Health, Environment & You

No matter how much you work to get in better shape, become more healthy and/or make attempts to live longer, all of your efforts are ultimately at the mercy of your environment. Your environment is the air you breathe, the water you drink and the soil and ground on which all non-aquatic life is dependent.

Improving Health
Imagine as you make strides to get outside more often to walk, hike, bike or start an exercise class or lift weights at the gym: Your body is working harder, breathing deeper, consuming more calories for energy and drinking increased amounts of water for replacing fluids. This happens during activity and for up to several hours afterwards.

Environmental Impacts on Health While Exercising

All chemicals are either water-soluble or fat-soluble. Those that are water-soluble are processed by the body and expelled relatively quickly. Fat-soluble chemicals store in your fat cells and can be in your body for years or throughout life. Consider these as you continue your active lifestyle:

-->Air pollution
-As you exercise, your cardiovascular system requires increased amounts of oxygen and forces the air more deeply into your lungs.
1) Outdoor Sources Include -Smog, Exhaust, Dust, Construction, Industrial Plants
2) Indoor Sources Include -The off-gassing of paint, carpets, plastics, dust, air conditioning, deodorizers and cleaning solutions.

-->Water contaminants
1) Almost all drinks contain water as the main ingredient. Water from municipal systems is fairly regulated in the U.S., but various regions/countries have less stringent requirements. The product may be purchased in any state while the manufacturing may originate in another area or country altogether. Therefore, it is only as good as its source and how well the practices & standards are enforced.

2) Fish, seafood and other aquatic life are subject to the purity of their habitats. If they are maturing in chemically contaminated waters it affects not only their health, but the health of anything consuming them as well.

-->Food Contaminants
Soil contaminants affect foods grown in the ground and any animals grazing these plants including the air, water, farming chemicals, drugs/hormones/steroids that these animals are exposed to in their development. Sub-standard handling practices may also introduce contaminants and some chemicals that are added have been approved for consumption.

-->Ozone depletion allows ultraviolet rays (UV) to more easily make their way through our atmosphere requiring hats, sunglasses, sun block and clothing when engaging in any outdoor activities.

What You Can Do
Take matters into your own hands by evaluating such factors as:

-->Time of Day you work out. Earlier or later in the day (less heat/traffic/industry).
-->Where you work out. Away from traffic/industrial plants/fresh air source when indoors
-->What you drink Water source -where it originates from (standards & practices).
-->Foods you eat Place of origin/farming practices, processing & handling.
-->Where you live. Some regions are more polluted -would you move?
-->Insist on high health-based standards Your personal expectations & practices affect everybody.

Improving your environment becomes more of an issue as you improve your health through activity. By acting on these ideas you help to make a difference for yourself and everyone else. We all win.

Remember, YOU have the POWER!

By: BioD

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