"Eat this and you WILL DIE"

Dr. M and I have a love/hate relationship. I love all the information he provides (among the misinformation sprinkled in) and I hate him because he scares the crap out of me on a daily basis. This Dr. M is not to be confused with my ID specialist Dr. M, of course.

Last summer as I attempted to start my "permanent health kick" I signed up for emails from the one and only Dr. M. Every single day my inbox contains a cryptic message stating, "Eat this and YOU WILL DIE." Well, maybe not exactly that. Here is a brief sampling of the article titles:


Eating This Could Turn Your Gut into a Living Pesticide Factory
 
Proven to Kill Cancer Cells without Killing You
 
Reconsider Drinking another Glass of Water until You Learn the Disturbing Truth
 
Help Flush These Brain-Damaging Toxins Out of Your Body
 
Discover Why Your Tap Water May Not Be as Safe as You Think

Avoid This Meat Like the Plague (Unless You Want to Eat Horse Meat or Get Sick)

Don't Eat Too Much of This Healthy Food (Even Organic) - It May Be Linked to Cancer

Doctor Stops Eating This - Starves Cancer and Escapes Death

Seriously?! I have come to the conclusion that pretty much anything I were to eat, drink, wear, use, touch, breath in, or look at, will eventually KILL ME, according to Dr. M. However, one email that I received recently made me feel like I might NOT die tomorrow because of something I've eaten or not eaten and may actually be headed in the right direction!

Common Household Chemicals Linked to Human Disease Lately, I have really been attempting to limit my chemical exposure. Not easy sometimes but according to this list I'm on the right track!

What Can You do to Reduce Unnecessary Chemical Exposure to Your Family?

Rather than compile an endless list of what you should avoid, it's far easier to focus on what you should do to lead a healthy lifestyle with as minimal a chemical exposure as possible:

1. As much as possible, buy and eat organic produce and free-range, organic foods to reduce your exposure to pesticides and fertilizers. (Totally trying to do this!)
2. Rather than eating conventional or farm-raised fish, which are often heavily contaminated with PCBs and mercury, supplement with a high-quality purified krill oil, or eat fish that is wild-caught and lab tested for purity. (Eh... don't really buy fish.)
3. Eat mostly raw, fresh foods, steering clear of processed, prepackaged foods of all kinds. This way you automatically avoid artificial food additives, including dangerous artificial sweeteners, food coloring and MSG. (Definitely trying to do this!)
4. Store your food and beverages in glass rather than plastic, and avoid using plastic wrap and canned foods (which are often lined with BPA-containing liners). (Only use glass pyrex dishes these days! Guilty of plastic wrap and the occasional canned good. Whoops.)
5. Have your tap water tested and, if contaminants are found, install an appropriate water filter on all your faucets (even those in your shower or bath). (Haven't had our water tested... I'm sure it's terrible.)
6. Only use natural cleaning products in your home. (Starting to make the switch...)
7. Switch over to natural brands of toiletries such as shampoo, toothpaste, antiperspirants and cosmetics. The Environmental Working Group has a great database⁶ to help you find personal care products that are free of phthalates and other potentially dangerous chemicals. I also offer one of the highest quality organic skin care lines, shampoo and conditioner, and body butter that are completely natural and safe. (Trying to make the switch...this is really hard.)
8. Avoid using artificial air fresheners, dryer sheets, fabric softeners or other synthetic fragrances. (I use dryer sheets. Bad.)
9. Replace your non-stick pots and pans with ceramic or glass cookware. (We have stainless steel pots and pans?)
10. When redoing your home, look for "green," toxin-free alternatives in lieu of regular paint and vinyl floor coverings. (Eh... nope.)
11. Replace your vinyl shower curtain with one made of fabric, or install a glass shower door. Most all flexible plastics, like shower curtains, contain dangerous plasticizers like phthalates. (We have a glass shower door where we live now but I've always used plastic liners in the past...whoops.)
12. Limit your use of drugs (prescription and over-the-counter) as much as possible. Drugs are chemicals too, and they will leave residues and accumulate in your body over time. (Sure... just say no.)
13. Avoid spraying pesticides around your home or insect repellents that contain DEET on your body. There are safe, effective and natural alternatives out there. (Definitely trying to do this!)

 

 Yikes, a lot to remember!