(MENAFN- Arab News) Last week I covered another type of contamination that could affect children in different ways. It was alcohol and how it affects physiological development of foetuses and how it could alter their facial features shape and bone structure. The entire physiognomy could be altered through mother's consumption of alcohol during the pregnancy. It is called fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS).

According to Dr. Catherine Shanahan's book 'Deep Nutrition' alcohol sugar trans fats and nutrient deficiencies cause facial features and bone structure to assume the look that is called FAS (read more about it in Part 15). Alcohol consumption also results in nutrient deficiencies (thiamine B12 coenzyme mineral) by obstructing the absorption and synthesis of certain nutrients.

As I am getting closer to ending this series of articles I realize that they have become much longer than I anticipated. That is due to the many different aspects of contamination in children's lives; most of them are unknown to parents and many are difficult to change as they have become part of our food chain. This is a worrisome situation because inflicted children would never be able to grow to be healthy adults.

Their little bodies are constantly bombarded by chemicals in their clothes bodycare products and toys; pesticides additives colorings taste enhancers artificial flavors sugar trans fats and sweeteners in their food; heavy metals in vaccines; chemicals in bottled water (fluoride) and tap water; industrial waste and fumes in the environment; and also by medical drugs directly or indirectly through their mothers. Sometimes when I think about it I feel they are targeted.

To sum up the earlier parts I will give some suggestions on how to protect yourself and your children's health from the variety of toxins encountered daily. I will start with an expert's advice to how to reduce toxins in your lives in order to avoid their consequences.

Christopher Gavigan author of Healthy Child Healthy World and CEO and Executive Director of the non-profit www.healthychild.org recommends the following healthy practices to parents in order to reduce toxins in their children's lives. Awareness can save children's lives parents' distress and unexpected and uncalled for high medical expenses.

Eat smart. To invest in fresh organic foods for your health and your children's is not a waste of money. They are healthier and more nutritious due to their natural contents of the full range of nutrients they should contain. These should include fruits vegetables (dark leafy greens; yellow orange red and very dark pigments for their high phytochemicals) roots spices condiments nuts seeds free-range dairy eggs meat poultry and birds and uncontaminated fish. Spices are particularly healthy and detoxifying due to their richness in phytocompounds.

Make sure children drink plenty of pure and filtered water and not sodas and juices which are loaded with added sugar. Children are very active and play outdoors. Water (lakes rivers rainwater) can be easily contaminated in the environment by garbage toxic industrial and medical wastes pesticide and other dangerous materials. Water needs to be purified. Unfortunately not only does the drinking water in Saudi Arabia come in plastic (pthalates) bottles which leach toxic material into the water when left under the sun or heat but it also contains added fluoride that can cause thyroid function disruption and neurotoxicity and lower fertility.

Fluoride is required by the Saudi Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) to be added to tap and bottled water to protect children's teeth from decay. But unfortunately it happens to harm their bodies while it protects their teeth. We forget that for their sizes and weights children eat drink and breathe much more than adults. We also forget that due to elevated temperatures and greater movement children need to drink much more than adults and children in cooler countries.

To counteract fluoride toxicity a recent Indian study found that the yellow root turmeric (curcumin) is able to reverse the neurotoxicity of ingested fluoride. Turmeric can be added to soups meat dishes salads yogurt or any cooked dishes. It can also be taken as supplement to detoxify from fluoride and other toxins due to its high antioxidant

potency.

Skin (sunblocks) and hair (shampoos) care products contain different toxic substances including bioavailable chemicals (phthalates) and heavy metals like mercury. Pregnant mothers should be extra careful with what they apply on their bodies and hair because male fetuses develop defective reproductive organs or are born with lower fertility. Reduce the use of the much-publicized woman and babycare products and go for the organic ones.

After the bath when babies' and children's skins are moist apply olive almond argane avocado coconut or any other natural oil to protect skin moisture. Pregnant mothers should also use natural oils and chemical free products on their skin. They are safer.

As far as food is concerned we should be also careful what children eat and drink. Unfortunately they are very much exposed to processed and manufactured foods which contain all sorts of additives preservatives sugar artificial sweeteners and hydrogenated fats (trans fats) through fast foods soda drinks packaged bakery goods (cereals potato chips crackers biscuits cakes pastries confectionaries) snacks (M&Ms Bounty chewing-gums gummy bears jelly beans) and preserved and smoked meats (sausage salami pastarami) displayed on supermarket shelves.

Processed foods usually contain chemicals and artificial ingredients (colorings preservatives flavors) monosodium glutamate (MSG) artificial colorings in candies that come in E with numbers artificial sweeteners (aspartame saccharin) hydrogenated oils and olestra (transfats) sodium nitrite (luncheons preserved meats) high amounts of caffeine in soda drinks acesulfame K other harmful artificial additives and tons of sugar and salt to make them appeal to the palate.

All these toxic chemicals are not tested for long-term consumption. Little children are used as guinea pigs. Only recently artificial colors (the Southampton Seven) in children's over-the-counter drugs made the news because the Southampton Study found them to be associated with hyperactivity. This is only the beginning.

Such substances should not be called food as they are far from nutritious. They happen to be low or even empty of nutritional value. Their risk increases because of the excessive sugar salt trans fats and refined grains which expose children to obesity health hazards and adult disorders. Gone are the days of homemade and farm-grown unprocessed and unrefined foods of Nature.

I hope to end this series of articles next week unless some new information arises and compels me to continue writing on the subject. Children sickened by toxins today could taint their growth and health tomorrow. Children require our full attention; we are responsible for their safety and well-being. We need to become more proactive.

References:

Why the manufactured food supply is designed to keep you addicted not nourished by Mike Adams

http://m.naturalnews.com/news/045514_food_addictions_chemical_ingredient...

Four most dangerous toxins to the brain by Derek Henry

http://www.naturalnews.com/045510_brain_toxins_fluoride_heavy_metals.htm...

Chicken feed contains cancer-causing arsenic: www.naturalcuresnotmedicine.com

Meat Companies Go Antibiotics-Free as More Consumers Demand It by David Kesmodel

http://www.nih.gov/news/health/jul2014/niehs-08.htm

www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/formaldehyde

Nick Meyer althealthworks.com

http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2807%2961...

http://cspinet.org/new/pdf/food-dyes-rainbow-of-risks.pdf

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2843940/Could-SUNSCREEN-stop-m...

http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/science/2014/01/five-reasons-why-you-sho...

N.B.:

Individuals with medical conditions or on medication should consult their physicians when they decide to introduce anything new in their diet even if it is natural.

The previous Health Solutions articles are located at www. arabnews.com.