Enviro Mentality

This is NO surprise, that there has been found a possible link to ADHD and pesticides.

Organophosphate pesticides are nerve toxins and work on the nervous system of an insect.  In large doses, the same actions would happen in a human being.

But, we humans are exposed to these compounds on a much smaller scale.  From womb to grave, depending on environmental factors such as where we live (agricultural areas being the highest or high applications of pesticides around the home and yard) to what we eat (organic or not) are cumulative.  These toxins are stored in fat and brain. It is no wonder why so many children today are experiencing ADHD.

Pesticides are excitotoxins causing the neurons in the brain to misfire.  ADHD is one of these conditions. Pesticides are just one class of excitotoxins, many artificial foods contain ingredients which cause this condition.

This is just another  example of the case to end pesticide exposure and a return to organic eating.  By visiting your local farmer’s market, and buying locally produced food, you can limit your pesticide exposure.

Despite what the people at the home improvement stores tell you, or the ads from Scotts or Ortho on television, lawn chemicals are dangerous.  Using lawn chemicals during pregnancy or even being around them after the application,  puts your baby in direct danger.

Products like Weed B Gon contain 2-4-D and a lesser known, older chemical called Dicamba.  2-4-D has been cited to cause abnormal fetal skeletal development, endocrine disruptions and more.  It was used in Vietnam as ‘Agent Orange” a defoliant.

Dicamba can cause spontaneous abortion and other problems during pregnancy.

Bottom line for all those curious pregnant women out there — STAY AWAY from any and all pesticides during pregnancy.  Lawn care products in the form of sprays, crystals or dust can and will be absorbed into your body by breathing, walking on the lawn after application (even days or weeks later) or touching clothing worn by other children who’ve played ON the lawn.

It’s time for the American dream of the perfect lawn to end.  Scotts, Ortho, Dow Chemical, Bayer and others only want to sell their products and are not interested in your health or that of your unborn child.

(For more information, go to other posts on Weed B Gon or pesticide exposure in the search box above)

Toxins make pain.  It’s a well documented fact that the more junk you’re carrying around in your system, the more you’ll be in pain.

Again I use myself as a case study.  Years ago worked at Lowe’s in the garden center and inside seasonal department.  I was around the pesticide area constantly.  I swept floors, handled the bags for customers, restocked the shelves. (never without gloves)  I started experiencing pain all through my body.  Sometimes at night it would wake me out of a dead sleep;  I’d wake up screaming as if I were being stabbed!

After I left Lowe’s, my constant pain stopped.  I was being poisoned by pesticides!

Being more conscious of what I eat, I find that when my diet gets ‘junky’ with processed foods slipping in, and dehydration,  I start to experience more pain.  Toxins are building up.  My movement is restricted, I hurt more all over and I find myself reaching for the bottle of aspirin.

A good detox bath with either Epsom salts or Dr. Singha’s Mustard Bath takes the edge off that.  It helps the cells release and rebuild. Damaged cells allow more toxins in.

Follow these rules:

• Go on a healthy, all natural (uncooked) food diet for a few days or a week.
• Eat enough fiber.  Elimination of toxins through waste is very important.
• Hydrate - Drink water, green teas, fresh juices - NO soda, fizzy water, juices with sugar or caffeine.
• Go for massages to help drain your lymph system and remove toxins and acids
• Take a detox bath using mustard bath and/or Epsom salts.
• Do what you can to eliminate stress:  learn meditation, go for walks outside; whatever calms you.

You can help your body heal, relieve pain and regenerate.

There’s a lot of people asking that question these days, thanks to the growing interest in pesticide-free food and mounting concern about its dangers. According to the evidence, a normal meal contains a mix of pesticides and their resulting breakdown products.

The Pesticide Action Network is at the forefront of educating the public to raise awareness on chemical exposure. Their new  database on pesticide residues lists such contaminants as carcinogenic, endocrine (hormone disrupting) neurotoxic, or those toxic to reproduction or development.

Even the most organic farmer or followers of a totally organic lifestyle cannot escape these toxins entirely. With air and water currents and weather patterns, all carrying residue, even certified organic produce cannot be totally pesticide free.  This list, however, helps one discern the lowest levels.

The most alarming factor is that one group, organophosphates, pollutes the food supply in terrifying proportions. Neurotoxins, they are responsible for farm worker poisonings. Endosulfan, which is marketed under a few varieties, leads the list as most highly present on commercially grown tomatoes. Like DDT, it is long lasting in the environment. As an endocrine disruptor, even in low levels during pregnancy, is has been linked to birth defects, autism and male reproductive damage.  Higher levels which are most common among farm workers include nausea, headache, seizures, vomiting and even death.

Currently, there are no regulations in place that requires toxicity testing of any of these compounds before they are sold for public use.  Under the Toxic Substance Control Act of 1976, only 5 out of the 80,000 synthetic chemicals have been banned.  Once a compound is released for use, it is extremely difficult to get it taken off the market. Lindane, for example, is a chemical found in children’s lice shampoos, is currently banned in over 50 countries, yet the United States still permits its use. Atrazine, a chemical in popular lawn chemicals such as Weed-B-Gone, is one of the most prevalent substances found in water and soil, animal, aquatic life and humans. It is banned in Europe.

It is time for chemical reform. We can no longer be blind or placated by false promises and lies from Dow, Monsanto, Bayer and others.  These substances affect us NOW.  With alarming instances of birth defects, cancer and environmental impact, there is not a minute to waste.

Last night I watched a PBS documentary on “Nature” called “Frogs:  The Thin Green Line”. These amphibians survived the extinction of the dinosaurs and are truly remarkable.

A troubling aspect is that frogs are disappearing worldwide.  A devastating fungus, Chytrid (Kit-rid) is decimating the numbers of frogs in every corner of the world. In jungles of South America, to the Far East, here in America, silence reigns where before the the song of these creatures filled the air.  Scientists are in a race to discover the cause and how to prevent its spread.  They’ve even taken some from the wild, replicating as best they can their natural habitat, to ensure their survival.

Another disturbing fact is that frogs and toads from suburban areas have been found to have increasing instances of genetic mutations. Frogs taken from drainage ponds and catch basins where water has flowed from lawns into storm drains possess a frighteningly high rate of abnormalities.  Frogs with only front limbs, or with 3 back legs, no back legs and a long tail: these are results of exposure to lawn chemicals, most notably - ATRAZINE.   These frogs were found to have THREE TO FOUR TIMES the allowable limit set by the EPA for exposure to ATRAZINE, the most common ingredient in lawn care chemicals.

Read for yourself.  Do your own research on the subject, but most of all - do your part.  If you own a home, please, for the sake of your children, your pets, neighbors and our Earth - start today to eliminate toxins from your life. Stop using pesticides! This movement is growing and cannot grow fast enough!

Thank you MONSANTO!  Thank you ORTHO!  Thank you to ALL those wonderful scientists who  thought they were helping this world when some of this stuff was invented.

OK…, OK…, I know about the miracle of plastics and synthetic compounds  and how they have revolutionized life on this planet.

Let’s also remember that as we are finding out, ‘fake’ isn’t better.  Synthetic isn’t necessarily better.  Why?  Because it’s killing us.

Modern science is gathering evidence that artificial ingredients are making us sick.  Decades have passed since this stuff was first introduced into our food.  Look at us now?  We’re fat and sick… some of us are dying from cancer BECAUSE of the stuff.

Our bodies cannot metabolize those fake ingredients.  They cause all sorts of havoc in our bodies as they try to deal with them.  The result:  cancer, hormonal disruptions, illness, allergies and mysterious diseases.

Pesticides are endocrine disruptors, carcinogenic and weaken the immune system.  They are also NEUROTOXINS.  How do you think they kill bugs?  The chemical makes their systems shut down - BANG !  Little by little, with enough exposure, humans suffer a different reaction.  These insidious compounds lodge in fat cells and organs and sit there for decades.  By then - there may be other factors, coupled with the weakened immune system and the whole body goes nuts and says “I GIVE UP!”  Result:  cancer.

I heard a story of a woman who worked at a company where she was in contact with chemicals on a regular basis.  I don’t know what the extent OF the exposure was; direct, indirect, exposure to fumes,  or what chemical.  I do know that her hair started falling out, she had terrible pain and many other symptoms.  Doctor after doctor dismissed her as a hypochondriac because their standard blood & urine tests revealed nothing.

Finally she went to a doctor who was inquisitive enough to run some different tests which evidenced that this poor woman was slowly being poisoned!

This is how insidious these things can be.  If you or someone you know has been diagnosed as a hypochondriac, tell them to get a different doctor who will do some extensive tests for poisonings.

It could save their life!

In the meantime, we all need to DETOX on a regular basis.  A mustard bath or a bath with healing salts can help detoxify your body.  Plenty of fresh water to help wash out toxins, too!  Using organic personal care items can help keep toxins out of your system, too

Americans spread MILLIONS of tons of toxic lawn chemicals in their yards every year. Obsessed with eliminating every pest, every weed, they ignore the fact that they are exposing their children and pets to POISON.

Advocating non-chemical remedies, I have never put chemicals down,  and never will.  I know too much.  I’ve never really understood the obsession Americans have about having the perfect lawn.  My lawn is green, I mow it, and that’s IT.  Why poison yourself, your kids and the eco-system for a lawn?

I worked for Lowe’s in the garden center for 5 years. Each week I’d watch thousands of pounds of poison go out the door in this one store. People were fanatical about their lawns and didn’t even think about what they were doing! A common, and especially toxic product, 2-4-D is found in the popular brand WEED-B-GONE.

Ironically, part of my job was to sell lawn care products.  I hated it.  It went against everything I believe in.  I’m an environmentalist and I jokingly refer to chemicals as being ‘against my religion.’ I would always opt for pitching the lowest toxicity remedy.

One day a man came in with his three children in tow,  their approximate ages being 7, 5 and 3.  He wanted Diazinon.  I said it’s been banned for almost 10 years now, but the replacement was Triazicide.  We walked over to where the bags were stacked and I answered his questions.

During the conversation, one of the kids started smacking the bag of Triazicide with her hand, like petting a big dog on the head.  The father jumped forward, yanked the kid’s hand away and shouted,

“DON’T TOUCH THAT, it’s POISON!”

I wanted to reply in a calm but sarcastic voice…..

“Yes, it’s POISON and you’re going to take it home, spread it on your lawn and then your kids and dog are going to go out and play in it!”

Children are especially susceptible to illness resulting from pesticide exposure. Instead of rehashing the articles, I’ve included links below. 

ALL lawn chemicals like TRIAZICIDE, WEED-B-GONE are DANGEROUS - PERIOD! (no, you can’t use them on your veggie gardens, folks!)

Not only are these substances dangerous for children, but they are dangerous for adults, pets and the environment.  It’s time to end the love affair with toxins because the health of your family - and the planet - depends on it.

You can  help speed the detox process by taking a detox bath on a regular basis, doing juice fasts and getting more exercise and having a regular massage.  This will help eliminate toxins from your body.

WHAT’S ON YOUR LAWN?

Is the health of your lawn more important than the health of your children?

Detox is an important facet of modern life. Our bodies cannot rid themselves of the modern compounds we are surrounded with.

Thousands of times a day we are exposed to toxins in the form of pollution, pesticides, chemicals in our food and personal care products.  Additives in processed food, plastics (phthalates) leaching from containers into the food we eat, water bottles, from microwaving food in plastic containers. 80 % of coffee is decaffeinated with chemical solvents ( methylene chloride or ethyl acetate).  Water processed organic coffee is the best bet for decaf.  The clothes you’ve gotten back from the dry cleaners are laced with the chemical perchloroethylene. Nice, Huh?

An ancient remedy used in Ayurvedic medicine in India, turmeric, contains a wealth of healing properties.  In recent publications by oncologists, turmeric has been touted as one of the best detoxifying agents available. Studies have shown that people in countries that consume it daily, cancer rates are extremely low.

In addition to adding beneficial herbs to your diet, a good detox regimen will help you cleanse your body of chemicals.  The idea is to SWEAT - either in a hot bath  or sauna but only if your doctor has advised it is safe for you.   Mustard baths, long a remedy for amazing and effective cleansing are another method.

Relaxing in a hot detox bath is good for your mood as well as what ails you.  It also helps to ward off those yucky winter bugs that are going around.

Composting doesn’t have to be a stinky unsightly mess!   You can compost pest-free with a Sun-Mar composter.

If you have a problem with neighborhood dogs or other critters, the Sun-Mar composter is pest free! It’s easy to unload, too.  No heavy lifting:  the finished compost comes out the bottom.

Compost strengthens the plants by providing essential nutrients - instead of CHEMICALS.  What you put on your veggie garden, goes into your food that you eat.  If you use pesticides and chemicals - GUESS what you are eating!

Now is the perfect time to get started on compost for the spring planting!

The Earth is talking back.  She is trying to let us know we need to change our ways.

WATER USE must be one of them.

The water outlook for California and Nevada is a grim one, according to an article posted on Reuters today. With snow pack in the mountains decreasing  due to climate change, consumers and farmers face the possibility of another year of shortages.

What does this mean for you?  Higher food prices as supply drops.

California is one of the top food producers in the nation.  Nevada, on the other hand, has experienced tremendous growth over then past 10 years and now has the nation’s highest water useage. We are in a water crisis in this country, but what can we do?

CONSERVE WATER in every aspect of your life.  If you think that your water use doesn’t affect the entire Earth, think again!  What you take from your tap or garden spigot has to come from somewhere. Unless you collect your own rain water, you’re drawing from the municipal supplies.

Especially if you live in an arid climate such as California, Nevada or other areas of the southwest, you  absolutely should be doing whatever you can to conserve water.

COLLECT RAIN WATER - what a NOVEL idea!  Our great grandparents did this.  Grandma had her rain barrel and used this to wash clothes with.  It was free water.  Then the water was used to water the gardens with.  The veggies grew better because the soap, a natural insecticide, kept bugs off.

You can do a lot to save water.  Start by checking all your faucets, spigots and toilets.  If they leak, fix them. One single leak can waste 200 or more gallons a day.

Use a rain barrel to collect water with.  You can do a LOT with the water you collect:  water your gardens, potted plants, hose off your deck, wash your car and not use any municipal water supplies doing it.

YOU CAN do your part in saving water easily and efficiently.