Toxins are just about everywhere and are in just about everything.
"If it was that bad then wouldn't everyone be sick!"
Records show that kids are continuing to be sicker than previuos generations.
Children’s bodies are in development which makes them less able to detoxify and expell pollutants.
Children breathe in more air than adults, inhaling almost 2 times as many pollutants.
Infants crawl, which increases bodily contact with the floor and objects.
Children’s hand-to-mouth contact is more frequent, increasing the ingestion of toxins.
The problem is that you don't see the effects immediately, which makes it harder to notice the association.
You are going to hear over and over again - "Experts consider it safe in small doses." Although this is very true, this attitude can lead to accumlating larger doses over time without realizing it.
There are a great many toxins that kids are exposed to, so I will stick to the most well known.
Metals
Aluminium
The poisonous properties of aluminium have been well known for over a hundred years and can cause dimentia and Alzhiemers disease. By the time children become adults, they will have accumulated between 50 and 100 milligrams of aluminum, mostly from food.
During the first six months of life, infants may receive about 4 milligrams of aluminum from vaccines, 10 milligrams from breast milk, 40 milligrams in infant formula, and 120 milligrams in soy-based formula.
The majority of aluminum is eliminated through the kidneys, however a small amount is retained in tissues of the body. These small quantities of aluminum accumulate over time.
Mercury
Mercury poisoning is largely linked to eating fish that have mercury in them, and eating too much fish in general. The problem is that illneses only appear after long accumulation, rather than right after you consume it.
Mercury can cause developmental delays in:
Mental cognition
Speech and Language
Visual-spatial awareness
Lead
Lead is highly toxic and very poisones.
When lead builds up in the body, it can cause severe mental and physical impairment and even death.
Lead is found in:
Lead-based paints (Used in the manufacturing of old houses and toys)
Art supplies
Contaminated dust
Children can injest lead from putting lead contaminated objects in their mouths, or touching the lead and putting their fingers in their mouths. Lead is especially harmful to children because their brains and nervous systems are still in development. Lead poisoning damage caused cannot be reversed.
Landlords MUST provide a Lead Warning Statement.
However, the only penalty for not doing so is a fine, and all too many just don't care about doing their job well.
Realters are NOT legally required for providing Lead Warning Statements. The buyer is soley responsible to have the property inspected for lead (and any other dangers) before purchase.
Copper - Nickel
Copper is actually beneficial in strengthening bones and connective tissue, energy production and immune system support. But of course, excess copper can lead to connective tissue problems, vitamin C deficiency, high levels of estrogen and various cancers. Excess nickel is associated with heart disease, thyroid disease, and cancer.
"What do I do!"
These (and other) toxic metals have been found in public water sources. Luckily, most water filters are highly effective at filtering out these contaniments, However, the best of these are reverse osmosis filters.
There are also testing kits which you can use to test items in your home for various toxins. (Available in Store)
Cookware
Non-stick
Non-stick pots and pans are coated with fluoropolymers. Some studies have shown that this agent induces tumors in the liver, testes, and pancreas in rats.
Aluminun, Copper, Nickel
Aluminun, copper, and nickel are found in most metal cookware.
Cast Iron
I'll be honest, I LOVE cooking with cast iron! But we all know that no matter how well we take care of it, those filings are being eaten.
"But isn't iron good, don't we need it?"
Heck yeah - Iron is actually an essential mineral. It helps transport oxygen throughout the body. In fact, If you don't have enough iron, your body can't make enough red blood cells resulting in an iron deficiency. But again, it's a numbers game. An iron overload can lead to organ damage.
The recommended daily intake of iron for an adult between 19 and 50 years old is 18mg.
But for a child between 1 and 3 years old, its only 7mg.
Ceramic glass
Even glass, ceramic, and enameled cookware are manufactured with lead.
"What do I do!"
T-304 is a stainless steel alloy. Cookware using this alloy is non-leaching and safe for you, your kids, and your food. I use it and it cooks great! (Available in Store)
Plastics
Bisphenols are a group of chemicals used to manufacture plastics, epoxy resins and other products since the 1960s. Bisphenols are found in receipt paper, food and beverage cans, DVDs, CDs, toys, automative parts, water bottles, and canned foods. Although the body eliminates these chemicals very quickly, even low levels of bisphenols can disrupt vital body systems. Young children and fetuses are especially at risk.
Bisphenols are thought to contribute to:
Reproductive disorders
Heart disease
Type 2 diabetes
Obesity
Abnormal fetal brain development
Breast and prostate cancer
Asthma
"What do I do!"
Bisphenols leak (leach) from products into food, water, and dust. From there, we drink liquids stored in containers made with them, we inhale contaminated dust, eat food with contanimated dust, and we absorb it through our skin .
(Click here for Non-Bisphenol plastic products!)
Sofas - Mattresses - Car Seats - Furniture
What do they have incommon? - Flame Retardant Chemicals
These chemicals can cause:
Endocrine disruption
Thyroid disruption
Attacks on the immune system
Reproductive issues
Cancers
Abnormal fetal and child development
Impaired Neurological development
"Ok but the chemicals are deep inside those things just in case they catch fire?
The Flame Retardant Chemicals in these products can, and do, off-gas into the air. From there we can breathe them in, or injest them when they attach to food and water.
"What do I do!"
Not all companies use flame retardants. (Click here for my best picks!)
Laundry Detergent- Soaps - Cleaning supplies
Most Laundry Detergents contain artificial fragrance, brighteners, stain lifters, and stabilizers. Many of these agents are known to cause cancer.
Most antibacterial soaps contain hormone-disrupting ingredients.
Many cleaning supplies have ingredients which cause increased cancer risk, and developmental and reproductive issues.
Even pure bleach can permanaltly damage young developing lungs - Don't let your baby breathe in bleach fumes - Ever!
"What do I do!"
I have done extensive research on the least toxic detergents, soaps, and cleaning supplies.
(Click here for my best picks!)
Fluoride
Fluoride is thought to help prevent dental cavities. Most toothpastes have flouride in them.
70% of the U.S. population currently receives water with Fluoride. (Water fluoridation is fairly rare in Europe due to safety concerns.)
Excessive fluoride intake can lead to:
Increased risk of bone cancer (osteosarcoma).
Impaired brain development in infants and children
"Then why do we have it?"
The reason given is that, "Government wants to improve our dental health." - I don't think anyone believes the government is truly concered with making sure that we don't get cavities. Dental health should be addressed with the dentist individually, and should not be a community-wide mandate.
"What do I do!"
Luckily, most water filters are highly effective at filtering out flouride, and there are toothpastes that do not have flouride in them. (All available in Store)
MSG - Food Dyes- Artificial Sweeteners
MSG
I don't trust MSG just from the name.
- Monosodium Glutamate - That sounds terrible!
But my reesearch has not yet been able to find anything concerning about it.
It’s naturally made by fermenting sugar beet, sugar cane, and molasses.
There’s no chemical difference between MSG and the glutamic acid naturally found in foods.
Food Dyes
However, most artificial food colorings have significant health concerns:
Red 3, Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6 have known carcinogens, such as 4-aminobiphenyl, 4-aminoazobenzene, and benzidine.
Again, the FDA says they are safe in small amounts - even though we consume them several times a day, every day of our lives.
Artificial Sweeteners
So far my research has not found a confirmed link between artificial sweeteners and health problems. But this does not mean that there are none. Given the pattern, I would be shocked if the final conclusions find that artificial sweeteners are complety safe. So until we know, just hold off. Chances are you will thank me later.
"What do I do!"
This is one of the more challeging issues to resolve. I mean, what are you going to do - Grow your own food and raise and slaughter your own animals? Yes, some people actually do this, but for the vast majority, this is just not practical.
There is a plethera of online recipes for healthy diets and recipes - but if your raw ingredients are not natural, then it doesn't matter.
However, there is something we can do - But it's going to cost you!
First, buying organic food is more expensive, but it reduces the toxins that first come in. Even so, wash everything.
Second, get free range grass fed meats.
Third, go to a butcher and ask about additives. You not only cut out the "middle man" (who adds in extra steps) but butchers have more of a first-hand knowledge of the history of their meats.
Formaldehyde
Most people don’t experience health problems when exposed to low levels of formaldehyde. In fact formaldehyde is naturally occuring in nature. However high exposure over many years has been linked to a greater risk of cancer.
Each producer of products that contain formaldehyde feels that their product only has a small safe amount. - However, they do not consider that we consume a great many products (other than theirs) each containing a small amout. In time, we can accumulate dangerous levels.
So the stratagy should not be, "a little won't hurt." - The strategey should be, "The less the better."
"What do I do!"
There are just too many ways to injest formaldehyde to list every single one.
Here are some of most common:
Meat and poultry: 5.7 to 20 mg/kg
Milk: 0.01 to 0.8 mg/kg
Fish: 6.4 to 293 mg/kg
Sugar: 0.75 mg/kg
Produce: 6 to 35 mg/kg
Coffee: 3.4 to 16 mg/kg
Wood products with formaldehyde resins
Exhaust from cars, buses, and trucks
Chemicals in new carpets
Paints, sealants, and stains
The best thing to do is to use a formaldehyde test kit and see for yourself. (Available in Store)
House Dust
House dust can be especially threatening to children because they play on the floor and put their hands and objects into their mouths. And today's kids spend more time indoors.
House dust is likley to have:
Bacteria.
Dust mites.
Dead bugs.
Lead and mercury.
Flame retardants and asbestos.
People with roaches in their homes are 1.5 times more likely to have asthma.
People with rodents in their homes are 2 times more likely to have asthma.
Dust mites are tiny arachnids who feed on dead human skin cells, and are in ALL homes. Although they don’t live on or bite human beings, they can cause allergies, asthma, and eczuma when we breathe in their poo.
Even if they don't represent a significant health hazard...They are freaking gross and I don't want them!
"What do I do?"
Clean Dust on a Regular Basis
Wash Fabrics in Hot Water
Use Steam Cleaners
Use Hypoallergenic Mattress Covers and Pillow Cases
Choose Hard Flooring over Carpets
Get Rid of Soft Drapes and Curtains
Use an Air Purifier for Dust
Use a commercial ionizer
Use a dehumidifyer
(Click here for my best picks!)
Pesticides
Children are at higher risk from pesticides because they can come into contact with them more often. They play in yards and parks, and attend public instututiions which use commercial pesticides.
Children exposed to pesticides in the womb may have lower IQs, birth defects, developmental delays, and cancer.
Insecticides, Herbicides, Rodenticides and Fungicides are found in:
Food
Insect repellents
Rodent control products
Lawn and garden care products
Pet products
"What do I do?"
Don't buy, use, or store any!
Make children wash their hands before eating,
Buy organic.
Rinse veggies.
Summary
If you put just one penny in a piggy bank once a day, in thirty years you will have over $10,000.
This is what is goiing on with toxins. If you injest just a small harmless amount every day, you are sure to have built up dangerous levels by adulthood.