"Don't You Know That You're Toxic?"

Today I read a study by the Canadian Environmental Defense Fund which concluded that we all have some degree of toxicity. Everyone who participated, from healthy-living folks on Salt Spring Island, B.C. to First Nations people in Northern Quebec had pollutants such as PCBs and fire-retardants in their bloodstreams. These chemicals are cancerous and can cause birth defects, reproductive problems and respiratory disorders. I'd hate to think Britney was right.

For years now, alternative health advocates have been warning the public about toxicity but the message has gone unheeded. It's a warning that most folks don't want to hear. Some think that if they avoid obviously toxic situations (like smoking, jogging in traffic or working as a miner) they will greatly reduce their risk. But they scary part of this study is that the participants were found to have a huge cocktail full of toxic chemicals in their blood. Taken individually, the amount of any one toxin in the blood is potentially harmful. But proof that the typical Canadian has a number of these toxins in his bloodstream is an even greater health risk.

So what can we do? I'd like to think about this in a hopeful way. If we know that our environment is polluting us in ways we cannot control at this moment, we have to change this going forward and take steps to heal ourselves right now. Supporting organic farming is an obvious way to cut down on toxic chemicals polluting our water and air. Eating organic food ensures that we ingest the least amount of toxins in our food. The more we eat fresh fruits and vegetables, the more we displace the unusable toxins in our body with organic, highly-usable fuel.

I've always felt that the human body is an incredible machine that does amazing things even though we don't always give it the care it requires. We rarely give it the best fuel, we make it work for hours on end and don't give it enough rest. We even pollute it with harmful toxins but it still does its job, for the most part. When you consider that your body is the only machine you will own forever, and that it cannot be replaced, it sets up a pretty convincing argument for taking good care of yourself.

I'm going to go and make a batch of flaxseed ginger cookies now. That's one way I like to take care of myself: indulgent and nourishing!