Hormone disruption from electropollution contributes to unwanted pounds and other health concerns.

Now that 72 million American adults are obese—or more than 30 pounds overweight—this country is the fattest of 33 developed nations, reports the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Clearly, our taste for junk foods—not to mention lack of regular, vigorous exercise—have contributed to our national weight problem.

Other less publicized factors like the latest environment toxin—electropollution—also play an important, if overlooked, role. For example, a study published in the Toxicology Letter shows that electromagnetic fields (EMFs) from cell phones lower blood levels of thyroid hormones.

New research in Journal of Experimental Biology reports that exposure to EMFs impacts both the structure and function of the thyroid gland that controls metabolism. It’s long been known that radiation zeroes in on the thyroid as though it were painted with a target, and lower levels of thyroid hormones slow metabolism, making it all too easy to put on unwanted pounds.

“Obesity is a growing threat to public health in all the advanced countries throughout the world,” says OECD spokesman Matthias Rumpf. Our country expended an estimated $124 billion in weight-related costs in 2008—even before we became the fattest out of 33 countries. “Obesity must be tackled by a multi-pronged approach that involves a combination of strong policy measures,” says Neville Rigby, director of the European Obesity Forum, after the recent OECD report.

Dr. Ann Louise’s Take:

I couldn’t agree more! It’s about time healthcare professionals looked beyond simple caloric input and expenditure. Is it any coincidence that the U.S.—with the fastest growing rate of obesity—also has unchecked and fast growing mobile phone and wireless use? I don’t think so.

Today, Americans are exposed to EMFs—invisible lines of force that surround all electrical devices—at a rate 100 million times greater than our grandparents were. At least 84% of us own a cell phone, 89 million of us watch TV beamed to us by satellite, and it’s hard to have a cup of coffee in a local café without being exposed to Wi-Fi.

In the past couple of decades, technology has expanded exponentially—without any market testing of its effects on human health. Current federal and industry safety standards for the telecommunications industry are only concerned with thermal effects—whether you can be burned by the radiation. They’re also based on the weight of a six-foot man, rather than a woman, a teenager, or a child—all of whom are more vulnerable to EMF effects.

Even worse, a little known provision in the Telecommunications Act of 1996 makes state and local governments powerless to prohibit cell towers and wireless antennas based on “environmental [i.e., human health] concerns.” I encourage you to write your Congressmen and Senators to repeal Section 704 of the Telecommunications Act—and to require the FCC to reduce EMF exposure guidelines for Americans, which countless studies show are too high to protect anyone.

I didn’t wait for the government to protect my health against electropollution—and can’t advise you to do so, either. While I still use my cell phone (when absolutely necessary) and watch TV (at a distance), I’ve learned lots of ways to lower my exposure, and my latest book, Zapped: Why Your Cell Phone Shouldn’t Be Your Alarm Clock and 1,268 Ways to Outsmart the Hazards of Electronic Pollution, offers all sort of tips to help you reduce yours as well.

For Weight Control and More
For years, I’ve counseled numerous clients and written extensively about the environmental factors in being overweight and obese. But it really wasn’t until I began researching and writing my latest book, Zapped, that I realized how pervasive and poorly understood electropollution is.

One marker for hypothyroidism (or low thyroid function), too little thyroid hormones in the bloodstream signals far more than a little weight gain. It’s also linked to depression, fatigue, joint pain, and muscle cramps—all signs of electrosensitivity. Thyroid cancer rates have also increased during the same period that we’ve adopted cell phones and wireless technology so rapidly.

Other studies show that EMFs raise blood pressure in humans, lead to blood sugar imbalances, and change electrical activity in the brain. According to researcher Bruce Tainio at Washington’s Eastern State University, different electromagnetic frequencies are associated with different health problems. No wonder experts continue to uncover links between EMFs and more and more conditions—from ALS and MS to rare tumors.

Zap-Proof Your Diet
Zapped isn’t just about limiting exposure to electropollution, though. As a nutritionist, I’ve put together a whole slew of zap-proof super foods to replace critical nutrients lost to EMFs, as well as lots of delicious recipes using these foods, high in nutrients and detoxifying substances—but low in glycemic value, so you’re not adding extra carbs.

It’s important to replace antioxidants and other nutrients that EMFs rob from the body, and you also need to create an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory shield against the growing threat of background radiation. Aim for 5,000 ORAC (oxygen radical absorbance capacity) points a day—easily obtained from just one cup of blueberries.

Every week, eat one to two servings of asparagus, which contains more detoxifying glutathione than any other food. Tart cherries contain significant amounts of melatonin, the antioxidant hormone destroyed by EMFs. And liberally season your food with protective spices—like cinnamon, cumin, garlic, rosemary, and turmeric.

One of the richest sources from which super antioxidant glutathione is derived, whey protein also contains radioprotectant lactoferrin and other immune-enhancing substances. If you’ve been putting on pounds, whey protein helps balance blood sugar, reduce cravings, and lower both cholesterol and triglycerides—risk factors for heart disease. Just blend with antioxidant-rich fruit or coffee, a source of caffeic acid (shown to help protect against harmful cell phone radiation), for added protection. You’ll find plenty of recipes doing just that in Zapped.

Sources:
Zapped: Why Your Cell Phone Shouldn’t Be Your Alarm Clock and 1,268 Ways to Outsmart the Hazards of Electronic Pollution
http://jeb.biologists.org/cgi/content/full/209/17/3322
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20858755
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20733582
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20561625
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20456814
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20377924
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19799368
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15917150
www.usatoday.com/news/health/weightloss/2010-09-24-fatusa24_ST_N.htm