Environmental pollution is a global crisis that affects all of us on a very local level - at the dining room table. Brand-new studies show that high levels of toxic chemicals are in our tuna salads, our green bean casseroles, and even our apple pies. They threaten our children's development and put us at increased risk for heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. You can still eat the food you love and reduce your exposure to these deadly poisons. Follow these Dr Oz steps to detoxify your family's food supply.
Dr Oz The Hidden Danger Mercury in Fish
Dr Jane Hightower Joins Dr Oz in this segment on Mercury poisoning; Eating fish seems like one of the healthiest food choices you can make; fish is low in fat and high in protein and brain-supporting Omega-3 fatty acids. Unfortunately their homes - our oceans, seas, and lakes - are filled with pollutants. One of the most potent is methylmercury, which once absorbed by algae sets off a chain of toxic accumulation: small fish eat the algae, bigger fish eat the smaller fish and so on up the food chain until these mercury-packed fish find their way to your supermarket.
When mercury gets into our bloodstream, it goes right to our brain and attacks our nervous system. Left untreated it can cause permanent neuropsychiatric brain damage, learning disorders in children, autoimmune disease, and even heart problems.
Amy also joined Dr oz with her story on Mercury poisoning from fish. Amy suffers from neuropathy, and had gone to see her doctor on other symptoms she was experiencing. After a string of tests her Dr informed her that she had mercury poisoning, and it was from fish. She claimed she didn't eat much fish saying she had sushi twice a week and often travelled to Japan. Apparently twice a week eating New York Sushi was all it took.
Dr oz had a study done in New York for the mercury content in fish and the highest grade of mercury in New York was found in Sushi grade tuna and salmon had the lowest.
Dr Oz Symptoms Of Mercury Poisoning
1. Fish Fog
2. Difficulty thinking and/or concentrating
3. Tremors
4. Fatigue
5. Insomnia
6. Hair loss
7. Muscle and joint pain
8. Unsteady gait
9. Numbness in fingers and toes
Even if you don't have these symptoms, mercury can still do you harm. It is the second most toxic agent next to plutonium, so experts recommend minimizing it as much as possible in your diet.
Fish that are larger and caught when they are older have the most mercury. Salmon, which are usually caught around the age of 3, have some of the lowest levels (plus the highest levels of omega-3s) making them a great choice. Other small, young fish include herrings and sardines.
Dr Oz stated that fish with the highest levels are tuna (especially albacore), tilefish, swordfish, king mackerel and shark. The Food and Drug Administration recommends that people eat albacore tuna once a week at most and chunk tuna no more than twice a week. Pregnant women (or those trying to conceive) should avoid high-mercury fish as much as possible.
Dr Oz Pesticides On Our Food
Dr Alan Green joined Dr Oz on pesticides and which foods to buy organic. Dr Oz says one-third of all fruits and vegetables sold in this country are still covered in pesticides. These poisons, which are intended to kill pests, can also be hazardous to us.
Neurotoxins - can harm our brains and nervous systems. One recent study found that children with a high level of a certain pesticide had an increased chance of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and developmental disorders similar to autism. Other pesticides, which mimic hormone activity, can possibly reduce fertility.
Dr Green says researchers tested the urine of a group of typical suburban kids and found pesticide levels above those considered safe by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Then they switched the kids to organic versions of the same foods, and the pesticide level in their urine dropped overnight and stayed low. When the children were returned to their regular diets, their pesticide levels shot right back up above the EPA safety limits. Dr Oz says go organic when it counts - As a general rule, fruits and vegetables with thicker rinds such as bananas, oranges, and avocados will have lower levels of pesticides than those with more permeable skin such as potatoes and strawberries.
The Dr says if you can only afford one type of organic fruit and one organic vegetable go with the apple and the potato.
Not all non-organic fruits and vegetables have a high pesticide level. Some produce has a strong outer layer that provides a defense against pesticide contamination. The group found a number of non-organic fruits and vegetables dubbed the “Clean 15″ that contained little to no pesticides.
Then you have what is called "The Dirty Dozen", the dirty dozen are the 12 foods “Dirty Dozen” of produce contains 47 to 67 pesticides per serving.
Dr Oz Organic Foods To Buy
Dr Oz Explains “Why Go Organic” — People always ask whether buying organic is healthier, and the answer is yes. Eating organic protects you from potentially harmful chemicals such as pesticides. But going green is rarely cheap, and it’s not always essential, which is why we’ve created 3 simple rules for when you should spend your green to go green and when to save your cash with conventional foods...What foods should you buy Organic -- Read More!
Dr Oz Bisphenol-A BPA
Dr Urvashi Rangan joined Dr Oz on BPA and the health hazards on food containers containing BPA. BPA, this chemical is used to create clear, hard plastics (such as reuseable water bottles) and line metal cans to protect us from botulism. Unfortunately, animal studies have shown that high levels of BPA lead to obesity, fertility problems, breast and prostate cancers, diabetes and heart disease. Human studies are beginning to show similar results.Dr Urvashi Rangan reviewed can foods and drinks that you have in your pantry. She says BPA has been used for years now, since the fifties and it's used in certain types of plastic, and it pretty much lines can foods. Dr Oz and Dr Urvashi Rangan showed the inside of a can that is coated with plastic on the inside. It turns out that when BPA is assessed in our blood stream, more than 90% of us has some level of BPA in our blood stream.
People don't need to be exposed to BPA, and we shouldn't have to eat it. The food and drug administration should simply ban it in any application that comes into contact with it.
Dr Oz said in the meantime things that we can do to take BPA out of our food supply is to recognize how to look at the plastic containers we use for holding water. 7 is the magic number to look for. Dr Urvashi Rangan says if you see the 7 PC, then you know that it is a polycarbonate plastic and has BPA. The 7 is a catchall category which means a lot of different plastics can be mixed in there.
Dr Urvashi Rangan and Dr Oz says switch to something other than plastic for your food and drink storage. Choose fresh - frozen over canned, and food in glass bottles, and juice in drink boxes instead of plastic bottles. Don't heat anything in plastic in the microwave. Good Life Water Bottles - 100% BPA-free, non-leaching & toxin-free! Tests discovered that more than 90% of us have a measurable level of BPA in our bloodstreams and experts say that children who eat several daily servings of canned food (which includes juices, infant formula, as well as fruits and vegetables) can receive a dose of BPA comparable to the levels that caused harm in animal studies.
Steer clear of any containers with the number 7 and the initials PC on the bottom as well as any clear, hard plastic containers with no labeling.
Buy BPA-free baby bottles and training cups. Switch to stainless steel or aluminum sports water bottles. Heat food in glass containers in the microwave. Look for alternatives to canned food, beverages, and infant formula. Choose fresh or frozen whenever possible.
