We live in a toxic world. Both visible and invisible hazards are everywhere and can take a toll on our health. Water can contain pesticides and heavy metals; food contains chemical residues and various forms of dangerous bacteria and our air is polluted beyond description.

We should be aware of these risks but not afraid or paranoid. We should be proactive in minimizing their detrimental impact upon us. Neither ignorance nor fear is in our best interest!

While environmental health risks affect all of us, they tend to affect African-Americans and other people of color disproportionately, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  Exposure to dust, soot, carbon monoxide, ozone, sulfur dioxide, lead, and others present constant hazards both at home and at work. This means we should put forth special effort to detect and minimize our exposure to these hazards. We must not seek a magic bullet remedy to this problem but instead view the environment holistically, just as we should view our bodies.

We can take steps to protect the environment but we must also be diligent about protecting our internal environment from toxins. Chronic exposure to environmental toxins will negatively affect our health. Some affects will be felt in the short term while others may take 20-30 years to reveal themselves. The repeated chemical insults may manifest as mild symptoms or as severe --
even fatal health problems.

There can be many symptoms of chemical toxicity but some of them include: headache, memory loss, concentration problems, confusion, fatigue, mood swings, nervousness, loss of sex drive, skin rashes, nausea, coughing and wheezing, anorexia and edema.

It is difficult for health practitioners to pinpoint if any of these symptoms are directly related to exposure to environmental toxins since they can manifest from a host of disease patterns. However, we can begin to assess ourselves by analyzing the “toxic trinity” – toxic food, toxic water and toxic energy. For the sake of brevity and since I have touched on the elements of toxic water and energy in past articles, I will focus on the area of toxic food by listing the additives to avoid and limit.

Additives to Avoid: Artificial colors, sodium, nitrate and nitrite, butylate hydroxytoluene (BHT), saccharin, sulfites, monosodium glutamate (MSG), brominated vegetable oil (BVO), hydrogenated vegetable oils.

Additives to Limit: Butylate hydroxyanisole (BHA), sugars (sucrose, dextrose, corn syrup), artificial flavorings, prophy gallate, aspartame, salt, caffeine, gums, xylitol, aluminum salts, propylene glycol.

Finally, remember to always read the food labels. Choose the best foods possible.  Buy organic foods. Buy range-fed animals. Minimize processed foods and avoid fast foods and the additives listed above whenever possible.
Live long. Be strong!

Editor’s note: S. Abayomi Obadele Meeks, B.S., D.Ac., L.Ac. is a doctor of acupuncture and holistic medicine with more than 20 years of experience. He is the first African-American licensed to practice this medicine in Colorado and is the founder of Moyo Health & Cultural Arts Center, Inc.