Living Healthy in a Toxic World

 

Living Healthy in a Toxic WorldBy Mirdza Hayden

With so much information around, it is hard to know what is true and what is not. It is hard to know if people are trying to sell us on a product or if they truly care about our health. One thing that is for sure is that the world we live in is, unfortunately, becoming more toxic everyday. Most farmers in the U.S. and many big companies care more about making money then they do about our health. Dr. Colbert says in his book "The seven pillars of health" that there are about eighty thousand chemicals registered in the US which are used in food, prescription and OTC drugs, supplements, household products, personal products, and lawn care products.

Since there are so many chemicals around us, it is important to at least TRY to eliminate some of those toxins so we can live healthier in this toxic world. Chemicals go into our body by inhalation, application on our skin or by consuming it in food, drinks or supplement form. Here are some tips on how to avoid toxins, though you can't avoid them entirely:

o Use housecleaning and personal use products that are made with natural ingredients. Many detergents, multipurpose cleaners, skin care products and body care products are made with so many chemicals that we are intoxicating ourselves. That is why we get so many headaches, allergies, skin diseases, respiratory infections, etc. Make sure you choose to use products that enhance your health; products that are made with natural ingredients.

o When it comes to eating, make sure you eat foods that are packed with nutrients. Skip the white bread, the high-sugared beverages and junk food, highly processed foods and the other foods and beverages that offer absolutely no nutrition to you. Start eating whole grain breads, lots of chemical-free fruits and veggies, as well as beverages that are made with whole foods and are not loaded with sugar.

o When it comes to supplements, make sure you choose a whole food supplement and not ones that have dyes and artificial sweeteners. Choose your supplements, and that of your kids, very carefully. Just because the bottle says it is the brand preferred by doctors and/or pediatricians, doesn't mean that it is the best one for you or your children. Make an informed decision as to what supplement you and your family take.

o When you exercise, make sure you don't do so in an area where there are a lot of cars. If you do so, you will be inhaling a lot of fumes and intoxicating your body. Personally, I prefer to exercise at home, with fitness videos that made by professional personal trainers like Tony Horton and Chalene Johnson, which are sold by BeachBody.

o Just as you know that smoking is bad for you health, stay away also from second-hand smoke which is just as dangerous.

o Drink lots of filtered water. To know how much water to take in daily, Dr. Colbert suggests that you take your weight in pounds and divide it by two. Drink that much in ounces. For example, if you weigh 120 pounds, then you should drink 60 ounces of water of clean, filtered water (not tap water)

o Keep your liver in good condition. If your liver is functioning properly, it will help protect you from environmental toxins. Detoxify it regularly and maintain adequate amounts of antioxidants in your body to help support it.

o Keep your colon in good condition as well. The colon is the organ that receives the toxins from the liver and then dumps it out of our body. Make sure you eat and adequate amount of fiber each day, both soluble and insoluble. You need 25 to 30 grams a day to keep the toxins moving properly through your colon, so aim towards that.

So, even though we live in a world that is becoming more toxic everyday, there are many things we can do to avoid them. We need to choose carefully what household cleaning products we use, what personal use products we put on our bodies, what supplements we take, and what water we drink. It is also very important that you keep your liver and colon in tip-top condition by watching what you eat and by detoxifying on a regular basis.

 

 

 

Indoor Air Pollution and How to Deal With itBy Melvyn Burton

Indoor air pollution - is it a problem? Everyone knows about air pollution affecting urban areas and industrial regions. Mexico City and Southeast Asia have hit the headlines. But wherever there are cities and industry there is pollution, from industrial effluents and the
omnipresent automobile.

But indoors? The fact is that indoor air can be one hundred times more polluted than outdoor air. As the majority of people spend up to 90% of their time indoors, this is a
cause for concern.

"Sick building syndrome" is a phenomenon which emerged in the 1970s when, to conserve energy as well as to provide a more comfortable draught-free environment, many naturally ventilated buildings were superceded by airtight air-conditioned buildings. It is used to describe a situation in which a substantial proportion of a building's occupants report a number of symptoms while occupying that building. It is estimated that as many as one third of U.S. buildings suffer from sick building syndrome. Symptoms experienced by people vary as widely as drowsiness, lethargy, nausea, headaches, nosebleeds, dizziness and respiratory problems.

What are the sources of indoor air pollution?

Tobacco smoke is a major culprit, with its lethal cocktail of toxic chemicals. Insulation, synthetic fabrics, treated wood and carpets, especially when new, release potentially harmful chemicals, such as formaldehyde, into the air. When this air is recycled indefinitely, high concentration levels can be reached. Printers and copiers emit toxic gases. Then there are chemicals used in the manufacture of
computers, especially those added to VDUs as fire retardants, which emit high levels of pollutants when new. Even cleaning solvents make their contribution to the pollution. In some cases, prolonged exposure to this mixture can cause chemical sensitivities which may be
difficult to cure.

How can indoor air pollution be dealt with?
Potted plants can improve room air quality. They reduce levels of carbon dioxide and increase oxygen levels. Among the most effective are spider plants, rubber plants and yucca. Plants can even be used to monitor pollution. Plants can wither from pollutants before people start to sicken from them.

Regular maintenance of air conditioning systems is essential in centrally-controlled air conditioned buildings. This should include coil, fins and filters for the equipment to function effectively. The most important maintenance task is cleaning or replacement of filters. Not only do clogged, dirty filters block normal air flow, but also can directly
reduce the effective working life of the equipment. Not to be overlooked is the correct installation of air-conditioning systems in the first place. Air intake ducts need to be properly located. If they are placed in polluted areas, the system will actually bring
polluted air into the building.

DAMAGING HABITS

 

 

BRAIN DAMAGING HABITS

 

 

 

1. No Breakfast
People who do not take breakfast are going to have a lower blood sugar level. This leads to an insufficient supply of nutrients to the brain causing brain degeneration.

2 . Overeating
It causes hardening of the brain arteries, leading to a decrease in mental power..

3. Smoking
It causes multiple brain shrinkage and may lead to Alzheimer disease.

4. High Sugar consumption
Too much sugar will interrupt the absorption of proteins and nutrients causing malnutrition and may interfere with brain development.

5. Air Pollution
The brain is the largest oxygen consumer in our 20 body. Inhaling polluted air decreases the supply of oxygen to the brain, bringing about a decrease in brain efficiency.

6 . Sleep Deprivation
Sleep allows our brain to rest... Long term deprivation from sleep will accelerate the death of brain cells..

7. Head covered while sleeping
Sleeping with the head covered increases the concentration of carbon dioxide and decrease concentration of oxygen that may lead to brain damaging effects.

8. Working your brain during illness
Working hard or studying with sickness may lead to a decrease in effectiveness of the brain as well as damage the brain.

9. Lacking in stimulating thoughts
Thinking is the best way to train our brain, lacking in brain stimulation thoughts may cause brain shrinkage.

10. Talking Rarely
Intellectual conversations will promote the efficiency of the brain

 

 

The main causes of liver damage are:

1. Sleeping too late and waking up too late are main cause.

2. Not urinating in the morning.

3 . Too much eating.

4. Skipping breakfast.

5. Consuming too much medication & alcohol.

6. Consuming too much preservatives, additives, food coloring, and artificial sweetener.

7. Consuming unhealthy cooking oil.
As much as possible reduce cooking oil use when frying, which includes even the best cooking oils like olive oil. Do not consume fried foods when you are tired, except if the body is very fit.

8. Consuming raw (overly done) foods also add to the burden of liver.
Veggies should be eaten raw or cooked 3-5 parts. Fried veggies should be finished in one sitting, do not store.

We should prevent this without necessarily spending more. We just have to adopt a good daily lifestyle and eating habits. Maintaining good eating habits and time condition are very important for our bodies to absorb and get rid of unnecessary chemicals according to 'schedule.'

 

 

The top five cancer-causing foods are:

 

1. Hot Dogs

Because they are high in nitrates, the Cancer Prevention Coalition advises that children eat no more than 12 hot dogs a month. If you can't live without hot dogs, buy those made without sodium nitrate.

2. Processed meats and Bacon

Also high in the same sodium nitrates found in hot dogs, bacon, and other processed meats raise the risk of heart disease. The saturated fat in bacon also contributes to cancer.

3. Doughnuts

 

Doughnuts are cancer-causing double trouble. First, they are made with white flour, sugar, and hydrogenated oils, then fried at high temperatures. Doughnuts, says Adams , may be the worst food you can possibly eat to raise your risk of cancer.

4. French fries

Like doughnuts, French fries are made with hydrogenated oils and then fried at high temperatures. They also contain cancer- causing acryl amides which occur during the frying process. They should be called cancer fries, not French fries, said Adams .

5. Chips, crackers, and cookies

   

All are usually made with white flour and sugar. Even the ones whose labels claim to be free of trans-fats generally contain small amounts of trans-fats.

Smoking - One of the Most Destructive, VOLUNTARY Things You Can Do to Your Health

 

 

Smoking - One of the Most Destructive, VOLUNTARY Things You Can Do to Your Health

By Jimmie Newell

 

Notice that the title of this article says that smoking is voluntary, if you are a smoker and have tried any number of times to quit, you probably think that smoking is anything but voluntary. But let's admit to the truth, you do choose each and every time you light up, you could just as well choose not to.

I have a good friend who is and has been a heavy smoker for the 20 years I have known him. About 10 years ago he had a heart attack at age 45, which resulted in a quadruple bypass. When I visited my friend at the hospital, he was scared half to death, he said that his doctors told him he would need to make some lifestyle changes, one of which was to quit smoking. He swore that he was at that point, done with tobacco forever...well that lasted 2 weeks, he had made a choice. This is a guy who was and still is in fairly good physical condition, his job is physically demanding, he is active in some sports, not overweight. So his major risk factor is most likely smoking, and he has chosen to still smoke. He is about 5 years younger than me and, sadly I fully expect that I will attend his funeral. So you see it really is a choice, not always a wise one, but still a choice,

Well let's get real...I know, I was a heavy smoker for over 25 years before I convinced myself that I had a choice. Quitting by whatever method you choose is not a walk in the park! That's what this article is all about, helping you to overcome your health challenges.

Because they are all equally as damaging to your health and the health of those around us we should include all of the methods that we abuse our health with tobacco in this article. We will deal with each of them one at a time.

Smokeless tobacco - snuff, dip, chew, etc.

Using smokeless tobacco causes bad breath, stains and wears down your teeth, can cause painful mouth sores, can raise your blood pressure and your cholesterol. Over time you will be at higher risk for heart attack and cancer.

Pipe smoking

Pipe smoking increases the risk of periodontal disease (loss of gum tissue, bone loss, and loss of teeth), mouth and lip sores and lesions, several oral cancers, heart attack and vascular disorders.

Cigarette smoking

Cigarette smoking causes 87% of lung cancer deaths, raises the risk of heart disease, contributes to high blood pressure, and vascular disease, and increases those risks for other people by exposing them to second hand smoke.

Cigar smoking

Many ex cigarette smokers are cigar smokers and try to convince themselves that this is a safe way to smoke, because they don't inhale. In fact almost all cigar smokers who were cigarette smokers do inhale. Cigar smokers who never were cigarette smokers tend not to inhale. Cigar smoking whether you inhale or not is still as damaging to your heath as any other form of tobacco use, there may be somewhat less risk of lung cancer, however there is no decreased risk of many other types of cancer, if you inhale a few other cancer types are added to the list.

We are exposed to a great numbers of advertising messages each day that try to glamorize tobacco use. To balance the message read the 1964 Surgeon General Report on smoking this was the first real indication to the public that there were dire risks associated with tobacco use. At the time this report was published about 70% of the U.S. adult population were smokers, smoking was depicted in movies and on television, in ads, on billboards, and glamorized in any way possible.

What changes have we seen?

There are fewer movies and television shows that promote smoking as blatantly as before.

There are fewer ads that promote smoking.

There are health warnings on cigarette packs, smokeless tobacco containers, pipe tobacco containers, however not on cigars.

The places that you can smoke are far fewer. most workplaces, many bars and restaurants, theatres, airplanes, buses.

Are these and many other changes and restrictions working?

About 23% of the US adult population now smokes, this is down from about 70% in 1965.

However there is still much that needs to be done, many high school and college students still smoke and many are starting everyday, with the information that is available today it simply amazes me that these otherwise intelligent persons are still smoking.

 

 

 

Reasons Why You Should Quit Smoking

By Charlene Nuble

 

Smoking can hook you because cigarettes contain nicotine which is highly addictive. But being hooked is not an excuse why you cannot quit smoking. Smoking has been proven by several researches to be great threat to one's health, that is why there is no reason why one who is already hooked to it should not quit smoking.

It is tough to quit smoking. People try at least 2 to 3 times before they can finally quit smoking. It takes hard work and lots of effort but if you're really determined then you can quit smoking for good.

Why quit smoking?

There are at least five reasons why you should quit smoking.

* First, if you quit smoking, you will definitely live longer and better.

* Second, each time you smoke, you take about 5 to 20 minutes off your life. Your chance of getting lung cancer, stroke or heart attack increases if you don't quit smoking.

* Third, the people you live with, especially the children, will be healthier only if you stop smoking. In fact, second hand smoke is more dangerous than the actual smoke users get from smoking.

* Fourth, if you quit smoking, you will have extra money to spend on other things than cigarettes.

* And lastly, if you're pregnant, chances of having a healthier baby is more likely if you quit smoking.

So the next and most crucial question is "how do I quit smoking?"

Here are five ways that can help you quit smoking:

1. Get ready and prepare yourself to undetake your quit smoking program? Set a quit smoking date. Change your environment by getting rid of all cigarettes in places you frequent and not allowing people to smoke near you or at your home.

2. Get support and encouragement. Studies have shown that you'll have better chances in quitting smoking if you can get support from families, friends, and co-workers.

3. Learn new skills and behavior. Always remember that your goal is to quit smoking, so distract yourself from urges of smoking. Change your routine in your first try of quit smoking program. Do something to reduce your stress such as taking a hot bath, exercise, or reading. Plan something to do enjoyable every day.

4. Get medication and use it correctly. Medications can help you lessen the urge to smoke. Five approved medications that can help you to quit smoking are: Bupropion SR, nicotine gum, nicotine inhaler, nicotine nasal spray, and nicotine patch.

5. Be prepared for a relapse. If you quit smoking, chances of a relapse is high. Most relapses occur after 3 months of quitting, so watch out for situations that may trigger you get back to smoking such as alcohol, other smokers, weight gain and depression.

Everyone can quit smoking so don't hesitate to at least try to quit smoking also.

Alcoholism-An Unwanted Epidemic

 

 

Alcoholism-An Unwanted Epidemic

By Eric Funston

Treatment of Alcoholism

Pervasiveness of alcohol intoxication is the most important factor for a brain disorder in US alone. In the United States around 20 Million people including adolescents are suffering from some serious alcohol related problems. It is the second most dangerous factor of premature death after Cancer. In fact many believe that it has out-ranked cancer. If we count the persons affected (family members, friends and other relatives), more than 50 million people are seriously affected by this unwanted phenomena we call Alcoholism. There is not a specific group of persons that have a greater chance than another to develop alcoholism; factors such as high depression, unsolved problems, and stress contribute largely to push a normal human being to be alcohol addicted. Depression increases with alcohol. It also hinders the proper working of blood cells needed by the brain and the heart.

Those countries in the word that have faced alcoholism know the effects of its addiction and in the development process as well. A large number of people in the so called "High Society" where alcohol addiction is termed as fashionable and a necessity, they too somehow get themselves addicted to alcohol sooner or later in their life which effects their working performance, their attitude in the work place, there reaction to everyday problems, their methodology to solve a problem etc. The treatment of an alcoholic person is of two types one is medical based and other is morale based which includes rehabilitation as well.

Medical Treatment Of Alcoholism

With the large number of alcoholics in United States their budget for medical research to eliminate alcoholism is increasing day by day. By a rough estimate it is believed that U.S. spends around 115 Million U.S. dollars every year for research and development of alcohol-based drugs, which is the largest in the world. With so much of invested in this field, many of the most advanced medical treatments are now available to eradicate this epidemic. But even after all this, the problem is still at the stage where it was. Reason being that this requires self-improvement more than medical treatment alone. You cannot push an alcoholic person to get medicated for the alcoholism forcibly and if you do so there are very marginal chances you will succeed

Self-Grooming With Morale Support

Non-alcoholic persons often see alcoholics with hated eyes. That makes the recovery process even more painful. An alcoholic who wants to get rid of this problem would not expect to be treated himself with hated eyes. To over come this problem now there are many rehabilitation centers where any person willing to get himself out of this habit can go and get treated with full sympathetic morale support. This support helps him to rebuild himself in the society and in the eyes of his family member or friends.

 

 

 

Alcohol: The Most Used And Abused Drug By Teenagers

By Angie Lewis

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, June 1997, alcohol is the leading cause of death among teenagers. Teenage drinking contributes to the high rate of teenage car crashes, traumatic injuries, suicide and date rape. Alcohol is by far the most used and abused drug among America's teenagers today. According to a national survey, nearly one third (31.5%) of all high school students reported hazardous drinking of five or more drinks in one setting.

Twenty million American's are alcoholics, and the children of these alcoholics are likely to inherit the disease. More than 40% of those who start drinking at age fourteen or younger become alcoholics. The problem I see is the lack of knowledge about alcoholism being an inherited disease. Children of alcoholics are four times more likely than other children to become alcoholics, according to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.

Teenagers, if you have a mother, father, or grandparent with the disease, then you might be susceptible to becoming an alcoholic. It is not a good idea to even have one drink. It is like playing Russian roulette. Abstinence is the best strategy against defying the odds of being another death statistic in the cogs of alcoholism.

I came from an alcoholic background, and I know first hand the destructive affects of what alcohol can do. I had no way of knowing that I would become an alcoholic, even though my grandfather was an alcoholic. I didn't know that at the age of seventeen, while drunk, I would be driving with my best friend and roll my car three times into a telephone pole. Fortunately for me, I wasn't hurt, but my friend will have back problems for life. And I certainly did not know that I would most likely pass down the inherited gene to one of my three sons. If I had known these things, maybe, just maybe, I would never have had that first drink.

I can't tell you in a short article all the pain and suffering I put my mother through when I was a teenage drinker, or the anguish I put my husband through, but I can tell you this, I have been completely freed and forgiven through the love and saving grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I have been alcohol free for over fourteen years!

Teenagers please don't let yourself become trapped within the depths of this insidious disease; instead become informed about the susceptibility of alcoholism being passed down from one generation to the next. Abstinence and education is the best and most effective means of preventing the use and abuse of alcohol.

All it takes is one drink of alcohol if you carry the gene from a relative; that one drink is ONE too many! And even if you are not susceptible to becoming an alcoholic, alcohol is very dangerous and can make you do stupid things you normally would not do. Abstinence is the best policy.