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An Environmental Approach to Total-Body Wellness

By Sylvie Beljanski
Originally published by Pretty Thoughts of a Hot Chick
View the Entire Article
Posted on Tuesday, May 19th, 2009

Since the end of WWII the output of chemical molecules into the environment has risen drastically. Many of these toxic molecules find their way into the body through the various products that many people use daily, including skincare and household products. In fact, a study done by the Environmental Working Group found that the majority of the products sold in the United States fails to meet one or more industry cosmetics safety standards.

Environmental toxins find their way into our bodies countless ways, and in many cases cannot be avoided. They are abundant in the food that we eat and the products that we use. Milk contains growth hormones that are given to the cows, fish are notorious for their high levels of mercury, and fruits and vegetables are covered in pesticides that do not come off when washed with water, which is itself contaminated.

The study of environmental medicine began in the 1960s when scientists began to examine the correlation between disease and the environment. During this time, one scientist worked to show how environmental toxins damage our health at the very core of our cells, in our DNA. Mirko Beljanski, Ph.D., a biologist and biochemist, worked for over 40 years at the Pasteur Institute in Paris, France studying DNA replication and transcription. It was this research that brought to light the fact that pollution in the environment is negatively affecting our DNA.

Dr. Beljanski discovered that the normal structure of DNA is altered when exposed to pollutants in the environment. He showed that, when the DNA of a cell becomes destabilized, it may lead to chronic disease and other major ailments, including cancer. Mirko Beljanski showed that DNA destabilization is a cumulative process that is influenced by the level and frequency of our contact with harmful molecules that damage DNA structure. In so doing, Beljanski became the father of modern environmental medicine.

Today, the practice of environmental medicine aims to treat disease by addressing the causes of an illness, not simply trying to eliminate its symptoms. It is referred to as the “total load” concept, which is what Mirko Beljanski’s research established in the 1960s. According to the American Association of Environmental Medicine, “the total load concept postulates that multiple and chronic environmental exposures in a susceptible individual contribute to a breakdown of that person’s homeostatic mechanisms. Rarely is there only one offending agent responsible for causing a diseased condition” .

Now that it has been proven by research scientists such as Beljanski that the environment is indeed damaging to our health, we should look to our healthcare practitioners to take an environmental approach to total body wellness. The idea is to be aware of the toxins in the environment, and to look for ways to fortify the body against these aggressive molecules that cause DNA destabilization.

Avoid molecules that are known to be harmful by making sure to buy organic food and natural products free of dangerous preservatives. You should also steer clear of foods that are proven to be harmful to your health, such as refined sugar, caffeine and trans fats. A proper diet is essential to maintaining healthy body function and energy levels.

However, this only goes so far and it is inevitable that toxins will enter your body. The second step is to therefore remove the harmful molecules through natural detoxification methods such as chelation, which helps remove heavy metal buildup, or by taking supplements to help support the liver’s function. These are important because toxin buildup can have significant effects on your physical wellbeing, such as headaches, weakness and fatigue. Detoxification is one of the best ways to remain healthy in a polluted and toxic environment. Unexplained headaches or back pain, memory failing, brittle nails and hair and frequent allergies are all signs that pollutants are effecting your health.

One of the benefits of detoxification is that liver, kidney, and blood purification can take place—which wouldn’t occur during regular eating patterns. Other advantages include stimulation of the immune system, improvement in skin, a rise in energy levels and, most importantly, improved cellular health at the level of the DNA.

Despite a growing “Green” movement, we are polluting our environment more and more every day and it’s not only making the earth sick, it’s making us sick too. It is time to take an environmental approach to health by looking at our surroundings and getting rid of the toxins that are making us sick, not just taking another pill to numb the symptoms.

About the author

Sylvie Beljanski is the President of Natural Source International, Ltd., which offers dietary supplements stemming from her father’s lifetime of research at the Pasteur Institute in France. She is overseeing the development of the Beljanski Wellness Center in New York and participates in conferences across the country to discuss the importance of detoxification and the relationship of environmental factors to health.