I spent last weekend in Atlanta at a seminar on toxicity.  There were 3 presenters: 2 physicians – one whose specialty has been environmental medicine for over 20 years, and 1 biochemist who works with toxicity testing.  The amount and variety of toxins and chemicals in our air, water and soil is increasing every year and they are definitely making their way into our bodies.

Currently, there are over 80,000 chemicals registered with the EPA for use in the U.S.  Over 3,800 of these are considered to be “high use”… that is, over 1 million pounds per year. Even prescription medications are being found in water in increasing numbers!  Water companies, which supply city water, can test for and remove only a very small number of these.  The toxins in the water and soil move into the  plants, which then move into the animals who eat the plants, which then move into the humans who eat the plants and animals.  And this describes only one source of chemicals.  I’ll discuss various sources, and how to avoid them, in upcoming weeks.

Our babies and children are most at risk.  Numerous studies have shown a variety of chemicals in the cord blood of newborn babies (passed from their mothers) and in mothers’ breast milk. These chemicals have been linked to increasing numbers of children with learning and behavior problems, ADD, autism, allergies, asthma, childhood diabetes, and cancer.  Today, a mother-to-be owes it to herself and her unborn child to clean up her environment and lifestyle, and to detoxify her body, before conceiving.