It’s something that none of us ever wants to hear: that every day our bodies encounter scores of dangerous toxins that can contribute to one of the deadliest diseases in history. According to the American Cancer Society, cancer is the second-leading cause of death in the United States, and an alarming new report from the President’s Cancer Panel brings to light the shocking truth about the impact of environmental pollution on cancer rates in the United States.

The report, entitled Reducing Environmental Cancer Risk: What We Can Do Now, outlines the sources and types of environmental contaminants and their significant impact on our overall health—emphasizing in particular the risk to pregnant mothers and infants. The PCP urges government officials to take a stronger position on regulating harmful chemicals and provides a comprehensive list of recommendations to help reduce our exposure to environmental contaminants. That list includes:

• Choosing organically grown foods to reduce exposure to pesticides and chemical fertilizers
• Eating free-range meats to reduce exposure to antibiotics, growth hormones and toxic runoff from livestock feed lots
• Buying environmentally-friendly home/garden products to reduce exposure to hazardous toxins
• Avoiding hard plastic bottles/containers made with endocrine-disrupting chemicals such as BPA
• Reducing exposure to occupational chemicals by removing shoes before entering the home
• Filtering home tap or well water to reduce exposure to numerous known/suspected carcinogens
• Storing and carrying water in stainless steel, glass or BPA- and/or phthalate-free containers
• Microwaving food in ceramic or glass instead of plastic containers

Still, this isn’t new news to natural health experts, who for decades have warned of the dangers of toxic exposure and advocated for stronger government regulations. The reality, however, is that of the more than 80,000 chemicals currently being used in the U.S. (with over 1,000 new chemicals introduced each year), only a few hundred have actually been tested for safety. Not only that, but according to the PCP report many known or suspected carcinogens are not regulated at all.

Says natural health and detox expert Brenda Watson, “I can’t stress enough how important it is that the danger of toxin exposure is finally receiving the attention it should. My hope now is that more people will take responsibility for their health—and the health of our planet—by taking steps to reduce toxins in their daily lives.”  

For more information about environmental toxins, their impact on your health, and how you can take steps to reduce your daily exposure, visit Brenda Watson’s Detox Strategy website.

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Today more than 1 billion people across the globe will be celebrating a different kind of Mother’s Day, one that marks 40 years of commemorating Mother Earth. What began as an environmental “teach-in” in 1970 is now a worldwide salute to environmental protection that encompasses climate change, conservation, sustainable development, recycling and more. Join ReNew Life and Brenda Watson this Earth Day as we work to make our world a cleaner, greener place in which to live—with small but important changes that can start right in your own home.

• Turn Off the Lights! Electricity is generated by burning coal and fossil fuels, which can pollute the environment. Remember to turn off lights and unplug electronic devices when they are not being used.
• Conserve Water. Cut back on home water use by limiting shower time, turning off the water while you brush your teeth, and doing full loads of laundry instead of several smaller loads.
• Go Paperless. Nowadays most banks and credit card companies offer paperless online account management, and even newspapers and magazines offer online subscriptions.
• Adjust Your Thermostat. Setting your thermostat a few degrees lower in the winter and a few degrees higher in the summer reduces electricity use and CO₂output.
• Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. It may seem like a no-brainer, but according to the EPA about 80% of what Americans throw away is recyclable, yet our recycling rate is just 28%.
• Stop Buying Bottled Water. Bottled water produces more than 1 million tons of plastic waste each year, and over 80% of plastic water bottles are thrown away. A better alternative? Install water filters in your home, and use refillable aluminum water bottles.
• Green Grocery Shopping. Millions of plastic bags end up polluting our environment (including our oceans) every year, but the alternative—paper bags—require more energy to produce and actually cause more waste. Use eco-safe cloth bags instead to carry your groceries.
• Walk, Bike, Carpool. Whenever possible, reduce your carbon footprint by walking or biking instead of driving. For your daily commute to work, kids’ after-school events, or even weekly shopping trips, consider carpooling to cut back on automobile use.

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