We live in a
toxic world.
The realization of this fact might be frightening to you, but it
doesn't have to be. We can learn to live our lives free of contamination. We
can make the choice not to allow poisonous substances into our bodies, and homes.
We CAN protect ourselves and our families from toxins.
There is a LOT of
talk on the internet about organic foods, GMO's, and fluoridated water. It’s very likely that you have heard of at
least one, or not all of these issues, but unfortunately, food and items that
we directly put into our bodies are not the only sources of contamination that
we face these days.
Say you already
read labels on your food products, and you have taken the time to educate yourself
about how misleading descriptions about product contents can be. You already
know of the hidden dangers lurking inside boxes of highly processed foods, and
that some food products contain chemicals that are known to cause cancer and
other diseases.
How is this
happening? Why are these companies allowed to create dangerous food products?
These days everybody is on the lookout for the best bargain. Companies make
money off of selling massive quantities of cheap foods that is low in nutrition
and quality. We are stuck in a cycle of quantity over quality.
I often hear the excuse, "organic food is
too expensive." Sure you might pay a little more per pound for organic
food than conventional food, but it’s time we change the way we value our food.
As I stroll down the aisles of my local grocery store I do not price my food
pound for pound, I price my food based on nutritional content.
In America, we
pride ourselves on being full, but nutrition is often an afterthought. When you
buy organic foods, you get more nutrition, and are avoiding a multitude health
risks. Eating healthy may seem more expensive, but in the long run an organic
diet, free from toxins and filled with lots of nutrient rich organic fruits and
veggies, can prevent a slew of diseases.
A heart attack
can easily cost $30,000 - $450,000 for a single procedure. The average cost of
a 30 day cancer prescription drug treatment is close to $2,000, but newer
cancer drugs can squeeze $10,000 a month from your pocket. For a patient
without insurance, diabetes can cost close to $1,000 a month. The worst part is
that these health problems are food related, and avoidable.
By simply eating
an organic, mostly plant based, diet all of the health risks above can be
avoided. When you eat organic foods you are not getting pesticides, GMO's,
antibiotics, rBST hormones, or artificial sweeteners, and you are dodging a
HUGE bullet - the direct assault of chemicals on your body from the inside out.
If you are
planning on making just one change this year, I beg you to go organic - eat
organic foods. Going organic has made a tremendous difference in my life, my
energy level, and my general health.
If you are
already eating organic foods, then consider looking into the chemicals in your
cosmetics, hair care products, body soaps, and household cleaners. Since these
items are part of unregulated industries, and are not intended for human
consumption, these chemicals are very often dangerous.
We apply chemicals
such as phthalates, parabens, and sulfates to our bodies on a daily basis. These
poisons easily soak into our skin and begin pumping though our bodies. We eat
food off of counter tops that have been wiped down with chemicals known to cause
damage to our kidneys.
Most dish soaps
are made with petroleum based ingredients. Just one bottle of dish detergent
can contain a list of cancer inducing agents that are left behind and then transferred
onto our food.
If we find a bad
smell in a room, rather than opening a window, we fill the air in our homes
with formaldehyde – a well-known carcinogen, found in most air fresheners.
There are many
all natural and organic cosmetics, soaps, and hair care products available on
the internet and in retail stores. You can even find online tutorials with
detailed instructions on how to affordable make your own products.
There is no reason
for us to waste our hard earned dollars buying toxic chemicals to
"disinfect" our homes when a quick online search can reveal a long
list of safe and affordable alternatives.
As our world
becomes more and more aware of these problems the number of safe natural
products continues to rise. I really love the natural cleaning products that I
can easily acquire from my local grocery store. Brands like Mrs. Meyers and
Seventh Generation are becoming widely available.
It has been my
personal experience that natural cleaning solutions tend to clean even better
than their cheaper, dangerous, counterparts. It makes me wonder how we were tricked
into buying low quality, hazardous products, in the first place.
I have made the
switch, and I am never looking back. The choice wasn't that hard for me to make…
Stay healthy, or live sick?
