Chemical Exposure
We always think of the
big things when we think of the affect of chemical exposure
on the human body - Toxic spills, billowing smokestacks,
leaking gas tanks, manufacturing work that exposes employees,
etc. But the fact is that most chemical exposure that
affects fetal development is much more subtle.
You can get really paranoid
if you are not careful, and there are all kinds of wackos
out there ready to claim that everything you eat is
toxic and will cause genetic damage, and that it's a
wonder any child is born alive.
The truth is that chemicals
do harm. Some chemicals are harmful only in larger exposures.
Some chemicals even a small amount will damage genes
- most of these are tightly controlled. And for others,
they only make a difference when there are already other
factors stacking the deck against you. The human body
generally has a great capacity for compensation, and
minor exposures usually do not have catastrophic effects.
If you are older, have
diabetes, are borderline anemic, have had many pregnancies
already, have circulatory or pulmonary problems, or
other conditions which already make it difficult for
someone to sustain a healthy pregnancy, then exposure
to certain chemicals may tip the scales. You may not
be able to fully control everything, but you may feel
a desire to limit potential problems wherever you realistically
can.
In that case, there
are some chemicals which are repeatedly tied to problems
with pregnancy, and some others which it is logical
to assume may be.
MSG - Who knows? It
is in a lot of foods though, and avoiding it when possible
cannot hurt.
Sodium Nitrite - Again,
who knows. Some sources state that it may be a culprit
in genetic damage. What is known is that it is chemically
very similar to MSG, and some people who are allergic
to one are also allergic to the other. My daughter has
a threshold allergy to both of these - if she has only
very limited amounts, she can tolerate it, but if she
gets sensitized to them, she cannot tolerate any at
all until it clears out of her system. If she gets sensitized
to either one, she will react to the other as well.
So if you decide to eliminate one, you need to eliminate
the other as well.
Aspartame - Ok, this
one has so much controversy that it is impossible to
tell the truth about it. I think it is probably ok in
small amounts - the human body has a great ability to
compensate. But if you are regularly consuming foods
with this, or any other chemical additives, you should
try eliminating them and seeing if it makes a difference.
We do know, from personal experience, that aspartame,
in large doses, can contribute to male potency problems - we tested it more than once, and the connection was unmistakable.
I suspect that if we used large and regular doses of
Splenda or Stevia, that it would have some kind of negative
affect as well.
Food Preservatives -
Really, you cannot EAT anymore without consuming them,
but if you choose more whole foods that you cook yourself,
and less prepared foods, it will significantly reduce
the amount of chemicals in your foods.
Paint Thinners, Paints,
Gasoline, Air Fresheners, Aerosols, Perfumes, Cleaners,
Solvents, Glues, and other odorous substances that you
might encounter. Do not breathe the fumes, and do not
stay in the house while they are being used. If air
freshener is used, stay out of the way until it settles
and disperses.
Alcohol - I am classing
this as a chemical, because it has a hugely negative
affect on developing fetuses. It interferes with every
stage of development, from conception to delivery. It
causes damage to sperm also, and damage can be caused
to a fetus from a man who drinks. Tolerance levels are
far lower than most people think, and you don't have
to drink regularly to cause problems. One drink at the
wrong time can blight a life, or prevent one. Watch
out for alcohol in cold remedies as well as avoiding
intentional drinking.
The government assures
us that many chemicals are safe for human consumption,
but it stands to reason that too much of anything is
going to harm. Use prudent judgment and avoid what you
can, and especially avoid regular consumption of anything
artificial and concentrated.
I am not rabid about
eating organic foods, nor do I worry overmuch about
the odd Twinkie. But I try to avoid processed foods
when it is reasonable for us to do so, and to take the
measures that are simple and affordable.
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