7. Lead. Lead has been phased out of gasoline and paint for years, but some older homes still have lead paint on the walls and the soil around them, making it easy for small kids to be exposed when they get lead-laden dust or dirt on their hands and then put their fingers in their mouths. Lead poisoning has been linked to some major health problems such as brain damage, lowered IQ, hearing loss, miscarriage, high blood pressure, and damage to the kidneys and nervous system.
Avoid it. If you have lead paint in your home, regularly dust and vacuum to keep lead particles from accumulating. And use a water filter to remove lead from your drinking water.
8. Arsenic. The mere mention of the word arsenic conjures up images of old murder mysteries and poisoned food, doesn’t it? Levels of arsenic in food get confusing because some foods contain organic arsenic – which occurs naturally —while others contain inorganic arsenic, which is a synthetic compound used in pesticides. It’s the inorganic form that is a known carcinogen and has been linked to bladder, lung and skin cancers; diabetes; and cardiovascular disease.
Avoid it. Use a good water filter to reduce the amount of arsenic in your water and use these tips to minimize arsenic in other commonly contaminated foods such as rice.
9. Mercury. It’s a sad fact of our modern life that one of the healthiest foods to eat — seafood — is also heavily contaminated with the heavy metal mercury. A recent study found that 84 percent of the world’s fish are contaminated with mercury. Most mercury pollution is emitted by coal power plants, but it is also produced as a byproduct of gold mining, cement production, iron and steel production and waste disposal. Mercury poisoning can lead to health issues such as impaired fetal development, kidney failure, hair loss and extreme muscle weakness.
Avoid it. Check out this post on avoiding mercury and eating seafood safely.
10. Perfluorinated chemicals. Also known as PFCs, perfluorinated chemicals are the chemicals used to make nonstick cookware and many other stain- and water-repellent products. They are found in everything from pots and pans to furniture to pesticides. They have been linked to neurological delays, low sperm count, delayed puberty, earlier menopause and infertility.
Avoid them. Steer clear of nonstick pans and products that use stain and/or water-resistant coatings.
11. Organophosphate pesticides. Think about this: organophosphate pesticides are chemically designed to attack the nervous system of insects. This is what makes them great insecticides. It’s also what makes them so dangerous for humans. Not surprisingly, organophosphate pesticides have been linked to neurological disorders and other dysfunction in the human body such as ADHD, lowered IQ and delays in reproductive development.
Avoid them. Buy organic produce whenever possible. See this list for the best foods to buy organic.
12. Glycol ethers. Ethylene glycol ethers are common solvents found in paints, cleaning supplies, brake fluid, and even some cosmetics. Exposure has been linked to problems with fetal development, male infertility, asthma, and allergies.
Avoid them. Stay away from any products with names like 2-butoxyethanol (EGBE) and methoxydiglycol (DEGME) in the ingredient list.
Have a healthy and productive weekend!
MJ
Shaklee, keeping our planet green since 1957. See the difference at http://mjshealthyway.com
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