Looking at the pace modern technology is advancing it’s become more crucial than ever to talk about EMF (Electromagnetic Fields), its effects, and most importantly, how to protect yourself from its biological effects.
SYB has been doing that for a long time. They literally have hundreds of posts talking about EMF’s effects and protection, along with some very cool laboratory-tested products to help you shield your body against EMFs from a variety of sources.
But in this post, I want to talk about something different. I want to talk about shielding your body from the inside. Make no mistake, I am in no way trying to downplay the importance of EMF mitigation through distancing yourself from EMF sources, minimizing your tech use, and using EMF protection products. My goal with this post is to further enhance your EMF protection by helping you increase your body’s EMF resilience through nutrition.
So, let’s begin.
What EMF Does to Your Body?
Before we start exploring the foods that boost your body’s EMF resilience, it’s important that you understand how EMFs affect your body in the first place.
While many critics claim that the science is inconclusive, the reality is that there are tens of thousands of studies demonstrating negative health effects from EMF exposure. You can learn more about this on SYB’s “Health Effects of EMF Radiation” page.
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Scientists say that prolonged EMF exposure causes problems ranging from DNA damage to deterioration of your nervous, endocrine, and skeletal system. And this page covers it all. So, give it a read.
EMFs Affect VGCCs
One of the problems that I want to talk about in-depth is the effects of EMFs on your voltage-gated calcium channels or VGCCs for short.
So, what on earth are VGCCs?
Voltage-gated calcium channels or VGCCs are specific cells in your body (mostly the muscle cells, glial cells, and neuronal cells) that have proteins on their outer membrane that open and close to let in certain nutrients. These cells are primarily responsible for controlling how much calcium is let into the cell.
Calcium plays a critical role inside the cell, instigating certain processes like muscle contraction, synthesizing neurotransmitters, and supporting mitochondria function, to name a few. These cells won’t be able to function optimally without enough calcium.
However, too much calcium can cause its own set of problems. Once inside the cell:
- Elevated levels of calcium can rupture the outer membrane of the mitochondria
- When excess calcium gets into the nucleus, it can negatively impact genetic material, which can interfere with cell death
- Additionally, too much calcium inside the cell can cause excessive levels of oxidative stress.
Dr. Martin Pall from Washington State University says that too much EMF exposure can artificially activate the VGCCs, allowing excess calcium to flood the cell, which ultimately leads to oxidative stress.
Oxidative Stress
You can think of Oxidative stress like a cellular tug-of-war between the forces of creation and destruction within your body. Think of your cells as a city, thriving on energy"Energy" is a fundamental concept in physics, often described as the ability to do work or cause change. In everyday terms, it's what is needed to move things, heat them... More produced by mitochondria, the power"Power" in a scientific context refers to the rate at which work is done or energy is transferred. In simpler terms, it's how fast something is using energy. For example,... More plants of this city.
Now, this energy production process creates rebels called free radicalsThe concept of "free radicals" in relation to oxidation and EMF (electromagnetic field) exposure is an area of ongoing research and debate within the scientific community. Free radicals are atoms,... More. Although if in moderation, they’re also part of the game. But when their numbers skyrocket due to factors like pollution, poor diet, or stress, that’s when things get dicey.
Enter antioxidants, the cleanup crew armed with molecular mops. They neutralize free radicals, preventing them from wreaking havoc on your cellular structures. The imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants is what we call oxidative stress.
Research studies say that EMF is one of the biggest contributors to this imbalance in millions of people worldwide. As a result, your body suffers from problems like:
- Insomnia
- Tinnitus
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Pain
- Numbness and tingling
- Cognitive impairment
- A stabbing sensation
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Neurological issues
- And heart palpitations
Protect the Body from the Outside
After reading all of this, I’m sure it’s left you wondering if there’s anything that you can do to protect yourself from these problems. And the answer is yes. There are things you can do to protect yourself from EMF-induced health problems. And doing so is completely free, I must add.
It all lies in two strategies, the SYB mantra – minimize use and maximize distance. See, it’s simple. The less you use your devices, the less you’re exposed to EMF. This includes doing things like:
- Not using your cell phone unnecessarily
- Turning off your WiFi router when not in use (especially at night)
- Turning off your laptop when you’re done working
- And so on…
That concludes minimize use. Now to maximize distance, all you need to do is to stay a bit far away from EMF sources. That’s because, according to the inverse square lawThe Inverse Square Law is a principle in physics that states that a specified physical quantity or intensity is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the source... More of physics, EMF weakens exponentially with distance.
So, by simply distancing yourself from your devices, you’ll receive a weakened version of EMF, which isn’t nearly as bad as what it was near the source.
You can learn more about these two strategies in SYB’s “What is the Best EMF Protection? Hint: It’s Free” post.
Besides that, you also have EMF protection products that add a second layer of defense when following the two key strategies of EMF protection isn’t really feasible.
Foods That Protect Against EMF Radiation (Inside)
If you’re already incorporating healthy lifestyle habits, then you’re already making your body more resilient to EMF exposure. And by simply making some minor additions to your palette you can enhance that resilience. Have a look.
Antioxidants From Food
As you learned above, one of the primary ways that EMF affects your body is through oxidative stress. So, which nutrient protects the body against oxidative damage?
Antioxidants of course! And you can find them in brightly colored and deeply pigmented foods.
Besides that, you can also find antioxidants in fruits, vegetables, and herbs. In fact, nearly all plants have some degree of antioxidants. But you can find more of these helper molecules in the pigments of the plant. That’s why nutritionists like myself encourage you to add dark and brightly colored plants to all of your meals. Good choices include:
- Blueberries
- Cherries
- Rosemary
- Cinnamon
- Paprika
- Green-leafy vegetables
- Cocoa
- Pomegranate
- Plums
- Açaí Berries
The best part of this is that by adding these foods to your diet, you’re not just getting antioxidants but also vitamins, minerals, and other phytonutrients that are critical for optimal health.
Besides that, most plant foods also contain decent amounts of fiber. And fiber is a key component for balancing blood sugar levels. And I cannot stress the importance of balancing your blood sugar more.
Balanced blood sugar is the foundation for healthy hormone levels, proper weight management, healthy response to stress, quality sleep, a positive mental outlook and cognitive function, and pretty much all other biochemical processes.
So, no matter what your EMF exposure is, including some of these foods in every meal will help you build a healthier body and mind.
Another important consideration when you’re shopping for your nutrient-dense foods is how the food was grown. I strongly encourage you to choose organic foods whenever possible. Given the propensity for chemicals like pesticides and herbicides to increase health symptoms, choosing foods without these chemicals is a great step towards better health.
Supplements
Once you have your diet dialed in, you may want to consider nutritional supplements for some extra defense.
*Please note that you should always speak with your healthcare provider before taking any supplements or changing your diet. Not all supplements or dietary choices are appropriate for all people.
In my EMF exposure and nutrition research, there are a few supplements that really stand out. The first is magnesium. Research shows that between 50-80% of Americans are deficient in magnesium; a mineral that is responsible for over 300 biochemical reactions in the body.
Magnesium is also a calcium channel blocker. See the connection? EMF radiation"Radiation" in the context of Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) refers to the process by which energy is emitted and transmitted through space or a material medium in the form of electromagnetic... More artificially opens the voltage-gated calcium channels. So, taking a magnesium supplement can help to dampen this action. Other calcium channel blockers include Cat’s Claw and Witch Hazel.
In addition to calcium channel blockers, there are numerous antioxidant supplements on the market. Among my favorites include Astaxanthin, Vitamin C, Glutathione, Propolis, Powdered Greens, and Hydrogen Water.
Because EMF exposure can also negatively impact the nervous system, I often recommend certain foods and supplements that offer nervous system support. These include Omega 3s found in cold water fish or fish oil, B-vitamins, phosphatidylcholine, lecithin, and Lion’s Mane.
Finally, I like to support the body’s own antioxidant defense system with foods like broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, chocolate, and green tea.
Final Thoughts
The unfortunate truth is that we’re going to be exposed to electromagnetic fields no matter where we live. Thankfully, nature has provided us with some powerful tools to help mitigate the exposures we can’t control.
It goes without saying that in order to be optimally healthy, you should also be implementing stress management techniques, exercise, sun exposure, relaxation, and human connections into your daily routine.
Combining these practices, along with a healthy diet, appropriate supplementation, addressing precursors, reducing your EMF exposure, and shielding where necessary will go a long way in keeping you healthy in this modern world.
Disclaimer: All content presented here is for informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. The information provided here should not be construed as medical advice, nor is it a substitute for personal care with your licensed medical provider. The contents of this website and program(s) are based on the research and opinions of Cathy Cooke, Whole Home, and Body Health LLC, Shield Your Body, its colleagues, and/or affiliates, unless noted otherwise.
