Electromagnetic pollution

Antioxidants and vitamins are required in the fight against electromagnetic radiation.

RIGHT now, you’re probably wondering what electromagnetic radiation means. Many people are not aware what electromagnetic radiation is. If you work on a computer or own a mobile phone, make sure you read this article. What you do not know may be a major cause of ill-health.

Electromagnetic radiation (or EMF pollution) is a term given to all the man-made electromagnetic fields (EMF) of various frequencies, which fill our homes, workplace and public spaces. When we call something in our environment a pollutant, we are implying that it is somehow harmful to nature and to ourselves.

The source of electromagnetic pollution in our environment has been growing exponentially for the past 30 years or so. From desktop computers to mobile phones, we have a potential crisis of sorts with the “pollutants” that come from these and other similar technologies. It’s called electromagnetic pollution.

You can’t see them, taste them, touch them, hear them (most of the time), smell them, or even know how much and to what degree you are being affected by electromagnetic pollutants. This is another reason that we continue to emphasise the needfor good nutrition and more antioxidant and vitamin support in the form of supplementation, considering most of us don’t get enough in our diet.

According to Camille Rees, an expert on the subject of electromagnetic pollution, “This is a species issue … There is early evidence to link EMF (electromagnetic fields) exposures to autism … We know radiation is affecting our DNA and jeopardising the health of future generations. There is research from many countries now showing dramatic decline in sperm count from exposure to such radiation …”

And that is just the beginning of what we are starting to learn about what could be a very widespread problem as we continue to utilise modern technologies, which translates into greater amounts of EMF around us.

There is also a report that suggests the need for increasing awareness about the negative impact of electromagnetic pollution among children because it effects their normal, physical and mental growth. The report goes on to point out that electromagnetic pollution likely hampers proper growth of children, as well as the developing child in pregnant women.

While it is important to be aware of these things, it may be difficult, if not impossible, to do anything to change how we are being affected. That is, unless we come up with better technology that will help us avoid so much exposure. But individually, there doesn’t seem to be an easy solution, especially if you’re using a mobile phone frequently, barring a move to a rural area where there is much less EMF exposure.

That may not be practical for most people.

Dr Andrew Weil, a well known US physician, author, professor and wellness advocate states, “Electromagnetic pollution may be the most significant form of pollution human activity has produced in this century!”

How can we protect ourselves from this electromagnetic pollution? Well, the most important thing you can do is feed your body the proper nutrition that it demands for fighting the free radicals that come from any type of pollutant, from radiation to exposure to sun (UV rays) and cigarette smoke.

While it may seem like using a slingshot on an elephant, the fact is that good nutrition and plenty of antioxidants from food sources (fruits, vegetables, grapes, and berries) are going to be the best way to take action and give your body the best chance for preventing sickness and disease.

If you do not eat enough of those plant-based foods or if you have a poor diet, then it is highly recommended that you take a complete antioxidant supplement which includes standardised grape seed extract and alpha lipoic acid. Other important antioxidants and support nutrients include vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin E, selenium, zinc and manganese.

Together, these synergistic nutrients work collectively to safeguard the body from the daily bombardment of free radicals generated from various sources, ie electromagnetic radiation, exercise and even stress.

The active ingredients found in standardized extracts of grape seed are oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPCs). Research indicates that OPCs may be 20 to 50 times more potent as an antioxidant than vitamin C and E.

This simply means that OPCs from grape seed extract are many times more efficient in fighting free radicals than either vitamin C or E.

Alpha lipoic acid helps regenerate other antioxidants such as vitamin C, vitamin E and glutathione (an important antioxidant produced in the body). Alpha lipoic acid is the only antioxidant that can boost the level of intracellular glutathione. Besides being the body’s primary water-soluble antioxidant and a major detoxification agent, glutathione is absolutely essential for the functioning of the immune system.