Our children live in a world that is vastly different from years ago. More
than 80,000 chemicals, most of which did not exist fifty years ago, are
registered for use in commerce in the United States, and approximately 700 new
ones are introduced every year. These chemicals are used in everyday items such
as food, shampoo, toys, furniture, electronics, household cleaners, and lawn
care products, to name just a few. The effects of most of these chemicals on
human health are unknown. Of these high-volume chemicals, only 43% have been
tested for potential human toxicity, and only 7% have been studied for their
possible effects on child development. Even fewer have been tested for their
health effects when they interact with one another. What is this doing to our
kids? For the most part, we don’t really know. It’s largely an unregulated
experiment—and our children are the canaries in the coal mine.
Healthy Child Healthy World,
www.healthychild.org, is the nation’s
leading organization dedicated to protecting children from harmful chemicals in
the environment. Celebrating its 20th anniversary, Healthy Child Healthy World
began in 1992 after five-year-old Colette Chuda died of a rare form of
non-hereditary cancer linked to environmental factors. Playing a leadership role
in one of the most important public health and environmental movements of the
21st century, Healthy Child Healthy World today ignites the movement that
empowers parents to protect children from harmful chemicals.
With back-to-school season upon us, we all want to send our kids back to
school with the best start - happy & healthy, and ready to learn. Children will be bombarded with toxins in returning to school - mainly germs from other children & chemicals used in cleaning the building.
One of the best things you can do for your child is to manage/eliminate toxins from your home.
While it might sound like a huge under taking, is not only much better and safer
for YOU and your CHILDREN - it's also much better for the environment. Making the switch can be quite an enjoyable experience if we think of it as a return to purity & safety and that we will be reaping the health benefits that our ancestors had. Some general guidelines are:
1. Avoiding scented products - including all perfumes, colognes, after-shaves,
personal-care products, air fresheners, pot-pourri, etc. Be careful
about certain "unscented" products that use "masking fragrance" to
cover up the original fragrance - these are doubly
toxic!
2. Avoiding ALL fabric softeners, dryer sheets,
Clorox, scented detergents, etc. These products are VERY toxic and
very harmful to the environment as well.
3. Avoiding pesticides, fungicides, herbicides,
and fertilizers. Pesticides are neuro-toxins , and they don't know the difference between the
BUGS and YOU! For fleas, roaches, ants, etc., use diatomacious
earth, boric acid, and nematodes. You can get these from health
food stores and pet supply stores.
4. Using only non-toxic cleaning products and
personal-care products.
5. Drinking and bathing in filtered water. Taking a
shower in chlorinated water causes the chlorine to go right into
your blood stream. You can purchase shower filters that easily
attach to your shower nozzle from water-supply stores or from online companies. Also avoid swimming
in chlorinated pools.
6. Eating organic food (food grown without
pesticides or fertilizers) as often as possible. Avoiding processed
foods, foods with colors and dyes, preservatives, etc. NEVER
consume products containing "NutraSweet" (aspartame). It breaks
down into formic acid and methanol (wood
alcohol) in your body!
7. Wearing only natural-fiber clothing (100%
cotton, linen, wool, or silk). Make sure the clothes are NOT
"permanent press" or "wrinkle resistant" or "flame retardant" - these clothes have been
treated with formaldehyde and other harmful chemicals that does NOT wash out!
8. Using only 100% cotton, wool, or pure silk bed
linens and blankets. Avoid "no-iron" or "wrinkle-resistant". A good
brand is "Simply Cotton", marketed by "Martex" and available at
department stores like Dillards. Wal-mart also now carries 100%
cotton "T-shirt" sheets!
9. As much as possible, avoid plastics -store and buy
food in glass jars, particle-board, plywood, glues, inks, paints use Glidden 2000 - least toxic, foam rubber, vinyl, carpet,
synthetic rugs, varnishes, solvents, etc.
10. Open your windows as often as possible! Even
in the most polluted cities, the outdoor air has been found to be
less toxic than the indoor air!
11. Certain houseplants are beneficial to remove
toxins from the air, such as formaldehyde, benzene etc. The
best plants for removing these and other toxins are philodendrons,
spider plants,peace lily,aloe vera, English ivy, golden pothos, boston
fern, areca palm,snake plant,bamboo palm, and gerber daisy. Fill your house!
Another very simple, very important thing you can do for your child is to add Omega-3 fats to your child's diet.
Aside from controlling your gene function,regulating your immune system, and improving your metabolism, these fats are vital components of the cell membrane that covers every one of your 100 trillion cells in your body. Without omega-3 fats,the proper messages can't be communicated between cells.
The two most important omega-3 fats to know about are EPA and DHA. They are both necessary omega-3 fats. Since your brain is mostly fat, and 60% of your brain is specifically made from DHA, it's easy to see why they are so important. If you aren't getting enough, your brain doesn't work.
Do you gather wild plants & hunt for your meats? If not, you are likely one of the 99% of people who are deficient in the most important ingredient in our bodies for normal cell and brain function - omega-3 fatty acids.
Our brains don't work without these fats - period. Low levels of omega-3 fats have been liked from everything to depression and anxiety, to bipolar disease and criminal behavior, to schizophrenia, to attention deficit disorder (ADD) and autism and learning disabilities, as well as dementia and many other neurological conditions.
Similarity,kids who have dyslexia, dyspraxia,other learning disabilities, and attention deficit disorder tend to be omega-3 fat deficient. Dopamine activity, which is critical for brain function in these children, is improved with essential fatty acid consumption. There have been controlled studies showing that giving fish oil to children with these kinds of problems improves reading and spelling and improves conduct in school because the nervous system is very dependent on these fats to function.
Omega-3 fatty acids play a critical role in our cognitive development and learning, visual development, immune and inflammatory function, and brain health. Now you can see why it's so important for students to supplement their diets with omega-3's like the ones found in Nordic Natural's. Nordic Naturals are trusted by many Medical Professionals and Research Institutions.
How you can help
Nordic Naturals has teamed up with non-profit Healthy Child Healthy World
to help educate families about the risks of environmental toxins to their
children’s health. During its Back-to-School promotion, which will run from
August through October, Nordic Naturals will donate a portion of proceeds from
selected Nordic Naturals children’s products to Healthy Child Healthy World. One
dollar of every bottle sold of the following products will be donated to Healthy
Child Healthy World:
- Nordic Berries™ – chewy, sweet-and-sour multivitamins provide 100% of the
daily value of the most essential nutrients
- Nordic Omega-3 Gummies™ – easy-to-chew, omega-3 tangerine treats for ages
2+
- Children’s DHA™ – chewable, strawberry-flavored omega-3s support brain and
visual function for ages 3+
- Baby’s DHA – omega-3s for babies 5-35 lbs. with a measured dropper for
easy addition to formula or food
So, help your children thrive in life & school by supplementing them with the Nordic Naturals omega-3s and at the same time, you're helping support Healthy Child Healthy World.
