Meet David Steinman, an environmental activist, investigative reporter, and author who has worked to expose the dangers of chemical toxins in our everyday lives. Steinman’s 1990 best-selling book, Diet for a polluted planetHighlighting the hidden chemical hazards in our food, in his latest book, Raising Healthy Kids: Protecting Your Children from Hidden Chemical ToxinsWe explore how everyday items are contributing to this health crisis, and offer practical advice for parents to reduce their children’s exposure to these hidden risks and create a safer environment for future generations. Studies have shown that cancer cases in people under the age of 50 increased by 79% between 1990 and 2019, and a study published in Nature found that more than half of the cancers studied, and eight of the 14 diseases, were linked to the digestive system. Highly processed foods and many seemingly natural products that are sprayed with undisclosed pesticides and herbicides are making us sick.
The rise in childhood illnesses, including developmental and behavioral disorders, is increasingly being linked by experts to environmental factors. For example, exposure to pesticides, particularly organophosphate (OP) pesticides, has been linked to increased attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and impaired cognitive function in children. David’s new book also explores the role of nature in personality development and as an antidote to the harm caused by chemicals in childhood. David says parents can budget, so consider adding a water filter to your faucet and filtering the air in your home. These are inexpensive options available in almost every home, and choose organic produce at the grocery store. Most importantly, get your kids outside, write letters demanding better regulation of chemicals, and become a citizen advocate to point out dangerous toxic products in your community. You can find: Raising Healthy Kids: Protecting Your Children from Hidden Chemical Toxins ~ in Amazon and Powell’s book.
