Are we living in a toxic environment? The experts at Canyon Ranch ask us to consider these facts:

• The EPA estimates that 4.7 billion pounds of toxic chemicals are released into the environment annually.
• It's likely that 25 percent of the U.S. population suffers from some level of heavy metal poisoning.
• Fourteen pounds of food colorings, additives, preservatives, emulsifiers, and flavorings are consumed per person each year.

Toxic? Maybe. At minimum, though, we are living in a world filled with chemicals, pesticides, additives, preservatives, antibiotic and hormone residues, and heavy metals. Whether consumed, inhaled, or absorbed, our bodies soak this stuff up. In order to reduce the load, and the toll it takes it takes on our health, there's something we can do. We can eat clean. Here's how:

Keeping cancer and other diseases like diabetes, heart disease, obesity and more might be as simple as the choice we make in keeping toxins out of our bodies and stress out of our minds. Think about all of the money poured into medicines, which are chemicals, that only treat certain symptoms. And most of the time create other side effects that we have to take more medicines for that in turn create more side effects, and on and on. You see where I am going.

What if only a part of the millions and millions of dollars poured into research on medicines, was put to use in educating the public on the right choices of foods and nutrition to put into our bodies to keep them healthy and to learn how to relax and quit putting so many demands on ourselves. What if more funding went into organic farming instead of mass, quick produced, with fertilizers and steroids for faster turn around on the products. Personally I have had so many chemicals blasted into my body from chemo and radiation, and medicines for this and medicines for that, I am about to think that all of that is only hurting my body more. Are we brain washed to believe that we have to have a pill for everything?

My community does not have a health food store that sells fresh organic produce or meats. And the local grocery stores carry very limited amounts of those items. I did take it upon myself to talk to one of the produce managers who did start ordering some other variety of organic vegetables which I thought was nice. And it seemed to catch on with some other customers too. Maybe the trend in that store will be to start ordering more organic products.

I will be posting a series of blogs on personal research that I am doing and trying out, just because I am sick and tired, literally, of fighting cancer that reoccurs and using medicines that are ripping my body apart leaving my immune system even more at risk for infection and disease.

But the one thing that I want to emphasize in this blog right now, is to STOP EATING processed and canned foods. It may be quicker to heat up a can of food or something already processed and pre-made for us, but it is not healthier. Eating fresh organic vegetables and home made prepared foods without chemical preservatives and other additives is the way to go to start getting some of those toxins out of our bodies. If you can't find fresh in something, because seasons play a big part in our fresh vegetable selections, purchase frozen. Also purchase dried beans or other dried items and cook them instead of buying canned ones. They are healthier than canned. Eating raw vegetables or slightly steamed vegetables is more healthy because the vitamins and nutrients do not cook out of the food.

Because cancer can take years to develop -- and because certain dietary habits have been linked to an increased risk of cancer -- and because helping children adopt informed healthy habits of eating during the early years seems a practical strategy to a lifetime of cancer prevention -- this headline Parents health food fads make children ill, grabbed my attention. According to eating disorder expert Dr. Steve Bratman, parents who encourage their children to choose healthy foods are dangerous role models. It seems that limiting the amount of sugar, fat, salt and artificial additives are putting children at risk of serious damage to their health, and in some cases, death by starvation. With great pain, Dr. Bratman shares that he is deeply disturbed to be receiving an ever-increasing amount of email from children interested in healthy eating habits.

Because no term exists in medical tomes to describe this condition, Dr. Bratman made one up. He calls the condition of junk food aversion and deprivation -- orthorexia. Dr. Bratman has written a book and developed a website devoted to this new life-threatening eating disorder where growing numbers of children, influenced by their parents, are taking an interest in eating healthy. To use the closing remark often used by John Stossel of ABC News 20/20 to a news story that defies sanity and common sense -- give me a break!

Heads up! The label you're reading has no BHT, no nitrates - must be pretty healthy, right? It is a good start, but there are many other ingredients commonly found in food that are known to cause cancer, but the FDA allows anyway. 

You probably already know that Nitrates form into a carcinogen. You might also know that BHT is like a plague in the U.S., but in England, you won't find it anywhere - it is banned.  Why?  Because BHT and BHA are toxic to the liver and kidneys! 

Steer clear of Acesulfame-K (Sunnette) and Saccharin (Sweet 'N Low) as well, both of these artificial sweeteners cause cancer in lab animals.  Not a good sign.

While we are on the subject of "artificial", artificial colors and FD&C colors are bad news as well.  You might remember the big deal over red dye a decade or two ago, but did you know that red #3 is still allowed even though it is a known carcinogen and causes genetic damage?  It is, however, banned from cosmetics - go figure.  Wait, that's not all - Green #3, Blue #1, Blue #2 and Yellow #6 cause allergic reactions and cancer to lab animals.  If you are sensitive to aspirin, don't ingest Yellow #5, it might cause an allergic reaction.  Best advice - keep it natural (but you already knew that).

Here is another - Potassium bromate.  Don't you always make sure your bread is "unbromated"?  Me neither, but I will from now on because it is banned in every country on this planet, except Japan and the good ol' USA, because it is a highly toxic carcinogen.  Look for it in baked goods, mouth washes, and toothpaste.

A related article cautions us against Olestra, Propyl gallate, and Carrageenan as well.  It may seem overwhelming to keep all of these names in your head when you are shopping.  I try to follow this rule - if I don't know what it is I don't eat it.