Last Updated on January 9, 2024 by Cathy
Earth Day, founded in 1970, is a worldwide celebration each year on April 22nd. It raises public awareness of pollution and brings environmental causes into the spotlight. Before Earth Day there were enormous amounts of pollutants pumped into the environment which affected your health.
Our air, food, and water were highly contaminated. The Earth today is cleaner than it was in 1970 but it still has a long way to go. Environmental toxins not only hurt the Earth they also hurt animals including humans.
Environmental toxins cause autoimmune diseases, and cancer, and are endocrine disrupters. There are naturally occurring compounds such as mercury and they’re human-made toxins. Human-made toxins are everywhere they’re in food, body care, and cleaning products.
Environmental factors lead to chronic inflammation. Such as dietary choices, smoking, chemicals, pollution, and stress. Chronic inflammation causes multiple sclerosis (MS). This leads to oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction.
“…the cause of MS is multifactorial and include genetic predisposition together with environmental factors such as exposure to infectious agents, vitamin deficiencies, and smoking.” – PubMed
Before the 1900s most people died from infectious diseases. The top three killers were pneumonia, influenza (flu), and tuberculosis. Autoimmune diseases weren’t very common. Today, autoimmune diseases have increased dramatically worldwide.
Studies show that genetic predisposition accounts for approximately 30%. The other 70% are due to environmental factors including toxic chemicals. Every day we attack our bodies with food additives, chemicals, pesticides, and stress. The World Health Organization (WHO) states:
“Chronic diseases are the greatest threat to human health.” – WHO
Air Pollution
Studies found that increased exposure to air pollution causes systemic inflammation and oxidative stress. It’s linked to systemic lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes, and MS. One study indicated there’s more than double the MS rate in an area near an iron and steel factory. This supports that air pollution may be a possible contributing factor in MS. Air pollution causes free radicals, blood-brain barrier (BBB) breakdown, and neuroinflammation.
MS is a neuroinflammatory disease – inflammation within the brain and spinal cord.
BPA
Bisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine disrupter. It’s widely used in plastic containers that store food and water and on store receipts. The problem with products with BPA is it leaches out into the food or water. BPA causes toxicity in almost all vital organs, even at low doses.
To minimize BPA avoid:
- Cans lined with BPA, eat mostly fresh or frozen foods
- Microwaving in plastic containers
- Plastic containers and bottles especially ones with the #3 or #7 on the bottom
Food and the Gut Microbiome
Researchers discovered people with MS have more bad bacteria in their gut. In other words, they lack good bacteria compared to healthy people. Gut dysbiosis increases the BBB permeability through the gut-brain axis.
Antibiotics are a lifesaver but when they kill both good and bad bacteria. This allows bad bacteria and yeast to overgrow causing many health issues. It’s not just the antibiotics in medicine, antibiotics are also in the meat you eat.
Ranchers give antibiotics to their livestock to keep them from getting sick. As you eat the meat, you’re also eating the antibiotics. To avoid this, buy pasture-raised, grass-fed, and finished meats. To find a rancher/farmer in your area check out eatWILD.
Having MS also means you have a leaky gut. This is when the tight gut lining begins to separate. It then allows toxins to pass into the bloodstream. There are many reasons this happens from steroids, and birth control pills, to stress.
Pesticides
Studies show areas with high use of pesticides have higher rates of MS. People who work in agriculture have a higher risk of developing MS due to pesticides. Dr. Terry Wahls, the author of The Wahls Protocol, believes her MS was due to growing up on a farm that used pesticides.
To avoid pesticides it’s best to buy organic. If you can’t afford organic you need to check out the Environmental Working Group’s website. Every year they come out with a Dirty Dozen list showing produce with the most pesticides. They also have a Clean Fifteen list that shows which produce has the fewest pesticides.
Smoking
Cigarette smoking causes serious health issues including cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and cancer. It increases inflammatory markers and builds plaque in the arteries. Smoking is also linked with an increased risk of MS.
Even people exposed to second-hand smoke have a greater risk of MS. Smoking increases the progression of MS and can lead to greater disability. Plus, if you are on one of the disease-modifying therapies (DMTs), it may not be as effective.
If you smoke – stop today. For help to quit smoking visit smokefree.gov or call 800-QUITNOW (800-784-8669).
Sun Exposure
Another environmental factor is sun exposure. Although it’s not a toxin the lack of sun causes a vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D is a hormone, it’s produced in the skin due to sunlight.
Vitamin D absorbs calcium which plays a role in bone health. The best way to get vitamin D is by spending time in the sun. However, that’s not always possible especially if you live further north where the sun isn’t always out.
Some foods have vitamin D such as oily fish, red meat, and egg yolks. People with MS often have a vitamin D deficiency. It’s important to get your vitamin D level checked and to take a vitamin D supplement.
Earth Day and Your Health
Earth Day and your health go hand in hand. How? Well, taking a stroll in nature, and breathing in that fresh air – it’s a double win for your well-being and the planet! Our world is full of toxic chemicals that we come in contact with every day. With Earth Day around the corner, more people will be aware of the problems. Don’t let cleaning up your environment be a one-day event, turn it into a healthy lifestyle.
Things you can do for Earth Day and your health:
- Add plants to your home for cleaner air and they look nice
- Air filters
- Avoid scented candles, use essential oils instead
- Buy organic
- Cook at home, you’ll know what’s in your food and it saves waste from taking out bags
- Don’t Idle your car to stop releasing emissions
- Grow a vegetable garden
- Shop at the farmers market for local, in-season food
- Spend time outdoors
- Stop using plastic
- Swap out old mercury-releasing fluorescent lights for energy-efficient lightbulbs
- Use clean body care products
- Use “green” cleaning supplies or make your own
- Water filter
Making eco-friendly choices isn’t just good for the environment but also for your health.
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Photos courtesy of: pexels.com, pixabay.com, unsplash.com and NASA
Resources:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30959217/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31954069/
https://www.nationalmssociety.org/smoking
Earth Day and Your Health
