Let’s turn back the clock to a healthier time… 1975. The last year we Americans had simplicity on our plate. When our gut intelligence (healthy gut bacteria) lived unharmed and populated in a way that protected us. A time when food grew safely, and fruits and vegetables supported our gut microbiome (before “gut health” was the new kale).
Simplicity = natural. As God intended. Somewhere we lost the gut intelligence that kept us healthier, living to a ripe old age of 95 with few health maladies. And we know the reason why…read on.
I’m not going to throw out crazy facts without backing them up. So get this: In 1975, one in 5000 children were born with autism. If we fast forward to now, the rate is one in 68. I repeat, 1 in 68 kids with autism!
We DO know that environmental factors – including exposure to certain toxic substances during pregnancy – can increase the risk of autism.
What happened then in 1976 that changed everything? The Vietnam War just ended. I’m going to Chalene-ify this history lesson for you. You’re welcome.
It all started with this super clever company that had been involved in the production of CHEMICALS that were used to destroy the jungles of Vietnam. That chemical is infamously known as Agent Orange. You’ve probably heard of it, right?
These toxins take away the enzyme function and purpose of plants! And that function is to produce the nutrients in your food that actually treat disease.
You read that right. All the health benefits plants give to us humans are stripped away when attacked by these chemicals. Bye Bye gut intelligence. And that means see ya later to immunity, protection, disease prevention, weight control, brain function, and more.
The reasoning behind this during the war was that if we kill the foliage in the rainforest – by dumping these chemicals from planes flying above – then we would actually spot the Vietcong in the jungle easier.
Makes sense. And that was a war in a foreign place a long, long time ago. So, we’re good. Right?
Not so much.
Thing is, we suddenly had an excess amount of these chemicals laying around, and for whatever tragic reason, they deemed it necessary to find new ways to use them. Ugh! Some genius thought that the logical transition from war use was… household use (e.g., weed killer). WHAT?!
Farming practices worldwide were then forced to radically change how they grow crops to stand up to these poisons. This resulted in genetic modification of these plants.
Yep, we’re talking about GMO’s here.
It gets worse. After decades of this chemical trauma, toxins have seeped into our environment in all kinds of sick ways. 70 – 75% of the air YOU BREATHE is contaminated, and 70 – 75% of the rainfall is contaminated. This molecule is all over the freakin’ place.
I mean, wow. Even if you live on a nice little ranch, raising your own livestock, growing your own vegetables with organic everything… you’re STILL being exposed to these toxins through the environment!
Here we are in the first two generations of human bodies that have to deal with a food chain that is depleted of all of its medicinal qualities! I can’t.
Don’t we all have parents or know someone of an older generation that totally laugh at how we are with our food?
“Look at your Uncle Jimmy! He lived to be 94 and all he did was smoke cigarettes, drink bourbon, and eat bacon EVERY day. God rest his soul!”
Well, in case you haven’t figured it out by now, their food was different. Because of which, they had gut intelligence we simply don’t have anymore.
It’s not that we turned into health freaks. We just realized we’re dying.
And… this would be the part of the movie, somewhere in the final act, where it seems all is lost. Will Jack survive the sinking of the Titanic!? Wait, bad example.
Anyway!
SIMMER. DOWN. NAH.
You’re going to want to make sure you follow this blog because next week’s post will be about HOW you can improve your gut health by day to day interactions with all living things in the environment.
From plants to animals to soil to atmosphere. Not all is lost, I promise! Besides, you know I got you, boo!
I’d LOVE to hear you in the comments on all this down below! Can you eat what your grandparents ate? Do you know anyone with autism? What do you think of weed killers? Tell me everything!
~Chalene
