Last week I shared with you the value of going green, local and organic, and how our bodies’ self-cleansing systems are overwhelmed in this day and age of pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and all the other pollutants that our liver, kidneys,
Last week I shared with you the value of going green, local and organic, and how our bodies’ self-cleansing systems are overwhelmed in this day and age of pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and all the other pollutants that our liver, kidneys, skin and intestines have to deal with.
Aside from the artificial contaminants that are introduced to feed animals while they are still alive — such as antibiotics, steroids and atrazine from their food — the “food” industry includes coloring agents, flavors and preservatives that add to your toxic load and can cause such immediate effects as migraines and allergic reactions to meat products. Then there’s the long-term harm done by consuming these harmful chemicals.
Among the worst offenders in this category of animal products are smoked, cured and processed “meats.” Items such as hot dogs, lunch meats, canned sausages and bacon — besides being produced from the worst parts of any animal — are laced with the aforementioned chemicals and usually contain nitrates to prolong their shelf life. Nitrates combine with amines (protein building blocks) in your stomach to produce cancer-causing nitrosamines. This is a well-known fact and has been for at least the 30-plus years that I have been contributing to the health and wellness of people. Why it is allowed to continue is anyone’s guess, but I suspect it has a lot to do with money.
Another contentious issue is genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Most of us would prefer not to be part of the current big experiment, but North American governments do not require the labeling of genetically modified foods. Europe does.
What you can do is to look for foods that specifically declare that they are not GMO or buy organic, which cannot be GMO.
Canned products are another huge source of toxins. Bisphenol A (BPA) is a toxin linked to hormone disruption. It has been phased out from plastic bottle usage, but many canned goods are still lined with a BPA epoxy. Read the label to see if it is “BPA-free.”
Or, better yet, buy local, buy fresh, buy organic or grow and cook your own! While you’re reading the label, check to see if there are unpronounceable chemical ingredients in there. It is one thing to have “tocopherols” in your vitamins (vitamin E), but quite another to have polysorbate 80 in your soup.
Let’s get back to produce. There is a “dirty dozen” list which is acknowledged as the very worst fruits and vegetables for sprayed-on contaminants.
Unless you are growing your own, peeling them down or buying these items organic, you are better off not eating them at all — even though some have otherwise great nutritional value. They are just too toxic. The list includes apples, celery, strawberries, peaches, spinach, nectarines, grapes (and wine), sweet bell peppers, potatoes, blueberries, lettuce, kale and collard greens. Now here’s the list of most often GMO-altered foods: Corn, soy, cottonseed, canola (rapeseed), papaya, sugar beets, alfalfa, golden rice, salmon and pork.
I will continue this spring cleansing topic next week by offering some helpful hints to cleanse your body from the accumulated toxins.
In the meanwhile, try not to add to your toxic load. Some of the symptoms of toxicity are constipation and/or diarrhea, bad breath, frequent and severe headaches, frequent colds and flu, low energy, poor sleep patterns, skin eruptions and conditions, food sensitivities, moods swings and weight gain, especially around the middle. Eat clean!
• Jane Riley, M.S., B.A., C.P.T., Certified Nutritional Adviser, can be reached at janerileyfitness@gmail.com, 212-1451 or www.janerileyfitness.com.
