Today is Blog Action Day. The focus is our environment. Since I am the Autoimmune Queen with five AD’s under my belt, I chose to blog about how our environment may contribute to Autoimmune Diseases.
Research as to why AD’s occur must continue. There is a known genetic link but with people who have no family members with AD’s being diagnosed there may be other factors involved. I believe that our toxic environment is one of those factors.
Glinda Cooper, PhD and lead author of “Occupational exposures and autoimmune diseases,” a National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) study states that “…environmental factors, including infectious agents, and occupational and environmental exposures to a variety of compounds—dusts, metals, solvents…” can be a factor in the rise of AD diagnoses. Please see here for more information.
Another study by Margherita T. Cantorna and Brett D. Mahon hypothesizes that lack of Vitamin D may be causal agent in Autoimmune Diseases such as insulin dependent Diabetes, Multiple Sclerosis and Rheumatoid Arthritis. Inflammatory Bowel Disease, etc. Many people are not getting their Vitamin D the easy way. Getting the correct dose of Vitamin D through our diet is difficult. The sun’s rays on our skin is a simple way to get our Vitamin D, but with the fear of skin cancer due our ozone layer issues we are not soaking up the rays like we used to.
So what can we do? Be more active in our governments’ initiatives concerning the environment, make changes in our own households by recycling, conserving energy and water and keeping informed of issues regarding our world and taking a stand when we see wrongdoing whether it be in our towns, cities, schools or workplaces.
You are exactly right about the Vitamin D deficiency in our country that is linked to SO many diseases, including many prevalent and deadly cancers like breast and colorectal.
Unfortunately, there is a “sun scare” agenda now, being driven by folks with a substantial financial stake in keeping people convinced that skin cancer is suddenly a major epidemic!! Go to sites such as skYincancer.org and note the “sponsors” — all companies who produce sunscreens, self-tanning lotions, UV protecting clothes and window coverings, etc.
http://www.uvtalk.com is a site devoted to get a lot of the “real” science out to the public – rather than the “junk science” posing as fact now.
The bottom line is – 10-20 minutes of full body UV exposure at LEAST 4 times/week may be all you need to produce the Vitamin D3 necessary to fight off so many OTHER diseases! If you happen to live in a sunny climate, you may be able to do that in your backyard! Otherwise – there are tanning salons on every corner where you can inexpensively and in a controlled environment – get exactly what you need for good health!
Many believe the reason we get more colds in the winter months is even tied to the simple fact of lack of UV exposure!
So “got milk?” and perhaps equally important — “Get Sun!”!
very interesting. i’m adding in RSS Reader
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