Who is Looking After Our Kids?
CHAPTER 17
Conclusions
Conscientious parents attempting to raise healthy children are confronted with major challenges under today's conditions. Here is a summary
- Sources of volatile toxic chemicals which contaminate indoor air of homes should be removed. Problems of dust and mold may require attention. With grace and diplomacy, parents should also police the indoor air of schools and day-care centers for these contaminations.
- Attention should be paid to indoor lighting. The best source is natural daylight through adequate windows or full-spectrum fluorescent lights. Cool-white fluorescent lights are the worst light source due to their limited color spectrum. When feasible, a child should spend at least one hour daily out-of-doors.
- Food should be sought which is free from chemical additives or pesticide residues. Organic foods (foods grown without chemical fertilizers, herbicides, or pesticides) are highly desirable. Unfortunately, these are not always available, and they are generally more expensive and beyond the means of many young families. If such is the case, we advise fresh market produce and products that have not been commercially processed, soaking fruit and vegetables in water with a little added baking soda or vinegar and then rinsing to remove chemical residues. For most this will be adequate.
- Parents should learn to recognize the sources of toxic heavy metals (especially lead, cadmium antimony and mercury) contamination, and protect children from exposure.
- In spite of major efforts by public officials to improve the quality of public water supplies, chemical contamination remains a common and pervasive problem. Traces of multiple volatile organic compounds are frequently present. The cumulative effect of these multiple chemicals may be sufficient to adversely affect the child. Lead from plumbing systems may be found in older homes (its use in homes is now largely banned). Regarding fluoridation, extensive studies have been done which fail to confirm any reduction in dental caries from fluoridated water but instead suggest that it may act as a toxin on enzymes of the body. If tap water is found to be unsafe for these reasons, spring water in glass bottles may be purchased for drinking and cooking. As another alternative, commercial water filters which can be attached to the sink are available at reasonable cost.
- Leading physicians and researchers at major medical centers are decrying the overuse of antibiotics in treating minor childhood illnesses. As an alternative, parents should learn the use of a few, "natural" remedies for home use. We have found that intelligent use of these substances will get the child through a majority of minor illnesses without the need for antibiotics.
- Parents should be allowed freedom of choice in accepting or refusing current immunization programs for their children.
- Ideally, all pregnancies should be planned. All children should be wanted.
In our experience, many parents bringing their children to us have already done considerable study and investigation of health matters on their own . These parents may not require more than a fine-tuning of programs they have already set in motion, along with medical therapies as indicated.
For other parents, much of this information is entirely new. Their first reaction is to feel overwhelmed by the seeming immensity of their tasks. For this latter group we advise simply to take one step at a time, setting priorities for the most immediate problem areas. If this is done, things usually fall into place, and however difficult things may seem, the ultimate health of the child may, in time ,be achieved.
To recapitulate - we live in difficult times, and none more difficult than for parents seeking the best for their children. However, we have this consolation through our recorded history, every major human advancement has come about through crises and difficulties. It may be that our present difficulties may presage another advancement of the human family, unlike and beyond any that has taken place before.
Note: This book is available from Foresight/America for a list price of $14.95 and at discount prices for those who desire to buy in volume. The hardcopy book format has additional material, case histories and an Appendix showing parents how to detect the danger spots in environmentally contaminated school buildings.