Not long ago scientists thought that the placenta shielded cord blood — and the developing baby — from most chemicals and pollutants in the environment. But now we know that at this critical time when organs, vessels, membranes and systems are knit together from single cells to finished form in a span of weeks, the umbilical cord carries not only the building blocks of life, but also a steady stream of industrial chemicals, pollutants and pesticides that cross the placenta as readily as residues from cigarettes and alcohol. This is the human “body burden” — the pollution in people that permeates everyone in the world, including babies in the womb.” - Body Burden - The Pollution in Newborns http://ewg.org

How is it we have come to this state of anti-choice when it involves our health? We have excellent doctors who now must practice medicine out of the country in sub-standard clinics and in turn will be criticized by the drug industry for practicing medicine in sub-standard conditions! The hypocrisy abounds.

We are now the guinea pigs in a grand experiment of chemicals, simmering in a pot of toxic soup just waiting to see who survives and what mutant species emerges strong enough to withstand the poison of our environment. Not only are we playing a nasty game of Russian roulette with ourselves as we accept each new chemical being released into the environment but we have absolutely no idea what happens when you mix certain chemicals together. More than 3,000 synthetic chemicals are regularly introduced to U.S. food products each year. Most have not been tested for their toxin producing effects in the human body. The EPA relies on safety data determined by the manufacturing company.

Now let’s consider the medical profession’s tool to help us deal with our toxic bodies shaking and burning with disease from all these chemicals. Synthetic drugs that are, once again, toxic to our systems. Consider this, seriously, when you observe pharmaceutical drugs being pulled from the market after years of approval, as was the case with the following drugs:

• Vioxx, a drug being used to treat arthritis responsible for causing thousands of individuals to experience strokes and heart attacks before the FDA finally stepped in and had the drug removed (the manufacturing company actually knew of the danger four years before it was officially pulled!);
• Patients prescribed Propulsid for heartburn and also Rezulin for diabetes experienced intestinal damage, heart arrhythmia and liver toxicity;
• Mellaril - after five decades of use has been linked to heart damage;
• Posicor, a treatment for angina and hypertension interacted dangerously with 25 other medications; vaccines containing thimerosol have now been linked to neurological disorders (however, the drug companies denied the connection even while pulling the vaccines out of U.S. clinics and shipping to third world countries for distribution!).

There are numerous similar reports. As dangerous as thimerosol is to our health, it is still being used in some vaccinations and you should always make sure your flu shot or vaccination does not contain this mercury-laden preservative.

So I ask you, why would you EVER trust the pharmaceutical drug company to treat your ill-health? Why would you trust ANY drug when you do not know which one will be later pulled following you dropping to the floor?

Considering the fact that the Journal of American Medical Association revealed 106,000 people die each year in American hospitals from the side effects of properly prescribed prescription medications, why would you not do everything in your power to stop drugging yourself and instead strengthen your immune system through natural means, buy organic food, supplement your diet, and avoid chemicals every single chance you get!

We need to stop and consider the consequences of a modern age constructed on the precept that life is better when created through chemistry. Perhaps we have been heading in the wrong direction for 100 years and now need to strip our belief system down to one that can lead us to a better quality of life. The first step: Denial of our chemically laden reality will need to be shed if we are to change this tragic course.

Imagine if for the past 100 years we had put the same sort of effort and financial resources into developing natural supplements, and studying health rather than disease intervention - instead of developing toxic drugs? Personal responsibility has never been more critical to our continued survival.

We have become so distracted by terrorism from outside forces, we did not even notice the dangers lurking right inside the borders of this country, legally operating and profiting from this new version of chemical warfare being waged on our society! As we are lulled into a false sense of security, adverse reactions to properly prescribed medications have become the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S.

Take a look at your own family and if you find that you are constantly dealing with sickness, begin the journey today to get well. It will not be found in a bottle of Robitusson, Tylenol, asthma inhaler, shot of insulin, blood pressure medication, etc. but in a radical change in your internal climate which can only be accomplished through restricting chemical exposure in your food, water and air; detoxification of the chemicals that are now currently making you sick; supplying your body with the nutrients necessary to thrive rather than just survive.

Sheryl’s comment: If detoxing your life and your home sounds like an overwhelming task, you are asbolutely right. It takes tremendous strength, will, time, money and energy to “clean up your act” if you live a typical American lifestyle.

I always recommend that individuals plug the leaks before they start bailing out the boat. That means to remove the source of chemicals that continue to poison you and your family before you try to detox. Take it one step at a time. See a naturopath to wean you off of any prescription drugs you are on. Refuse vaccinations, buy reverse osmosis filtered water or buy a reverse osmosis filter (for your shower too), eat organic (particularly animal products), use food grade personal care products and cleaning products. Try to remove carpeting, plastics and particleboards from your home. Remove mercury fillings from your teeth and use air filters in your home.

After you have plugged the leaks, you can detox in a number of ways such as fasting, herbal detoxing, saunas & sweating, dry brushing, colon cleansing, chelation therapy, juicing, yoga, meditation and daily use of superfoods and a raw, plant based diet. Yes, it is easier to ignore the evidence and continue on as you always have but more and more people are realizing that leading a non-toxic life is worth the trouble to avoid chronic illness, disease and death.

Buy the Book: Allergic to the Twentieth Century

About the Author:
Paula Rothstein has been involved in the natural health industry for over 10 years with a specific emphasis on promoting products and introducing lifestyle changes which address chronic diseases relating to high levels of toxicity. For more information on detoxification, please visit: http://www.medicinefreeliving.com

Copyright 2006 Paula Rothstein

There have been alarming new reports that there has been an unexpected drop in male births. In fact a quarter of a million fewer boys have been born in the in the last 30 years in the USA and Japan. While this may may not seem particularly significant to your interest in detoxification, scientists are linking the phenomenon to exposure to and body accumulation of hormone mimicking pollutants.

Hormone mimicking toxins or gender benders, as they are often known, appear not to be easily eliminated naturally through the body’s detox pathways. They build up and interfere with the way your glandular system functions. This may contribute to painful and distressing conditions such as endometriosis, dysfunction of ovaries, infertility, miscarriages, excessive menstrual bleeding as well as estrogen driven cancers.

These pollutants which include pesticides, dioxin and methylmercury from many industrial sources as well as seafood are thought to be related to the fall in sperm counts and increasing testicular cancer especially in young males. Unborn male babies may more sensitive to the effects of these hormone mimicking pollutants than females and may result in more deaths around the time of birth. The ratios of male to female births are particularly skewed in areas that are close to petrochemical plants.

Bisphenol A is a common estrogen mimic and is ingested by practically everyone who eats canned foods or drinks from a can or hard plastic water bottles. The substance is used in the linings of food and drink cans as well as dental cements. Plastics have revolutionized our lives but scientists are beginning recognize that we may now be paying the price of convenience. Bisphenol A levels were found to be 3 times higher in women who had miscarriages and dysfunction of their ovaries than other women.

Recently blood samples taken from the cord blood of newborns were found to contain 287 industrial pollutants many of which were found to be toxic to the brain and nervous system. 180 are known to cause cancer. 208 were found to cause birth defects in animals. As usual the plastics industry is disputing the research findings in spite of a lawsuit being brought against 5 manufacturers of plastic baby bottles.

The facts surrounding this story only go to heighten the fact that we have to be careful what we put into our bodies and the bodies of our young children and how important it is to ensure that we try to detox them. Couples thinking of having a baby should be particularly concerned with detoxing their bodies prior to even trying to conceive.

The best pre-conceptual care programs insist on 6 months preparation for both parents or a minimum of 3 months. Men often wonder why they should be included but the quality of the sperm as well as the quantity is influenced by chemicals in the body as well as the nutritional status.

Mercury is not the only toxin lurking in oily fish. Scientists have just discovered that diabetes may be linked to the toxic chemicals DDT and PCB’s that pollute the seas and accumulate in oily fish. Studies have shown that the people with the highest levels of chemicals in their bodies are more likely to develop this disease.

Here my 10 top tips for avoiding these gender benders and the havoc they bring to your hormone health.

1) Examine the recycling symbol on the bottom of plastic water bottled if you reuse them. The colorful hard bottles with a #7 favored by many may leach Bisophenol A into the liquid. A #2 HDPE (high density polyethylene), #4 or #5 should be fine. #1 is for one time use only as the plastic breaks down with further use. Use glass bottles where possible.

2) Check all your plastic food containers as well and store food, especially oily food, in glass or ceramic dishes.

3) Eat an organic diet where possible but always a balanced wholefood one.

4) Avoid the 7 fruits and 5 vegetables that according to recent research from the Environmental Working Group in Washington consistently have the highest level of pesticide residues - peaches, apples, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, pears, and grapes that are imported from outside the United States and Canada, sweet bell peppers, celery, spinach, lettuce, and potatoes..

5) Concentrate your diet on the 6 fruits and 6 vegetables with the lowest pesticide residue - pineapples, mangoes, kiwi, bananas, papaya, onions, sweet corn, asparagus, sweet peas, cabbage, and broccoli.

6) Avoid oily fish and replace your omega 3 essential fats with supplements that are guaranteed pure and free from chemicals and toxic metals.

7) Avoid toluene in some nail polishes and perfumes, DEHP in many perfumed products, the preservative parabens in personal products and use only organic or products containing natural ingredients.

Only use plastic babies bottles that are designated Bisphenol A free or use glass ones. Avoid plastic teething rings and prevent babies from chewing on other plastic toys.

9) Avoid bleaches and other chemical based household cleaners. Use environmentally friendly ones instead.

10) Follow regular detox programs and include foods that support the liver sulfation pathways - broccoli sprouts, broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, onions and garlic. Also include a good liver detoxification support supplement and consider DIM (Diindolylmethane) or Cacium -D-Glucarate supplements to help balance estrogen and detoxify the estrogen mimics. Get the advice of a nutritional doctor, naturopath or nutritionist if you have serious problems with your hormones.

It is recognized that some people have a better capacity for the detoxification of chemicals than others but by avoiding chemicals as much as possible and following regular detox programs many hormonal conditions can be prevented or considerably improved.

To learn much more about detoxification get my brand new Free Report at http://www.thedetoxspecialist.com.

(c) Sandy Halliday 2007

Sandy Halliday, a former nurse, is a nutritionist and health researcher with over 20 years experience in various methods of detoxification. She is passionate about the prevention of disease and aging and the improvement of many health conditions with regular, effective detoxification. http://www.thedetoxspecialist.com

Buy the Book: The Detox Box
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