Breast is best
An interesting piece of information has presented itself on 2 fronts this week. I’ve just finished watching David Attenborough’s series “Planet Earth” and am also reading “The One Hundred Year Lie” by Randall Fitzgerald. Both are addressing the fine line we and our planet are riding though from different perspectives.
“Planet Earth” is a glimpse at the wonder of our planet and the vast ecosystems which still survive in spite of man’s footprint as a species and our increasing demands on natural resources. “The One Hundred Year Lie” is an expose of the chemical industry and how it has pervaded every aspect of our lives, clothing, cleaning and our food. These man-made chemical poisons are popping up in the most unexpected of places and having a devastating effect.
In Costa Rica, an almost pristine environment, almost 50% of all frog species are under serious threat. This is due to the combined effects of a foreign introduced fungus and the fact that frogs breathe through their skin. This increases their sensitivity to chemical poisons which have spread world-wide and reinforces their position as an ecological barometer. Their disappearance serves as a warning to us that we are all exposed to increasingly dangerous loads of man-made poisons.
This second point had the greatest impact on me. Both Attenborough and Fitzgerald bring attention to the fact that the breast milk of the average nursing mother in the USA is so laden with toxins that were it a bottled product it would fail FDA inspection. This information is the result of tests carried out nation-wide. It appears that breast milk is a pathway for excreting toxins we are exposed to on a daily basis. We are not only poisoning ourselves and our planet but through the best of intentions we are also poisoning our newborn children. Another reminder that the health of ourselves and our planet are absolutely intertwined.
Breast is still best, far superior to formulas, dairy and all other so-called substitutes but reduce your toxin exposure from all sources, before during and after pregnancy and lactation. It’s never too late to make positive changes and get your baby off to a healthy start.
Paul Harper
Filed under: environment, detox, health, toxins, food, synthetic supplements, FDA, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, children, breast feeding, David Attenborough, Randall Fitzgerald, Planet Earth, babies on March 3rd, 2008
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