From Arthritis to Zoster

A balanced immune system is the key to survival on a planet where we are but one of myriad species of organisms. Maintaining such balance is growing more and more difficult, however, because we are increasingly exposed to challenges that threaten our well-being. Since 1940, for instance, approximately 80,000 new synthetic compounds have been added to our surroundings in the name of productivity. Of these, only a few have been evaluated for their health effects on humans. It is as if we really believe our planet is a bottomless well, into which we can pour all the toxins of our culture… and they will just magically disappear.

Anyone born after 1976 may not know much about PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls). That is the year in which these chemicals were banned in the United States. They were long used in many commercial applications, but they were eventually outlawed because of their adverse effects on human beings and other animals (cancer, immune suppression, reproductive effects, neurologic deficits, endocrine disruption, and other metabolic effects). Because these substances were so valuable to the industrial effort, the campaign to get them removed from common use took years. Today, 30 years after the ban, high levels of PCBs are still found in the breast milk of nursing mothers in places as remote as Alaska’s interior. Ironically, this toxin is still found in the tissues of individuals who moved to faraway places so they could avoid exposure to such dangers.

There is currently a great deal of debate over the continued use of another widely-used group of chemicals known as PBDEs (polybrominated diphenyl ethers). PBDEs are commonly utilized as a flame retardant on everything from carpets and drapes to that cuddly set of pajamas you wrap around your child just before you tuck him or her into the blankets—which, by the way, are also treated with this chemical (a foam seat cushion sold in America could be 30% PBDE by weight). Oddly enough, PBDEs are structurally very similar to PCBs, and many of the same ill effects have been attributed to both chemicals. PBDE has already been banned in some European countries and even in some US states, but—once again—because it has enjoyed such popularity in the manufacture of so many items, we are slow to take the necessary action to remove it from widespread industrial use. Sadly, due to its inherent molecular stability, PBDE will in all likelihood be drifting in and out of our tissues for decades to come, just like its polychlorinated cousin. Indeed, it is already found in higher concentrations in the breast milk of some test subjects than PCBs ever were.

These two chemical classes are representative of the many substances that adversely affect our health. Not much is really known about most of the man-made chemicals that we eat, breathe, drink, or wear every day. Without a doubt, we will hear more frightening stories as time goes by and the truth unfolds.

So, what is one to do? We certainly can’t hide from the spoor of human society. Those women in the outback of Alaska can attest to that. Are we doomed to reap the noxious harvest of humanity, with higher rates of cancer, increased incidence of chronic disease, and lower quality lives?

Well, I believe we can all make choices that will improve our chances on this increasingly toxic sphere. Much of the answer, I believe, lies in lifestyle changes (those who detest exercise and who abstain from sensible nutrition should try to stay with me here, please).

Undeniably, those who exercise regularly—at least four days weekly, getting that heart rate up for 20 to 30 minutes—live longer, healthier lives. And it isn’t just the cardiovascular benefits that make exercise valuable. Reduced stress, improved immune function, better balance, and stronger musculoskeletal systems are part of the bargain, too.

If you drink too much alcohol, stop.

If you smoke, quit.

If you’re involved in other life-draining activities or habits, get help.

When it comes to nutrition, we’ve all heard ad nauseum about the five to nine daily servings of fruits and vegetables, the avoidance of fats (particularly the “lipid du jour,” trans fats), the need for essential fatty acids (a fat of a different color), the importance of abstaining from red meats, and so on, and so forth. Every magazine in the world has an article—or ten—on nutrition. Read some of them.

What may be just as important is the need for buying ORGANIC foods whenever we possibly can. Eating a ton of tomatoes to reduce one’s risk of prostate cancer doesn’t do much good when that ton of tomatoes contains a couple hundred pounds of carcinogenic pesticides and fertilizers. And make sure what you’re buying is truly organic. Many producers have caught on to people’s desire to live chemical-free, and they’ve twisted the terminology to retain a portion of the market without making the commitment to provide real organic products.

Now, there are many people who avoid organic products because of their relatively higher cost. In truth, the price of organic goods typically reflects what it costs to produce them. Non-organic products have, in many cases, long traditions of subsidies and hidden costs behind them. I could maunder on about what it costs our already sickened environment to produce all those chemically laced products out there, but oceanic dead zones, sterile soils, pesticide-resistant insects and massive algal blooms just don’t get folks’ attention (particularly not our leaders’ attention).

Rather, the next time you avoid the organic fruit section at your store and reach instead for that plump, shiny, pristine apple that’s 20 cents cheaper, ask yourself this: what really nasty chemicals went into the production of that seductive red orb, can they really be washed away with a mere splash of tap water and a buff on the sleeve, and what does it cost to deal with the results of a lifetime of such exposure?

One more thing I’d like to mention: There is a product out there that I think is worth everyone’s time. It has been around for as long as there have been immune systems; this little molecule comes straight from Mother Nature’s kitchen. I have personally come to value Transfer Factor more than I can safely say, given the FDA’s propensity for sanctioning those who make “inappropriate” (read: not approved by the drug industry) claims. Take a look at the “Immune Health” link on the right side of this page. Once you’ve clicked into the site, feel free to wander around a bit.

You can also find some valuable information at another site (not mine):

www.transferfactor.com

I’d be happy to answer any questions you might have. Just leave a post in “Comments” below.