With the recent nuclear disaster that recently took place in Japan following there is a great deal of concern relating to the possibility of radioactive contamination. It is still unclear exactly how many people will be affected, and how far-reaching the consequences of the meltdown will be. With all the uncertainty of what these consequences could be and conflicting information, it is prudent to hope for the best and prepare for the worst. It is important to know what to do on a daily basis to protect yourself and your loved ones from the conditions that can be the result of low doses of chronic radiation that can come from contaminated water and food.
A lot of what scientists have learned about exposure to radiation and its impact on health comes from studying populations living in areas contaminated by the Chernobyl disaster that took place in 1986. Some of results of living with exposure to radiation, even low levels, included an increase in chronic health problems such as leukemia, thyroid cancer, cataracts, and nervous system disorders. It is even more important to protect children from contamination, as they will absorb as their exposure to radiation is up to five times higher than that of an adult.
Luckily, there are a lot of simple steps you can take that will help reduce your exposure to radiation that could come from food and water. Since radioactive iodine is likely to bind to the thyroid gland, the best way to protect your body from it is to take supplemental iodine. This can block radioactive iodine from binding with your thyroid. Supplemental iodine can be purchased at most health food stores, or online for as little as $7 for a bottle. Since kelp is a natural source of iodine, you could alternately use kelp in cooking in place of taking supplements.
Another think you can do is to make sure to consume foods that are high in antioxidants on a daily basis. Antioxidants and counteract some of the damage that ionizing radiation can cause to cells and molecules in our body. Natural sources of antioxidants include green and black teas, greens, and colorful fruits and vegetables. Taking a Dimethylsulfoxide compound will also help prevent and heal damage from radiation. It is also a good idea to make sure you have a good daily multivitamin. Garlic, onions, and other foods that contain sulfur can help reduce damage and promote healthy liver and kidney function, which helps get rid of toxins in the body.
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There are also certain foods that are more likely to contain higher levels of radiation. Milk is likely to have more radiation than dairy products that have been processed such as yogurt and butter. Freshwater fish that comes from moving bodies of water such as rivers are less likely to have high levels of radiation than fish caught in lakes and ponds. Chicken and beef are more likely to be contaminated than pork and lamb. Fruits that are high in pectin can also help in eliminating radionuclides from the body.