Our Toxic Environment
"Environmental pollution is one of the most serious problems facing humanity
today," states Alan McGowan, president of the Scientists' Institute For
Public Information. Scientists around the world believe that human activities
are affecting the biosphere, the thin layer of air, water and soil on the
surface of the earth where life occurs. The biosphere maintains an incredible
richness of and variety of life, including human life. Yet, in the last
hundred years or so, human activities have been destroying the natural
system upon which life depends.
Humankind, and indeed all life on earth, developed over many thousands
of years in an environment free of pollution, and environment in chemical
balance. This balance has been radically changed in the last hundred years,
a mere blink of time, through the progressive poisoning of nature with
the chemical by-products of modern agriculture, industry, power generation,
and transportation. These toxins do not respect any boundaries. In fact,
scientists have found evidence of pollution on every part of the earth,
from the largest cities to the remote ice packs of the south pole.
Toxins in Our Food
In the United States, we allow over 10,000 food and chemical additives
into our food supply. The average American eats about 14 pounds of additives
a year. In addition to colorings, preservatives, flavorings, emulsifiers,
humectants, and antimicrobials, we consume on average 120 pounds
of sugar and 8 pounds of salt per year.
It is estimated that in our colon live ten billion bacteria per
gram of fecal material. Thus it is probable that we have more bacteria
living in our colon than we have cells in our body. The wrong types of
bacteria in our intestines release harmful and toxic by-products as by-products.
This is covered in more detail in the section on digestion.
The Liver in Detoxification
The liver plays a major part in your body's self-defense mechanisms. It
is literally a compact, highly efficient chemical processing plant that
converts many harmful substances into forms which your body can safely
The healthy liver uses two mechanisms, called Phase I and Phase II detoxification,
to remove toxins from your body. In Phase I, enzymes deactivate toxic substances
to make them less harmful. In Phase II, different enzymes convert toxins
to water-soluble forms, which your body eliminates through urine or via
bile in the feces.
However, this function of the liver can be damaged by repeated exposure
to chemicals and toxins in food, water, and in the air we breath. In addition,
an unhealthy intestine can allow undigested large molecules of food to
pass into the blood stream. This is called 'leaky gut syndrome" and can
overload your liver's ability to function properly. When this occurs, the
slower detoxification results in more toxic substances circulating in the
body. Unchanged or partially changed toxins are not eliminated. Eventually
these toxins are stored in the fatty body tissue and in the cells of the
brain and central nervous system. These stored toxins may be slowly released
and re-circulate in the blood, contributing to many chronic illnesses.
Are Environmental Toxins Affecting Your Health?
Probably. Just ask yourself the following questions:
Do you use or have you recently used tobacco products such as cigarettes,
cigars, chewing tobacco, etc..
Do you live or work with someone who smokes in your presence?
Are you often exposed to automobile exhaust fumes or smog?
Do you live or work in a building that contains new carpeting, paint or
furniture that may be giving off odors or gases?
Have you ever used toxic chemicals such as insect sprays, herbicides, industrial
solvents, at home or at work?
Have you ever been exposed to toxic waste?
Do you have 1 or more alcoholic drinks a week?
Have you taken prescription drugs 2 or more times in the past year?
Do you often eat meat grilled over a charcoal fire?
Do you eat red meat four or more times a week?
Do you have allergies, sinus problems or joint pain?
Are you frequently tired from a normal day's activity?
If you answered "yes" to two or more of the above questions, your body
may be reacting to increased toxic exposure and burdening your liver's
detoxification function. To more fully analyze this situation, you can
take a brief self test that will show you if your health is directly impacted
by toxicity in your environment. Just click here: