Our first piece about radiation brought many questions regarding implementing an action plan for maximum protection against this very real threat to health, in light of the recent nuclear incident in Japan, so here are some action steps that can help you cover some of your concerns.
There is much talk about iodine supplementation, and rightly so, because the thyroid, the energy plant of the body, depends on organic iodine to function properly. Because of this affinity for iodine, it will accept radioactive iodine when the healthier form is not available, so load up in advance. This course of action is primarily effective in advance, not after exposure.
There are high concentrations of organic iodine in kelp and while you can eat as much kelp and seaweed as possible, it is hard to know that you are getting enough. We recommend taking a high quality Kelp supplement in capsule form, so you know the amount you are getting. Start with 2-4 capsules daily for the first two weeks. You will have many other health benefits in addition to protecting your thyroid.
Avoid bean products especially soy and tofu. These clog the thyroid, slowing the metabolism, and encourage an estrogenic state that makes elimination harder throughout the body. They also inhibit enzyme function and the absorption of protective alkaline minerals like calcium. Also, like the grains, legumes are grown in the fields where the radioactive residue is likely to fall.
Kelp and iodine are great, but they only help protect one organ, the thyroid. Radiation is stored in fat and organs throughout the body so there are other measures you must take as well that are more systemic. Make sure you enzyme levels are high. This probably means enzyme supplements since we are, as a nation, woefully low in enzyme levels because we do not eat a fresh diet containing natural enzymes, let alone the fact that stress turns off the body’s ability to make enzymes, and who does not suffer from some stress these days? When enzyme levels are high, contaminants that enter our system are quickly digested and eliminated, so Food Enzymes are another important part of the plan.
If enzymes allow for digestion of toxins, then the path for elimination must remain clear. Don’t call for an evacuation and then set up a road block on the only road out of town! Fiber is the key here and using a combination of both soluble and insoluble fiber does two things. In addition to keeping the pathways of elimination moving (insoluble), it absorbs toxins (soluble) by attracting them as they float through the system. Psyllium Hulls Combination is a good choice here, or you can also take it in capsule form. Make sure you take fiber with plenty of bottled water! (You did notice the BOTTLED part, right?)
We mentioned antioxidants in part one and they bear repeating. We really like Super ORAC because it is a combination of several of the highest ORAC value herbs. ORAC means Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity which is a complicated way of saying that they have the greatest ability to reverse free radical damage.
Dietary changes are important too. Whenever possible, eat fresh, enzyme laden foods and try to find out their source. We recommend locally grown and raised since they are the least likely to have had direct contamination. Eliminate dairy of all kinds, milk has been found to contain the highest concentrations of radiation because the cows eat the grasses where the radiation falls, concentrating into the milk, resulting in a double dose. Because milk is designed to give the most active nutrients to the baby (calf in this case), there are higher concentrations of radiation found here.
Meats should also be locally raised so you know the most about their exposure. You want high protein levels in your system because muscle tissue is the most resistant to the effects of radiation. Avoid low quality fats because they don’t eliminate well, and this is where radiation and other contaminants are stored. And stay away from carbohydrates and sugars (grains, beans, dairy) which encourage fat build up on the body and the last thing you need is more places for radiation to accumulate or hide. Doing all this will protect your body from both the radiation we all live around in our highly electrified modern world, and any radioactive residue caught in the high winds and heading our way.
Note: After many years of research in the area of supplements, we found Nature's Sunshine is one of the only companies that has all of the testing equipment to ensure that their raw materials does not contain any contaminants, including radiation. This is the reason we recommend their products and any dosage information is based on their level of potency. To read their quality assurance measures, visit their website at www.NaturesSunshine.com
And visit our website for our archive of health information at www.HerbsAreFood.net
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