I have been promising my niece Samantha that I would come up to her school, Marist College, and lecture to her pre-med fraternity on the osteopathic approach to health and disease. Two years ago, sudden illness got in the way of the trip. Last year, superstorm Sandy put a wrench in our travel plans. But this year we made it to the beautiful Hudson Valley to fulfill that promise.
Forty very excited college undergrads voluntarily attended the lecture which was held at 11 a.m. on a Saturday morning even though the only incentive was a bagel and some organic juice. Despite the current state of healthcare and medical economics, these bright-eyed 20-year-olds listened and learned about their road ahead.
Then about 40 more students joined the conversation as I continued to lecture on the benefits of going green to a group called SEED, Students Encouraging Environmental Dedication. A 30-minute lecture time slot turned into an hour-long conversation about what is in our food source, our personal health products, our convenience appliances and machines. The eye-opening information included the health, financial, environmental and community benefits of making natural and sustainable changes to our lives and our homes. Dialogue and questions followed the presentation.
One young man in particular asked a very relevant and logical question. “My sister and I are always trying to convince my mom to go green. Do you have any suggestions about how we can help her change so that we can better protect our family and our environment?”
One of the many challenges in my practice is helping people make healthy lifestyle changes. There is often so much to learn about environmental and consumable toxicities that the best piece of advice I can give is to go slowly. Making any change can be difficult, so if you try to renovate and improve every aspect of your life from your toothpaste to your veggie supply to your lightbulbs, you’ll go crazy and spend a ton of money.
My answer to the young man was in his own statement.
“You and your sister,” I told him, “are the generation of change.” I gave him the same advice I give my patients: Go slow. But if you want to make the most significant impact and quickly, here are my top five most important and practical lifestyle changes that can easily help protect your health, your home, and your environment. One caveat – caring for yourself is not cheap or convenient. But I am positive that spending the money and time now will earn you dividends in your health and expenses down the road.
1. The Dirty Dozen and The Clean Fifteen – Buying organic can be pricey. So this list was developed as a way to identify the produce that is safe to buy conventional and those that you should really try to go organic. The Clean Fifteen are those with tough outer protection such as a thick skin or shell. Fertilizers, pesticides and defoliants are less likely to penetrate into the pulp of the produce. On the other hand, the Dirty Dozen are the fruits and veggies which are exposed to harmful chemicals and therefore should be purchased organic if possible. Here’s the list as shown on the Environmental Working Group Website.
2. The Wonderful World of Baking Soda – There are a tremendous amount of carcinogenic, neurotoxic and immune-altering chemicals in almost ALL of our household and personal care products. Phalates, parabens, triclosan, formaldehyde and coal tar are just a few that may be present in your makeup, deodorant, and household cleaners. But good old-fashioned baking soda is a cheap and convenient way to make many of those same products. It’s sodium bicarbonate which is in our own bodies and can be used as toothpaste, shampoo, disinfectant and even laundry detergent. Here’s a link to 51 different common uses for baking soda.
3. The Gluten Phenomenon. If you haven’t heard about celiac disease, or gluten sensitivity yet, you probably will in the near future. Scientific research is correlating the proteins gluten and gliadin with damage to the intestinal lining. This seems to be a precursor to many autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and some thyroid diseases. Only about 1 percent of people have celiac disease, in which case exposure to gluten can have serious health symptoms and complications. But even those of us who do not have celiac disease are likely over-exposed to gluten which is now found in many common foods such as deli meats, breads and even candy. You don’t have to be gluten-phobic, but learning about how to consume gluten in moderation, as with most things, may change the course of your health or dis-ease.
4. BPA and Unfiltered Water – Invest in a BPA-free, filtered water bottle and use it. Drinking clean, filtered water is essential for all cellular and organ-system functioning. Dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, muscle pains, constipation can all occur without adequate water consumption. Commercial bottles may leach plastic into your water especially when heated. But a good quality BPA-free or stainless steel water bottle with a filtered can help hydrate safely.
5. Processed and Artificial Foods. Begin eliminating processed foods. The chemicals and preservatives in many of our packaged, shelf-stable foods are known to be harmful to our system function. Additives such as artificial sweeteners, high-fructose corn syrup, preservatives and MSG are known to cause many neurologic, allergic and gastrointestinal effects. The best approach to begin reducing processed foods is to cook for yourself using as many whole ingredients as possible. Start with a few meals a week and learn how to transform tonight’s dinner into tomorrow’s lunch. Read labels and try to enhance flavors with seasonings and natural herbs as opposed to bottle condiments and sauces. Men’s Health Magazine has a great article on the most common and most dangerous food additives.
The bottom line is this….Adopting a healthier lifestyle is not easy. In fact, with all the information and misinformation floating around, it can be downright scary. Making small changes to reduce your exposure to harmful chemicals, toxic water supply and excessive radiation make the the task more feasible. Christoper Gavigan, one of the founders of The Honest Company, penned a book called Healthy Child, Healthy World: Creating a Cleaner, Greener, Safer Home. It’s an easy read with reliable information and ideas about making the transformation.
Alexis Hugelmeyer, D.O. is the wife of Michael, mother of Isabella, 5, and Lance, 3, and a family physician whose passion is hands-on manipulation for treatment and healing of any and every type of medical problem. She is the director of community outreach education at Peconic Bay Medical Center and also a private practitioner in Riverhead, where she has founded The Suah Center for Natural Healthcare. A graduate of Villanova University and New York College of Osteopathic Medicine, she lives in Baiting Hollow.
Got health-related questions? Ask Dr. Hugelmeyer. Email her at DrHugelmeyer@TheSuahCenter.com
Look for Dr. Mom the last Saturday of the month on Riverheadlocal.com
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