Mitogenx Living Blog

Reducing Your Exposure to Cell Phone Radiation

We at Mitogenx are dedicated to your health and we spend a lot of time talking about toxins. Heavy metals, pesticides, herbicides, plastics, formaldehydes etc. But we often forget the very important, constant barrage of radiation that we get exposed to on a daily basis.  Electromagnetic fields or EMF are as toxic to the body as chemicals and pesticides and our exposure to them are easily modified.  

I know that few out there reading this will truly exchange their higher-radiation smart phone for a low radiation version so I thought that this article from the Evironmental Working Group on how to reduce your exposure to cell phone radiation would be much more helpful. Let's face it, a lot of us would be hard pressed to give up our beloved iPhones just to reduce our daily exposure of radiation on the off chance that we might reduce our risk of some far-off possibility of cancer. So practically speaking, this article can increase your awareness of how your cell phone works and steps toward living harmoniously with your cell phone for years to come.

And for goodness sake, keep your kids off cell phones. Developing brains need all the help they can get keeping in mind that radiation damage is cumulative over time so the younger your kid is when s/he gets a cell phone glued to their ear, the more likely that cell phone radiation will have a big impact on their health in the future.

EWG’s Guide to Reduce Cell Phone Radiation Exposure

Download our Guide to Safe Cell Phone Use.

Cell phones emit radiation to send voice and text messages to the other caller. Health risks aren’t confirmed, but some (not all) studies of frequent cell phone users suggest increased risks for brain and mouth tumors and children’s behavior problems.

To be on the safe side, follow the tips below to reduce exposures.

1. BUY A LOW-RADIATION PHONE

Look up your phone on EWG’s buyer’s guide. (Your phone's model number may be printed under your battery.) Consider replacing your phone with one that emits the lowest radiation possible and still meets your needs.

2. USE A HEADSET OR SPEAKER

Headsets emit much less radiation than phones. Choose either wired or wireless (experts are split on which version is safer) using our cell phone headset guide. Some wireless headsets emit continuous, low-level radiation, so take yours off your ear when you're not on a call. Using your phone in speaker mode also reduces radiation to the head.

3. LISTEN MORE, TALK LESS

Your phone emits radiation when you talk or text, but not when you're receiving messages. Listening more and talking less reduces your exposures.

4. HOLD PHONE AWAY FROM YOUR BODY

Hold the phone away from your torso when you're talking (with headset or speaker), not against your ear, in a pocket, or on your belt where soft body tissues absorb radiation.

5. CHOOSE TEXTING OVER TALKING

Phones use less power (less radiation) to send text than voice. And unlike when you speak with the phone at your ear, texting keeps radiation away from your head.

6. POOR SIGNAL? STAY OFF THE PHONE

Fewer signal bars on your phone means that it emits more radiation to get the signal to the tower. Make and take calls when your phone has a strong signal.

7. LIMIT CHILDREN’S PHONE USE

Young children’s brains absorb twice as much cell phone radiation as those of adults. EWG joins health agencies in at least 6 countries in recommending limits for children’s phone use, such as for emergency situations only.

8. SKIP THE “RADIATION SHIELD”

Radiation shields such as antenna caps or keypad covers reduce the connection quality and force the phone to transmit at a higher power with higher radiation.

A couple final thoughts to add to the EWG's article is that women (and men, for that matter) should never, ever put their cell phones in a breast pocket or their bras. If you keep your cell phone by your bed for the alarm, make sure it's in airplane mode.  If you need to have your phone on at night while you are sleeping for emergency reasons, don't keep it by your bed.

 

Healthy Living in 2011: 7 Tips

As we approach the new year, this week is a great time to start thinking about what to do to ensure you are the healthiest you can be for the year. An ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure. So in the spirit of prevention I've listed 7 easy to steps toward ensuring that this year is the first step toward a healthier and happier you.

1. Sleep: I would say that this is the most important task you should focus on. If this is no problem for you then move to step 2. If you have trouble falling asleep, consider optimizing your sleep schedule and get into the habit of getting to bed and winding down between 10pm and 12am. If you can't fall asleep within 20 minutes of getting to bed then try 1-3 mg of Melatonin about an hour before your desired sleep time. If you can fall asleep but wake early, or frequently, have someone evaluate your adrenal glands. Eat a protein snack before bed will really help you stay asleep and forgo any stimulants like tea or coffee after lunchtime. For more tips on natural cures for insomnia, read my post on Insomnia and the Adrenal Gland.  Nothing can deteriorate an immune system faster than poor or restless sleep. Make sure you wake refreshed and try to get a minimum of 6 hours of good solid zzzz's.  Have difficulty falling asleep? 2 of our Freedom Formula about an hour before bed can really help.

2. Stress: Now that you have the sleep think down, manage your stress by getting rid of unnecessary stressful tasks and actions. Try meditation and get into the habit of meditation 30 minutes a day. Deep breathing exercises are highly useful as well. Instructions are here.  Freedom Formula here can really help you manage your daily stress. 

3. Reducing Daily Exposure to Toxins: Try to buy organic when possible. Here is the list of priorities for buying fruits and vegetables organically.  Meats like beef, chicken and pork if not organic should be antibiotic and hormone free at the very least. Dairy products like milk, cheese and ice cream should too be antibiotic and hormone free. Eggs should be, and are easily found, to be organic. Liquid life and Amino ICG along with Primary Toxin Shield will really assist you in eliminating day to day toxins and help your strengthen your immunity by giving your body essential nutrients to detoxify with.

4. Around the house: Soaps, personal care products, detergents, fabric softeners etc. should be as fragrance free and paraben free as possible. These affect hormonal balance for you and especially your children. Try and go fluoride free for your toothpaste and tap water. Many municipal water systems add fluoride into the water so care should be taken about this. Some info on the dark side of toothpaste Part 1 and part 2.  Many hormonally active toxics can be reduced by taking Clear and Restore, our colon and detox supporter.

5. Around the house 2: Pots, pans and furniture. Make a commitment this year to change your pots and pans to stainless steel or ceramic or cast iron without non-stick coating. Here is why.  Think twice about new furniture choices as well as their off-gassing can affect your family for years. Choosing the right kind of furniture is imperative to keeping a healthy home. Make sure your home gets plenty of fresh air to reduce the build up of toxic off-gassing from furniture, mattresses and wall to wall carpeting. Mitogenx' R-Defense is perfect for specific targeting of cell recovery and protection.

6. Know your water: Get your water tested for heavy metals and other contaminants. Heavy metals like lead, mercury, arsenic and cadmium are highly toxic to your immune system, nervous system and endocrine system like your thyroid. Knowing what is coming through your water pipes will help you figure out what drinking water choices you should make. More info on your tap water.

7. Hobbies: This is actually a surprising place for us to be exposed to toxins. Photography (in a dark room) or printer inks, oil painting and solvents, auto maintenance or restoration, stained glass making etc. all have the potential for large exposures to toxins like asbestos, solvents, lead and other heavy metals. Know what the non-toxic or less toxic choices are for your hobbies and make steps toward using gloves, good ventilation and masks with an appropriate filter for what you are doing. If you have a toxic hobby you love, load up on Liquid Life and Amino ICG, of course Primary Toxin Shield and Clear and Restore here are really helpful as well.

Whew, lots of good suggestions to get you started. Obviously, this is not an exhaustive list but it's a great start. Make comments to this post and let me know what other suggestions you might make too. I'm really interested. Meantime, have a tremendously healthy New Year in 2011.

Cell Phone Radiation 8 Ways to Reduce Your Exposure

This is a great article from the Environmental Working Group on some steps to reduce your cell phone radiation exposure. I don't know about you but I can't stand how my cell phone heats up next to my head. It just doesn't feel right. Cell phone radiation is suspected to be related to increased rates of brain cancer. If kept near the groin area in men (like in a pocket or on the belt) there is noted decrease in fertility and testicular concerns. Cell phones are a necessary part of our daily lives now, so let's try to keep ourselves as healthy as possible while using them. As with all radiation, the damage is cumulative so the more you use them the more your body will suffer from the effects. The University of Pittsburg has voluntarily put our recommendations on safer cell phone use. 

via www.enviroblog.org

Research has not yet established whether cell phone radiation is harmful. But. Some studies are troubling enough that we recommend reducing your exposure by buying a low-radiation phone or making some simple changes in the way you use your phone.

If you're one of those people who like to understand the "why" of it all, you'll appreciate the first post in this series where we explain the science of cell-phone radiation exposure.

No need to panic and ditch your phone (we at EWG certainly aren't giving up ours). Here's how to protect your health and stay in touch.

1. USE A HEADSET OR SPEAKER
   

   Headsets emit much less radiation than phones. Experts are split on whether wired or wireless headsets are safer. (Check out the EWG website for a guide to headsets). Some wireless headsets emit continuous low-level radiation, so take yours off when you're not on a call. Using your phone in speaker mode also reduces radiation to the head.

2. LISTEN
   
   Your phone emits the most radiation when you talk or text but much less when you're receiving messages. Listening more and talking less reduces your exposures.
3. TEXT
   
   Phones use less power (which means less radiation) to send text instead of voice. Also, texting keeps the phone -- the radiation source -- away from your head.
4. PHONE AT ARM'S LENGTH
   
   Hold the phone away from your torso when you're talking with headset or speaker, not against your ear, in a pocket, or on your belt, where soft body tissues absorb radiation.
5. BUY A LOW-RADIATION PHONE
   
   Not all phones are created equal: Look up your phone on EWG's buyer's guide. (Your phone's model number may be printed under your battery.) If you're in the market for a new phone, find one that emits the lowest radiation possible and still meets your needs.
6. WEAK SIGNAL? STAY OFF THE PHONE
   
   Fewer signal bars mean the phone has to step up its emissions to contact the tower. Call when your phone has a strong signal.
7. SKIP "RADIATION SHIELDS"
   
   Radiation shields such as antenna caps or keypad covers reduce the connection quality and force the phone to transmit at a higher power with higher radiation.
8. LIMIT CHILDREN'S PHONE USE
   
   Young children's brains absorb twice as much cell phone radiation as those of adults. EWG joins health agencies in at least 6 countries in recommending limiting children's phone use, such as for emergencies only.

To look up the radiation level of your phone, find a headset or read our research, visit EWG's cell phone report

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What is in Your Drinking Water?

Here is a great database for you to find out the possible contaminants in your tap water.  It was put together by the Environmental Working Group and can tell you, based on your city the possible problems with your tap water.  It's called the National Tap Water Quality Database.  This data was collected for 42 states over a period of 2 1/2 years.  Curiously, there were 140 different chemicals found in many drinking water supplies that have no enforceable safety limits.  As we had discussed a few months ago about the contamination of pharmaceuticals in our nation's tap water one starts to think more critically about the amount of unknown things in that wonderfully clear glass of water you are having with your dinner. 

I, for one would love to think that I am very conscientious about the water I drink and the containers I put the water in.  But that just covers what I drink at home and at work.  What about all those times when I go out for dinner and don't order bottled water or the bottled water the restaurant or cafe are offering has no known information on purity.  One call I had made to Arrowhead Water (a very popular brand of bottled water in California) a few years ago on how they tested and ensured purity in their water virtually confused the individual on the other end of the phone.  Ultimately their response was that they did a visual test and if the water did not look cloudy they continued to bottle it.  Well, that was the last time I had Arrowhead water.  There is no guarantee that just because you are bottling underground spring water that the spring has not been contaminated with things such as jet fuel, pesticides and herbicides just like our tap water. 

Many underground springs are fed by lakes and rivers that have been contaminated by runoff from agriculture, mining or other manufacturing processes.  The drinking water I use is Alhambra Crystal Fresh because they filter and process the water 7 different ways before bottling it.  Additionally, they test the water for a whole host of contaminants every half hour and have a third party test it as well.  The original source of the water is well water so there is no contamination of chloramine (which is really difficult to filter out of the water) or chlorine. I know there are lists of better bottled water choices so I'll try to get back to you on that in a future post.

For more information about the Tap Water Testing Report check out the EWG website.

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Is Your Immune System Being Weighed Down by Your Non-Stick Pans?

It seems that the ingenious invention of Teflon by DuPont Corporation has a dark side.  Remember when Teflon first came out and we were all awed about how we could virtually burn something like sugar and it just easily wipes out of the pan?  Well, a chemical that is used to produce Teflon and other non-stick materials like oil-resistant paper products and stain resistant clothing (called PFOA, perfluorooctanoic acid which is a perfluorinated chemical-PFCs) seems to harm the immune system, liver and thyroid.  This is based on a research study of 69,000 people who lived in West Virginia and Ohio who lived near Du Pont chemical plants. 

In animal studies PFOA exposure has been linked to the death of immune cells leaving the body vulnerable to infection.  Additionally a liver protein helpful in protection from infection was also found to be lower in people living near the DuPont plants.  Two liver enzymes were tested and found to be higher than normal indicating liver damage and liver cell death.  In children, early PFOA exposure lead to elevation in cholesterol and increased likelihood of obesity later on in life.  PFOA is found not only in Teflon but also in the lining of microwaved popcorn bags (to keep the paper bag from soaking up the butter), pizza box containers and Scotchguard.  Finally, the study found that PFOA is an endocrine disruptor significantly affecting the thyroid gland, which can affect the brain development of children and the metabolism of adults.

As a response to this study the State of California is currently trying to pass legislation to ban the use of PFCs in food packaging.  DuPont and other companies have agreed to stop using PFOAs in 2015 but since the PFC molecules never break down, the decades of the PFCs and PFOAs have been around are hazardous enough in our water and air.  So replace those Teflon coated pots, pans, baking sheets and such with stainless steel cookware with aluminum or copper cores to help with the heat conduction.  Avoid aluminum pots and pans as they contaminate the foods and can react with acidic foods easily.  Last week, 3 members of Congress introduced new legislation to test chemicals before they are allowed on the market.  This may be useful but many of these chemicals take years for us to fully understand the impact of their toxicity.  Currently most chemicals are allowed on the market with little of no safety testing.  Ultimately there needs to be a review board which tracks long term health and enviornmental impact of chemicals on the market. 

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Is ADD Caused by Your Child's Environment?

Attention Deficit Disorder is a problem with many children. New research indicates that common household products may be related to your child's ability to focus in school.  Most parents don't realize that their kids are being exposed to various chemicals daily in their home and school. If your child has been diagnosed with ADD or ADHD, there are a few things to consider before you ask the pediatrician to prescribe Ritalin or the like. Phthlates, a additive to plastics to allow plastics to become softer and more flexible have been implicated in ADD in children. The phthlates are disrupting normal hormone synthesis and transmission leading to neurological toxicity or ADD. Phthlates are a fat soluable toxin which has also been implicated in the development of diabetes. 

So let's think about this....if phthlates are in molded plastics and soft plastic things like vinyl or flexible plastic toys you can imagine that your child has been exposed to a lot of phthlates in the short amount of time that they have been around. Also, since phthlates are fat soluble molecules the exposure to them can easily be stored in our fat cells and one of the biggest repositories of fat in your body is your brain. Apparently, mothers who test high in phthlates while pregnant will have children who score worse in aggression, attention and conduct than those children whose mother's had low levels of phthlates. 

If you are like me and was born in the 60's when the use of plastics was just starting to get integrated into everything we eat, drink and put on our skin. When I was a kid, Coke came in glass bottles or aluminim cans. Now even our water bottles are plastic. So not only is ADD and ADHD being diagnosed at record levels, so too is autism (something almost unheard of 25 years ago) and childhood obesity. 

No we can't blame it all on phthlates but it's a start to keep your kids healthy in the future. Remember that food colorings have also been implicated in ADD/ADHD so if your child is predisposed to have attention or focus problems, cutting out the Skittles and M&M's would be another step in the right direction. Lastly, I've found that many children in my practice who have temperment issues and frequent meltdowns or who deal with anger issues are vitamin B12 deficient. Particularly the methyl form of B12 injections can benefit them. Usually in these cases oral B12 supplements don't seem to work well. The most common form of B12 injections is in a cyano form meaning that the binder is bound to cyanide rather than methyl groups. The methy B12 is MUST more effective in children with temperment problems. A trial injection will give you a hint on whether or not this may be helpful for your child. Methyl B12 needs to be compounded by a pharmacy and are usually given in very small syringes with a very thin needle and is virtually painless. 

Parents can check their beauty products, skin products for chemical contamination on the Environmental Working Group's website.  The Cosmetic Safety Database is an invaluable resource for choosing healthier products for our kids.  Try and choose products that are 5 or less on the toxicity scale, preferably 3 or less.

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Your Environment and Cancer. Closer Than You Think.

 A 240 page report just out from the President's Cancer Panel states in strong language that our daily exposure to chemicals and toxic environmental pollutants have a significant impact on cancer in the US.  We've spoken about Bisphenol A or BPA in previous posts and despite the dangers of BPA the chemical is still unregulated in it's usage.  This report outlines the importance of studying the impact of chemicals on cancer and our health. 

"The Panel was particularly concerned to find that the true burden of environmentally induced cancer has been grossly underestimated. With nearly 80,000 chemicals on the market in the United States, many of which are used by millions of Americans in their daily lives and are un- or understudied and largely unregulated, exposure to potential environmental carcinogens is widespread. "

In my practice I find that many people's health recover quickly by taking some simple steps and reduce their exposure to chemicals in their daily life.  From hypothyroidism (almost a national epidemic) to autism, chronic fatigue, anxiety and fertility concerns all of these health problems are affected by daily exposure to chemicals like pesticides, herbicides, formaldehyde, bromines, fluorides, fire retardants, perfumes and heavy metals. 

Many of us spend copious amount of money at places like Whole Foods and other grocery stores to buy organic foods only to completely forget that this is only one step toward managing our environment's impact on our health. Diet is one aspect. I've had patients develop anxiety and heart palpitations after buying and sleeping on a new mattress for a few months. Look around your home, especially your bedroom and find out what can be affecting your health.

 Indoor air pollution is much more of a concern to your health than outdoor air pollution (not that you don't have to worry about the outdoor stuff too).  Fragrances from soaps, detergents, fabric softeners, air fresheners all can be toxic and affect your hormones and immune system. Many of us sleep next to closets filled with dry clean clothes off-gassing into our bedrooms. Dry cleaning fluid HAS been studied and is know to be a cause of cancer. Cooking with Teflon pans also affects your health. 

The first step toward reducing your risk for cancer starts with awareness. Here are a few simple things to do to reduce your health risk from your environment:

• Filter Your Drinking Water (No, a Britta pitcher won't do it) Why? 
• Avoid drinking bottles containing BPA Why?
• Stop eating Farmed Salmon Why?
• Think twice when buying new furniture Why?
• Eliminate synthetic fragrances from your home (air fresheners, scented hand wipes, detergents, perfumes, fabric softeners) Choose unscented ones
• Air out your dry cleaned clothes for 2 weeks. Or choose a cleaner option. Why?
• Buy organic for the Evil 12 most contaminated fruits and vegetables. Which ones?
• Toss your non-stick pots and pans Why?

Start now! Good luck!

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Pregnant Moms Beware: Pesticide Exposure Linked to ADHD Risk

 Recent research published in the Journal of Environmental Health Perspectives has linked elevated maternal organo phosphate exposure during pregnancy to a high likelihood of children developing ADHD during early childhood.  This research conducted is one of the most clear cut cases for the need to reduce consumption of fruits and vegetables treated with pesticides, especially if you are pregnant. Previously we have outlined the 12 safest and most toxic fruits and vegetables from a pesticide and herbicide point of view. If you are pregnant or thinking of getting pregnant, you should seriously consider eating only organic fruits and vegetables during pregnancy. This research dovetails with evidence that phthlates (a plastics softener) has been shown to lead to ADD in children. Suffice it to say, it is likely that many chemicals are toxic to the nervous system, and children are especially vulnerable because of their developing brains.  Development and exposure starts before birth so pregnant moms should be intensely aware of what they eat and put on their bodies.  Fragrances and artificial sweeteners, artificial colors and flavoring all contribute to what you can pass on to your children. Just like it is important to not smoke or drink during pregnancy, so too it is important to treat your body like the delicate cocoon it is for your developing baby.

Just in case some of you men and adults not in child bearing age think you are off the hook from pesticide and organophosphate contamination. Remember that your bodies too are affected by the load of toxins that it is exposed to and allergies, asthma, fatigue, anxiety, memory, and possibly neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimers and Parkinson's have been linked to chemical toxicity.  Use the Cosmetic Safety Database to choose less toxic household cleaning options, make-up, personal care products etc. Every little bit counts