We talk a lot about the importance of a healthy diet and… make no mistake, what you put on the end of your fork is crucial to whether or not you’re feeding your cancer or eating your way out of it.
Your Home Is Your Castle
Let’s face it. The majority of our life is often spent inside our home. It is there where we carry on the business of living—raising our families, entertaining guests, eating, sleeping, and in these modern times, even working from home.That’s why this checklist is so important.
When you have cancer, the scales are already tipped—but not in your favor. Your body is fighting an uphill battle. That’s why it is important to reduce each and every risk that you have control over, especially those recurring risks that only add to the burden of an already severely challenged immune system.
Give yourself a pat on the back if you’ve already addressed one or more of the challenges listed below. And if you haven’t yet, we urge you to take the simple steps needed to cross these cancer challengers off your list.
Quality of Air
The quality of the air we breathe should be an obvious source of both health and disease, according to its pollutants or lack thereof. Because our modern homes are built to be airtight, focusing on recycled air, we do not necessarily get a clean air exchange. Opening up our doors and windows can help, but there is much more we can do to improve the air quality of our home.Quality of Water
Clean, unpolluted water is another no-brainer as a necessary requirement for good health. This life-giving water was once considered our birthright. Yet, in far too many locations all across the U.S. and for too many people, clean drinking water is not always available.Home Furnishings
New carpeting, paneling, and flooring may be pleasant additions to your home interior, but the gasses they emit when newly installed can be hazardous. Even those new mattresses, curtains and Venetian blinds may be adding to your cancer risk by adding to the level of toxins your body is dealing with.You can lessen the effects of out-gassing of these products by opening doors and windows for adequate ventilation. If possible, consider staying away from your home for 2-3 days after installation of new carpeting, paneling, or furnishings containing formaldehyde and other dangerous chemicals.
Mold
For cancer patients, mold can be an especially dangerous problem. Mold is a living organism and the toxins that it produces have long been known to cause disease. They are so deadly that they are often used in biological warfare.According to the World Health Organization, about a third of residential and commercial buildings are affected with mold. “Sick building,” a well-known term applied to these compromised structures, is largely a result of mold infestation.
If you suspect mold in your home, take steps immediately to address its cause by first repairing all water leaks. A word of advice: rather than attempt to deal with mold cleanup yourself, we recommend bringing in professionals for the clean-up. When you have cancer, the last thing you need is to breathe the mold spores that are stirred up when cleaning mold AND the chemicals that are used to remediate it.
Adding a dehumidifier in those areas of your house that are prone to mold can be helpful in keeping mold at bay. Also, consider using an ozone air purifier. This highly successful air cleaner can help make your home a much safer environment—it not only kills mold, but it kills bacteria, viruses, and dust mites.
Radon
Radon is the #2 cause of lung cancer, affecting non-smokers and adding to the already troublesome burden of smokers. And surprise: you may not even realize your home is a source of radon poisoning. Many home inspections, for example, when radon is discovered at Level 4, allow you to pass the inspection. But that radon level is equivalent to upwards of 200 chest x-rays a year!Electromagnetic Frequency (EMF)
Perhaps the most egregious effect of modern dangerous pollution is the invisible threat of EMF. The cancer connection is all too clear. EMF radiation emitted by cell phones damage our DNA. Damaged DNA leads to mutations, which can cause cancer, even in our offspring. In addition, studies show that EMFs can cause leaks in the blood-brain barrier that allow toxic chemicals to pass through. Read more about these hazards in Zapped: Why Your Cell Phone Shouldn’t Be Your Alarm Clock and 1,268 Ways to Outsmart the Hazards of Electronic Pollution.No matter where you live or what kind of house or apartment you live in, make every effort to make your surroundings a truly safe and healthy place to call home. It’s an important step in your journey back to health.