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In this video, you will learn how to protect your family from the harms caused by phthalates, parabens, pesticides/herbicides, styrene, and volatile organic compounds .
Phthalates: Used to soften plastic and as solvents in personal care items. Phthalates are in hundreds of products – flooring to raincoats, children’s toys to medical tubing and cosmetics, etc. These chemicals get into our food from plastic or fiberboard packaging. They can mimic or block our hormones and can also be carcinogenic. Parabens: A group of chemical preservatives found in cosmetics, pharmaceutical products, personal care products, etc. Also used as preservatives in baked goods and other foods and in beverages, as well as food packaging. Possible harms include hormonal problems, breast cancer and premature birth. Pesticides/Herbicides: There are hundreds of different chemicals used in farming. The Doctor will review the “Clean 15 and Dirty Dozen,” which tells us which fruits and vegetables are most important to get organic. Household insecticides and insect repellant are also toxic. Potential harms include asthma, seizures, Parkinson’s, anxiety, depression, cancer, ADHD, birth defects, and hormonal problems. Styrene: A chemical used to make latex, synthetic rubber, and Styrofoam. Found in plastic packaging, disposable plates, cups and containers, insulation, and other products. Also in cigarette smoke, copy machines and laser printers. Can cause headaches, depression, fatigue and weakness, hearing loss, and cancer. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs): These vapors are emitted from furniture, carpeting, flooring, cosmetics, paints, dry cleaning, aerosol sprays, fuel, and glues. VOCs can cause irritation of the eyes, nose and throat, as well as headaches, chronic fatigue, dizziness, and damage to the liver, kidney, and brain.
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Dr. Taketa-Wong uses her unique medical and scientific expertise to educate the community about going beyond keeping our homes clean. In this event, learn how to protect your family from mercury, arsenic, lead, mold/mildew, and BPA. The next five is in the following blog post.
Mercury: This dangerous toxin is typically found in large fish, silver fillings, and fluorescent light bulbs, including compact ones. Mercury can cause harm to the nervous, digestive, and immune systems as well as the lungs and kidneys. It can be fatal. Arsenic: Found in some shellfish, rice, some fruit juices, certain seaweeds, and drinking water. Here in Hawaii, there is still arsenic in the soil from the pesticides and herbicides in areas where sugar and pineapple were grown. Arsenic in the human body can cause joint pain, fatigue, hyperactivity, memory loss, and more. Lead: Lead mostly comes from paint used prior to 1978, when the federal government banned it. Older dwellings often have lead paint. Lead is linked to fetal abnormalities in babies and developmental delays. Mold and mildew: Both are types of fungi and both are toxins that are more widespread than most people realize. Symptoms include itchy, red watery eyes, sneezing, chronic headaches, memory loss, body aches and pains. Even changes in mood can be caused by mold and mildew. BPA: This chemical is frequently found in can liners, plastic bottles and other plastics, and cash register receipts. Health effects: cancer, heart problems, and possible risks for obesity, diabetes, and ADHD.  Dr. Taketa-Wong stresses (no pun intended) the importance of healthy emotions. Emotional well being is just as important as physical health and, in fact, emotions are woven into our body. When we feel safe and secure, our muscles are relaxed, our breathing is normal, our heart and digestion – in fact our entire body – operates normally. Regardless of outside circumstances, life seems good.
When we’re nervous, anxious, worried, or afraid, the opposite occurs. Our muscles contract, our breathing becomes faster and shallower, our heart beats faster, digestion slows. Outside circumstances can feel ominous and life seems uncertain. Sandra Parker, a PhD psychologist, calls those kinds of emotions “unrest,” arising from feelings of vulnerability. You were hit with a surprise overdraft charge. Your partner, who always lets you know, is an hour late. The kids are at war with each other. You didn’t get the job. You’re waiting on medical test results. Even though we may “know” life is a roller coaster, we want our lives to be predictable, we want control. So what do we do when things aren’t going our way, and we experience unrest, being unsettled? How do we handle feeling vulnerable? Many of us turn to external activities to avoid dealing with our feelings: online shopping seems very important, the pet wants attention, we dive into our to-do list, those cat videos are just irresistible, we bury ourselves in work. According to Dr. Parker, what we’re doing in those moments is escaping from our inner lives. “We are triggered by uncomfortable sensations in our bodies heralding emotions stirring beneath, and we do anything rather than face them,” she says, adding that, “many kinds of suffering can arise from this. Indeed, research suggests that people who avoid emotions tend to have higher pain levels, increased cardiovascular risk, and higher cancer rates, as well as increased depression, anxiety, and problems in relationships.” This well-written and highly relatable article offers excellent insight into the ways we avoid our feelings and some excellent approaches to embracing them. Understanding what’s going on inside and how we deal with it can, ironically, bring us the control and predictability we desire. Please click to view the article. |
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