I've been buying organic products since my first child was born. Certain individuals claim there is no proof that these products are any better than conventional ones, but sometimes common sense should override even the most convincing "expert" advice. I've always been skeptical about the use of chemicals, but pesticides make me even more nervous. After all, pesticides are used to kill insects. How can anyone ever be so sure that they can't kill people, too?
Small amounts of toxic substances in our air, water,
and food, can add up and slowly make us
sick. You may not want to believe this statement, but what if it is true? I urge you to decide for yourself, by reading The Autoimmune Epidemic: Bodies Gone Haywire in a World out of Balance and the Cutting Edge Science that Promises Hope, by Donna Jackson Nakazawa. For a brief overview of this revolutionary book, click here.
By the way, if you don't know what an autoimmune disease is, there are over 100 of them, including type 1 diabetes, lupus, multiple sclerosis, and inflammatory bowel disease. Women now face a 1 in 9 chance of being afflicted with one of these devastating diseases. That's the bad news. Now for the good news.
There is more and more evidence that we can prevent, and even reverse, disease by making lifestyle changes. I do not claim to be a health expert, but as an avid reader, I'm able to offer the following resources and suggestions:
- Eat organic food whenever possible. It may be a little more expensive, but so are the unhealthy, processed foods you'll be replacing. Click here for the more information.
- Take time out to read food labels, and include your children in the process. Do not buy items that have ingredients listed that you don't recognize. If you'd like help with reading labels, go to eBrandAid.com.
- Replace unhealthy snacks with fresh fruits and vegetables (such as baby carrots, red peppers, green peppers, berries, apples, oranges, etc...). Keep the ones on hand that your children like, and vary it from season to season. Teach your children to eat "all the colors of the rainbow" to make sure they're getting enough of the vitamins and minerals they need. For more information, click here.
- Limit portion sizes of high calorie items (like chips or ice cream) by using small bowls, like these Pyrex 6 ounce bowls.
- Make exercise a priority for yourself and your family. You've heard this over and over. Find a way to squeeze it into your schedule!
- Be selective with beauty products. Check out The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics.
- Do not be fooled by deceptive advertising, or sneaky marketing. Visit thinkbeforeyoupink.org.
- Maintain healthy indoor air by opening your windows regularly and by placing house plants in each room.
- Make every purchase count. Make every effort to support companies that use environmentally friendly manufacturing techniques. Green America makes it easier for you by providing a listing of National Green Pages.
- Support a healthy planet by donating to charities such as Environmental Defense Fund or Natural Resources Defense Council.
It's not always easy to lead a healthy lifestyle on a daily basis, but if we each focus on one way to help ourselves and others each week, it's a major step toward a brighter future for all of us. If you'd like to learn more about how you can eat your way to a healthy life and planet, I recommend the book, Grub: Ideas for an Urban Organic Kitchen, by Anna Lappe and Bryant Terry.
Help yourself, and help us all, by making healthy choices today.