Many people continue to be concerned about radiation fallout from the nuclear disaster in Japan. Government reports, as can be found at www.cdph.ca.gov reassure us that radiation levels are “undetectable” from any of their 9 locations in California (Eureka and Richmond being the closest), and they are measuring about 12 radioactive isotopes every 48 hours in the air and some water and iodine-131 levels in milk. However these reports are at odds with various privately posted Geiger counter readings, or sites such as www.colganinstitute.com that post more alarming information (though where the data is gathered is unclear).
Popular, easy-to-read www.radiationnetwork.com or www.infiniteunknown.net gives overviews of official reading stations, plus a map of all nuclear reactor plants in the USA (and there are quite a few), while more difficult to read www.bsrn.awi.de monitors levels all over the world. After slogging through hundreds of postings, my final conclusion is the truth lies somewhere in the middle; yes, radiation levels have risen along coastal states, mostly in iodine-131 (which has a very short half life) and cesium (which sticks around); no, it is not of high risk for the healthy and certainly much less risk than living in nuclear bomb testing areas, within 50 miles of nuclear power plants or getting too many dental X-rays and CAT scans.
So, what to do? Hopefully you have picked up your ‘Flourishing through Fallout’ info sheet at Corners where we advocate that there is no better time than now to eat organic whole foods, super-greens, sea vegetables and herbs such as cilantro, parsley and garlic that naturally help chelate heavy metals. Also important is to keep your immune system strong with enough rest and aids like medicinal mushrooms and anti-oxidants. Immediately after the earthquake, we placed a big order for our import items from Japan, in order to obtain uncontaminated supplies. We also ordered certain homeopathic remedies that help rebalance the body after radiation exposure, should anyone be experiencing any health effects. Additionally, we are checking with the many supplement companies that do test for radiation levels in their product and so far, so good. Meanwhile, try my favorite metal-chelating, immune-boosting
Cilantro and Pumpkin Seed Pesto
Use on pasta, in tacos or on polenta….
- Clean and pull leaves off one bunch of cilantro and put in a food processor.
- Add 3+ TB of freshly squeezed lime juice
- 2-3 cloves crushed raw garlic
- 1/2 cup raw or sprouted pumpkin seeds
- 1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil
- enough olive oil to mix into a pesto.
Blend until smooth and store in a glass jar. Enjoy!
The Scoop 