My longtime friend and neighbor Jill recently suffered a stroke, which came as quite a shock. She had appeared completely healthy. She survived, but now has movement problems on her left side.
She’s not alone. About every 40 seconds someone in this country dies from a stroke, and every year around 800,000 people become stroke victims. Of those, close to 140,000 die, which makes stroke the third leading cause of death in America. It’s also the leading cause of serious, long-term disability.
Stroke occurs when the brain’s blood supply is blocked or a blood vessel in the brain bursts. In either case, the brain’s oxygen supply is disrupted, injuring or killing brain cells.
The Lancet Neurology recently published an alarming study revealing that about one-third of all stroke deaths worldwide can be traced to environmental and household air pollution. Shocked? I sure was…
If you’re like most people, you probably draw between 17,280 and 23,040 breaths each day without giving it much thought. This study’s findings drive home the reality that unclean air is a real threat to health and life.
Your health. Your life. After all, it’s difficult to live without breathing air, wherever you are.

The price to pay for air pollution

When babies arrive in this world, their blood is already contaminated with more than 200 chemicals and toxins. And the minute they are born, they begin breathing in still more toxins: carbon dioxide, lead, nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide and particulate matter (dust, dirt, soot and smoke), all of which compromise health.
Air pollution results in high blood pressure and hardened arteries — both major risk factors for stroke.
Air pollution also poses other health risks. For example, when doctors in one study examined blood samples from 600,000 people who had been exposed to elevated particulate matter, they found corresponding high risk for heart disease.
Fine particulate matter also elevates risk for lung cancer and asthma. And, alarmingly, a growing body of evidence suggests it may harm brain function as well. Although more research is needed to establish a firm cause/effect relationship, animal studies provide strong evidence that contaminated air accelerates cognitive aging and increases risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.
Additionally, research thus far indicates that roughly 21 percent of dementia cases worldwide may be attributable to air pollution.
So how can you protect yourself?
For starters, did you know that eating antioxidant-rich foods such as fruits and vegetables will help protect your body from the free radicals created by air pollution?
Here’s a few more tips to cut down on your exposure to contaminated air:

• The hottest time of day — usually mid-afternoon — is when air pollution is at its peak. Plan outdoor activities for early or late in the day, when it’s cooler.
• Caught in traffic? Turn your air conditioning system to recycled air.
• Cut down on time in the car. When possible, carpool, walk or ride a bike.
• Save household energy (use an artificial log in the fireplace, buy energy-saving light bulbs, turn off appliances and lights when not in use, etc.)
• Recycle everything you can: aluminum, paper, glass, plastic, cardboard, etc. Check with your local waste management office for a safe, eco-friendly method to dispose of chemical-based products such as batteries, paint, pesticides and solvents.

Keep in mind that because you can’t see them, it’s really hard to escape environmental toxins, and some exposure is almost inevitable.
That’s why it’s important to take care of body’s detox organ… your liver. That’s because your liver is responsible for removing environmental toxins from your bloodstream.
Peak Liver Support^™ is an all-natural formula uniquely designed to keep your liver functioning at full capacity by enabling it to produce glutathione – often called the “Master Antioxidant,” the “Mother of all Antioxidants,” the “Great Protector” and the “Superhero of all Antioxidants.”
As you age, your body produces less glutathione — a peptide that’s unique because it maximizes the function of all other antioxidants in your body. Consequently, when you lose this remarkably protective antioxidant, all your defenses are weakened. As a result, you become more vulnerable to the onslaughts of oxidative stress and toxins that cause inflammation, cellular degeneration and chronic disease.
By providing a safe, daily detox of your liver and helping your body boost glutathione, Peak Liver Support^™ gives you much needed protection against these environmental health-damaging toxins you can’t escape.
 
Sources:
Ellis, M. Air pollution is now a leading stroke risk factor. Medical News Today. medicalnewstoday.com/articles/310887.php. June 10, 2016.
EWG. 1 in 6 Americans Live with Dangerous Air Pollution: Do You?
The Lancet Neurology. For the first time, air pollution emerges as a leading risk factor for stroke worldwide. ScienceDaily. sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/06/160609222226.htm. June 9, 2016.
Sears, A. Get Rid of Toxins to Reduce Risk of Stroke. AlSearsMD. alsearsmd.com/2016/07/get-rid-toxins-reduce-risk-stroke/.
State of the Air 2016. American Lung Association. lung.org/assets/documents/healthy-air/state-of-the-air/sota-2016-full.pdf. 2016.