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Survive: your guide to thriving in a toxic world

By Michael H. Cohen, Esq.

If you want to survive in a toxic world, I highly recommend reading Survive by Sharyn Winters, ND.

So far I love the book.  I've ordered a Tesla watch and implemented lots of other suggestions - such as not leaving my cellphone too close to my body when I'm in the office.

Dr. Wynters writes:

'Survive!', is about 37 years of research that started at a really critical point in my life. It was a time when my health had been compromised and I was faced with either making some dramatic changes or allowing my degenerative condition to determine my future. The decision that I made at that point in time really shaped my future. I'm blessed and grateful that I had it because it changed my entire life and my health opportunity inspired me to become a naturopathic doctor.

Our planet is at a really critical place. The decisions that this generation makes is going to determine the future of fate of the next generation. Everybody at this point in time needs to take action, be of service and so I decided about three years ago that this information needed to be out. The first step in people taking action is to be conscious of what is going on. This book gives all the causations of disease and is a road map to health and what they can do about it. I felt an obligation, knowing this information…that I needed to pass my knowledge on to others. Give the gift of health, buy 'SURVIVE! A Family Guide to Thriving in a Toxic World.'

More about Survive:

About "Survive"

The human race has created chemicals for every purpose imaginable.

In agriculture, there are chemicals to kill pests, chemicals to make foods ripen faster, chemicals to make foods grow bigger, and to lengthen their shelf life. In the food processing industry, chemicals preserve freshness, they add colors to food, they, they line cans and boxes, and they trick your taste buds. In the textile industry, chemicals are used to make fabrics soft, to keep them from wrinkling, to make them fire retardant, to make them resistant to stains, to keep them from collecting static, and to make them water resistant. In the personal care industry, chemicals create suds; they remove grease, stiffen your hair, make your skin feel smooth, stop you from perspiring, change your hair color, lengthen your lashes, and make you smell good.

Unfortunately, many of the chemicals designed to improve your life's experience cause birth defects, hyperactivity, learning disabilities, attention deficit, early puberty, and developmental problems in children. Many are known to cause allergies, asthma, and other respiratory problems. Others are known to cause neurological disorders, sexual dysfunction, and cancer.

SURVIVE will take you to a new level of awareness regarding the dangers of the toxins in every day products and services. It will guide you to non-toxic alternatives and it will open the door to a new way of honoring the Earth.

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Introduction from the Book

Toxic chemicals from everyday products contaminate every person living in modern society today. Even if you don't live in the city, there are toxic chemicals in the air you breathe, in the water you drink, and in the soil from which your food is grown. Unfortunately, toxins have been discovered in the most remote and pristine parts of the world—the result of pesticide drift, industrial waste, and societal negligence.

Toxic chemicals are so pervasive that they infiltrate every aspect of our lives. Carpets, water bottles, shampoo, pots and pans, couch cushions, computers, toys, and baby bottles all emit toxic substances and other by-products that contaminate our living environment and our bodies. Today, newborn infants are born with dangerous levels of toxins passed from their mothers while "safely" in the womb.

Of considerable concern is our food. The old adage, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away," has most people shaking their heads when they consider the fact that apples have become one of the most toxic of all fruits. Apples are sprayed with so many chemicals and pesticides-then often irradiated before they are placed on display—that unless they are organic, they can often be more harmful than healthful.

The human race has created chemicals for every purpose imaginable. In agriculture, there are chemicals to kill pests, chemicals to make foods ripen faster, chemicals to make foods grow bigger, and to lengthen their shelf life. In the food processing industry, chemicals bleach flour, they add colors to food, they preserve freshness, line cans and boxes, and trick your taste buds. In the textile industry, chemicals are used to make fabric. More chemicals are used to make fabric soft, to add color to it, to keep it from wrinkling, to make it fire retardant, to make it resistant to stains, to keep it from collecting static, and to make it water resistant. In the personal care industry, chemicals create suds; they remove grease, stiffen your hair, make your skin feel smooth, stop you from perspiring, change your hair color, lengthen your lashes, and make you smell good.

But the same chemicals that have been designed to make our lives easier and more luxuriant are now being discovered to cause birth defects, hyperactivity, learning disabilities, attention deficit, early puberty, and developmental problems for our children. Many of these chemicals are known to cause allergies, asthma, and other respiratory problems. Others are known to cause neurological disorders, sexual dysfunction and cancer. Not only have environmental toxins been linked with a large number of existing diseases, but many scientists believe they are responsible for an entirely new group of disorders that involve multi-system symptoms including: chronic fatigue, food intolerances, autoimmune diseases, neurological diseases, multiple chemical sensitivity, and a variety of "syndromes."

Beyond being at the root of many of our modern illnesses, environmental toxins contribute to a burden we all bear-a burden that suppresses immune function and makes us too tired to enjoy the luxury we intended to create. Now that we have climbed to the pinnacle of technological advancement to become "masters of our world," we are faced with the fact that we have nearly destroyed it—and ourselves—in the process.

Man-made substances do not degrade when placed back into the earth. Plastic bottles, polyester fabric, petroleum-based detergents and solvents take decades to degrade—perhaps even centuries—all the while leaching toxins into the soil. Our landfills have become pockets of toxicity that cannot easily be incorporated back into the cycle of life. The same is true of our bodies. They were not designed to process or remove synthetic chemicals. The enzymes intended to break down toxins have little capacity to work on man-made chemicals. Because of their durability, the foreign chemicals we breathe and ingest are deposited in tiny pockets in our bodies, destined to accumulate until they can no longer be contained.

But aren't we protected from toxic chemicals by agencies designed to monitor and test them before they are sold as "safe?" The sad truth is, we are not. The nation's toxic chemical regulatory law, the Toxic Substances Control Act, is in drastic need of reform. Passed in 1976 and never amended, the Act is widely regarded as the weakest of all major environmental laws on the books today. When the Act was originally passed, 62,000 chemicals that were already on the market were declared to be 'safe' even though little or no data was available. Since that time another 20,000 chemicals have been put into commerce-also with little or no data to support their safety.

All too often the "facts" about chemical toxins are contingent on who is funding the research. In the past, research funding went to academic centers. Today it is contracted to "for profit" research firms. How do research firms get on-going funding if their studies are not crafted to support the products they research? When it comes to medicine, the pharmaceutical industry now finances 70% of the nation's clinical drug research. Unfortunately, many of the agencies designed to protect the public are in the back pocket of the huge corporations they are intended to police.

U.S. standards are so weak that even well-known toxins continue to find their way into food, water, air, and the products we use everyday. Often, manufacturers of products containing known toxins are not required to list them. Whistle-blowers inside the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) who have attempted to expose safety issues, have been pressured, threatened with legal action, punished by their superiors, or discredited. Ultimately, it is up to us to become aware and to make the conscious choices that will send messages to corporate America and that will give us back our health.

In spite of the enormity of the toxins that exist around, and in us, it is not too late to make changes in our personal lives that will have a profound effect on our health and the health of our families. Sharyn Wynters' personal experience is a perfect example:

In her 20s, with everything going for her as a successful actress, Sharyn Wynters developed serious health problems that the medical profession could not help her with. Looking back, she describes this period of her life as her 'health opportunity'—the chance to make changes that would affect the entire course of her life. Sharyn sought out the famous William Donald Kelley and within a month her whole life had changed. She threw out toxic cosmetics and household cleaners; she had dental fillings replaced; and she completely changed her diet. Her quest for health became her passion, and ultimately she accomplished what the medical profession could not help her attain-vibrant health.

Just as it is not too late to make changes in your personal life, neither is it too late to insist on legislation that halts the manufacture of dangerous toxins and curbs our dependence on petrochemicals. This has been one of the torches carried by Burton Goldberg for many years. As the former publisher of Alternative Medicine magazine, he has championed many efforts to awaken the public to the health crisis in America. His efforts to promote public awareness, to support health care choice, and to endorse legislation that supports the environment have taken him into the halls of Congress to testify before the United States House of Representatives' Committee on Government Reform.

Like many challenges that the human race has encountered, our present circumstances represent an opportunity. It is easy to get caught up in fear but that is not the purpose of this book. Its purpose is to encourage you to take personal action and to support your action with enough information to help you make empowering choices. It is not too late to take action. It is not too late to support efforts for reform. And it is not too late to teach your children to re-cycle, to honor the Earth, and to understand that each one of us can make a difference.

If you are ready to take responsibility for your health; if you are eager to implement changes that will limit your exposure to toxic chemicals; and if you are willing to do what it takes to unburden your body (and in doing so to support the unburdening of the Earth), then now is the time. This book is offered as a guide. Each chapter will introduce you to one area of concern and will outline the major problems in that area. It will also provide ideas for healthful, non-toxic alternatives and will pave the way for your continued research.

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About the Authors

Dr. Sharyn Wynters

Sharyn Wynters is a naturopath with over 30 years experience in the wellness industry. Her commitment to helping people change their lives through health and nutrition came as the result of personal health challenges. In her 20's, with everything going for her as a successful actress, Sharyn developed health problems. Her health challenges offered her an opportunity to re-evaluate many of the basic choices she made everyday. By modifying her diet, by changing the products she routinely used in her home and in her personal care, and even by reviewing the thought patterns in her life, she was able to cure herself of degenerative disease.

As a result of her own experience, Sharyn has been able to help thousands of individuals on the pathway to a more healthy life. Today she is internationally recognized for the regenerative program she developed - based on a lifestyle that includes whole food nutrition and a toxin-free living environment. She is a popular motivational speaker at conferences and seminars and is an avid raw food advocate. Her understanding of the mind, body, spirit connection, as well as her years of experience in the wellness industry are obvious as she and co-author Burton Goldberg address hundreds of subjects from an enlightened and well-informed perspective.

Burton Goldberg

He has also published a series of 18 books that provide in-depth information on some of our nation's most serious health conditions. This series includes the landmark publication, An Alternative Medicine Definitive Guide to Cancer. Today, Burton continues to broaden his outreach to the public as a filmmaker and producer and as a health consultant. He has produced three feature-length DVDs: Cancer Conquest: The Best of Conventional and Alternative Medicine, Curing Depression, Anxiety and Panic Disorder, and Ethical Stem Cells Now.

Also look for the Survive blog.

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If you have legal questions concerning telemedicine and telehealth practices, HIPAA legal issues, health care reform questions, or other health law matters in New York, California, Massachusetts, Washington DC, and other states, contact a lawyer who knows the rules.

Consult an experienced health care law attorney who knows complementary medicine and integrative medicine for legal advice pertaining to any project involving allied health or CAM professionals.

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Michael H. Cohen is a health care law and business law attorney providing business legal advice to green entrepreneurs and companies, and health care law advice to businesses and physicians, acupuncturists, naturopathic doctors, homeopaths and others in the holistic health, wellness, and green industries. He works with telemedicine, medical devices, and cutting-edge technologies and gives clear legal advice to grow your business.

As a founding attorney of a law firm at the cutting edge of health care and business law, he represents enterprises poised for vertical lift, whose leaders are conscious, intuitive, and committed to shaping a better world. Michael also advises medical spas and integrative medicine clinics, physicians, chiropractors, naturopathic physicians, massage therapists, energy healers, nutritionists and herbalists, dietary supplement and cosmetics companies, and businesses with bio-energy and other technologies and medical devices. The website also offers the Entrepreneur's Legal Toolkit as a series of legal guides to businesses.

See what clients say about his work, visit the Legal Services page for information on business law and healthcare legal services where alternative billing arrangements (such as a flat rate or project fee) can be discussed for discrete projects such as incorporation for entrepreneurs, review and drafting of business contracts, trademark, and package health law services.

Our healthcare law and business law firm also provides special expertise to attorneys and law firms whose clients are involved in wellness industry projects or who require guidance regarding fee-splitting, Stark, anti-kickback, medical board discipline, medical malpractice liability, HIPAA, Medicare, and other health law and regulatory compliance issues.

To speak with a lawyer about health care law issues pertaining to complementary and alternative medicine, or to consult a business lawyer about laws and legal issues for entrepreneurs and new enterprises that are seeking legal advice, contact our law firm today.

Full post as published by Complementary And Alternative Medicine Law Blog on December 14, 2010 (boomark / email).