The recent devastating terrorist attacks on American cities have created an increased awareness of the dangers of environmental toxins. The threat of future attacks and a fear of the unknown, cause much anxiety among a large number of Americans today, especially those who live in crowded metropolitan cities.

Environmental issues, including global radiation and chemical pollution, aren't exactly a top priority of the U.S. government, or, I'm sorry to say, for ordinary citizens of this country. With all the environmental conferences held worldwide that spotlight environmental damage, destruction and future dangers, nothing serious has been done to teach people how to best protect themselves on a daily basis, other than to wear sunscreen and stay out of the sun. Furthermore, there was and still is a significant lack of preparedness for terrorist-related environmental disasters.

The purpose of this newsletter isn't political. Nevertheless, it's important to note that ignorance leads to vulnerability. When a disaster of such magnitude as the collapse of the World Trade Center happened, people should have been prepared, or at least informed of ways they could defend themselves against the deadly cloud of chemical dust and fumes, which include cadmium and aluminum, plastic derivatives, asbestos, radiated particles and ensuing dust.

Your crucial first defense against terrorist attacks

In my book The Warrior Diet, a chapter specifically deals with the first defenses against environmental toxins and radiation. Let me briefly synopsize this here.

We live on a planet that for the last hundred or so years has been bombarded by man-made industrial chemicals. On top of this the world is over-radiated and as a result we're constantly exposed to slow radiation. In other words, industrial chemicals, environmental toxins and global radiation expose us to a continual assault of free radicals, estrogenic chemicals and radioactive material. Another important factor that should be mentioned here is the body's threshold to handle oxidative stress.

The body has its own innate lines of defense against metabolic stress. To make the matter simple let me sketch our natural defense mechanism. There are four major organ systems that regulate the body's defense against toxin-related stress: the liver, the lymphatic system, the digestive system and the nervous system. The first three deal with the neutralization and removal of chemical toxins. The last one, the nervous system, helps regulate the body's response to stress, to things such as a sudden life danger that requires a quick and efficient reaction when under stress.

Our survival depends on how well these systems and organs are operating. Impairment of even one of them can lead to catastrophic results in times of severe environmental crisis. For example, those whose liver is already stressed by a daily assault of dietary toxins, endotoxins (waste) and pollution, may become overwhelmed and then unable to handle additional stress, to something like exposure to an explosion-related environmental cloud and the ensuing dust.

Unhealthy diets, nutritional deficiencies, and drug abuse all compromise and age the digestive system. Having a lack of enzymes in one's system and chronic constipation, are just two more factors that lead to mal-digestion of food and nutrient deficiencies (such as proteins and minerals), and increased endotoxins and pathogenic organisms, all of which accelerate the oxidative stress on the body. An impaired digestive system also weakens the liver.

Eating 4 to 6 meals a day does not afford the body enough time to recuperate and detoxify, and as a result many people today suffer from premature aging, chronic diseases such as diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure and cancer. When your overall health is compromised, your chance of surviving environmental dangers is diminished.

The conclusion is that your first line of defense against any crisis, especially to terrorist attack-related environmental pollution is to keep a steady daily detoxification cycle. Protect your liver. Give your lymphatic system a break. Support your digestive system. And, especially, feed your brain with the right protein that will help you handle unexpected stress.

The fourteen-step Warrior defense plan to protect against and recover from the deadly effects of Toxic Cocktail Syndrome

Below are brief dietary tips that can be used as a first defense against dietary toxins and overall metabolic stress.

More information on this topic can be found in The Warrior Diet - Chapter Ten - "The Warrior Diet Idea" - Page 169.

A special warning about Ground Zero and Toxic Cocktail Syndrome

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the US Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have stated that they are making efforts to protect the health of those who work or worked at Ground Zero. According to these agencies a significant effort has and continues, regarding checking and monitoring environmental toxins, such as to benzene, sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and asbestos there that are now associated with the collapse and fire at the site.

The official recommendation on how to protect against the above pollution was spotty initially, and since has been confined to the suggestion to wear a respirator, which have been provided by the EPA, OSHA, and other governmental agencies.

As far as environmental toxins are concerned, I'm unaware of any other practical solutions or suggestions of defense offered by these agencies against these chemicals, even to those chemicals that were indeed deemed to be high. Statements made that levels were at or just above the EPA's standard for action (in relation to dioxin) are an example of the disinformation relayed to the people and of trying to smooth things over. While the agencies are still monitoring the air at and near Ground Zero, as far as I know, no serious action (other than suggestions to wear respirators) has been done to help prevent or treat those who were exposed to this "toxic cocktail" or are already suffering its results.

Interested in knowing everything you need to know to fully protect yourself against environmental toxins? Looking for cutting-edge advice on how to transform yourself through diet and lifestyle? Then check out these seminars below.

(Note that Dragon Door Publications is not sponsoring these seminars and is not involved in the registration process.)

NEW! Teleseminar Series: Beyond The Warrior Diet with Ori Hofmekler. Teleseminar #1: First Defense Against Terrorist Attacks. Join Ori for one hour as he provides an in depth and exclusive discussion on the First Defense Against Environmental Toxins and Radiation. Find out how and why these substances, a potential result of terrorism and other natural and man-made disasters, can be harmful to your body, mind and health and what you can do to prevent and protect yourself and your loved ones. The one-hour phone seminar includes a question and answer forum. For more information on this and other teleseminars in the Beyond The Warrior Diet series, Click Here or go to http://www.warriordiet.com/seminars.

NEW! - Private consulting with Ori Hofmekler! The creator of the popular "Warrior Diet" lifestyle will custom design an individual program with you based on your personal needs. Ori goes beyond the Warrior Diet to address your specific questions and concerns while ensuring you take with you the knowledge and understanding of the how and why of health, nutrition and fitness as it pertains to your personal health profile. For additional information, or to schedule an appointment Click Here, email us at info@warriordiet.com or go to http://www.warriordiet.com/consulting.