As concerned and loving parents, we do our very best to protect our children from any and all potentials dangers. What about those dangers lurking in our home? We’re talking about exposure to synthetic chemicals, plastics, sound-carrying waves, low-level radiation, electro-magnetic pollution and environmental pollution.
All these things can affect the health of our children. They can lead to the possibility of future lifestyle diseases or the worsening of current health problems. Examples might be diabetes, asthma, ADHD, infertility, obesity, allergies, learning disabilities, autism and cancer.
Chemical agriculture
The fact is that we live in a world where chemicals are used in extraordinary quantities. It appears that the rise in chemical usage on food crops occurred predominantly post World War II. It was then that the arms and chemical warfare industries found themselves with excesses of chemical wastes (and leftover chemical warfare stock) and a desire to utilise them profitably.
The era of chemical farming began and – to this day – billions of tons of chemicals are used on food crops annually across the globe.
Supporters of this non-sustainable farming method will tell you that we have reaped untold benefits from their use. However, proponents of sustainable, environmentally friendly (organic) farming will assure you that the damage done to our soils and our health will take more than a few lifetimes to correct – assuming it can actually be done.
Can we handle these chemicals?
Apart from those used in agriculture, chemicals in plastics pose a huge threat to human health.
Human beings are simply not equipped biochemically, to deal with synthetic chemicals. We have an amazing set of detoxification organs, but they are no match for the potent and disastrous effects these chemicals have. The liver is tasked with processing these compounds. If it is able to keep up with the daily assault of environmental toxins, it will need to ‘steal’ nutrients from the body in order to eventually excrete the chemicals. If it isn’t coping well, these chemicals can displace key nutrients within the body, leading to enzymatic disruptions and, ultimately, disease.
Some of the household contents that may be posing a threat to your child’s health include the following:
- Commercial (non environmentally friendly) personal care products, such as fluoridated toothpaste and mouthwash, as well as shampoos and soaps
- Commercial household cleaners, such as washing powders, dishwashing soaps, disinfectants and liquid soaps
- Plastics, such as food storage containers, toys, children’s furniture, disposable nappies and babies bottles
- Particleboard furniture, synthetic carpets and carpet glue, and synthetic clothing
- Tap water
You may be feeling overwhelmed by the number of things that put your child at risk.
While there are a great number of things that can impact negatively, there are as many things you can do to counter the effects of these chemicals, starting with your child’s diet.
At the same time, making small but steady changes to the internal environment of your house can result in children that are more emotionally stable, more intelligent and far healthier.
Tanya Wyatt
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