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Nadine Clopton on

Advancing Regenerative Organic Agriculture to Health Care

by Kirby Baldwin

During the last century, the rise of chemical-based agriculture has severely changed the way food is produced, and we have failed to recognize its unintended consequences. Research has revealed that if we continue on this path, our soil will give out and we will be unable to feed our children and grandchildren within the next 60 years. Thankfully, there is still time and positive transformation is possible through regenerative organic agriculture, which has its roots in Indigenous, traditional, ecological knowledge. For more than 70 years, the Rodale Institute has been on the leading edge of the movement to promote a better, natural and more responsible way of modern farming by conducting research into the cultivation of healthy, living soils. Today, Nadine Clopton is advancing its related efforts through regenerative health care. Clopton has been an NGO youth representative to the United Nations for more than six years, was the first young person to serve as a director on the board, and is now serving as an elected vice president of the Global NGO Executive Committee. In her role as program manager with Rodale Institute, Clopton combines her loves of health, advocacy and the ecosystem. Learning about food as medicine was transformative in her own health journey with chronic illnesses, and she hopes that others are also able to experience the transformative sense of well-being and connection that comes through such a lifestyle practice.

What does the regenerative health care movement mean for both human health and agriculture?

Regenerative health care carries potent “medicine” for a lot of the things that are ailing us in this country: the epidemic of chronic illnesses, the climate crisis, global food insecurity and ecological health. We believe that healing our soil is a prerequisite for healing ourselves. Regenerative health care draws the link between agriculture and health care because we need those two systems to talk with one another, and the answers are right beneath our feet.

How do we better connect our farming, food and healthcare systems?

The best thing we can do is take those three things out of a silo and look at them as part of a complex, interconnected web. In Rodale Institute’s “farm to hospital” model with St. Luke’s Hospital, we have a working farm at the hospital and much of the produce grown there ends up on the patient’s plates, in the cafeteria or in a CSA [community-supported agriculture] share that the hospital employees can take home. At Rodale Institute, we’re hoping to build that bridge between agriculture and health care, and invite doctors and farmers to be part of the cycle of health care: thinking about the health of our soil and the health and the nutrient density of what’s on our plates.

What is next in your plans for the future of regenerative health care?

The heart and soul of what I’m working on right now centers around connecting health

care and agriculture with Rodale Institute’s first-ever Regenerative Healthcare Conference. We’re inviting doctors, nurses, RDs [registered dietician], nutritionists and others with interests in health and well-being to the farm for four days to get their hands in the soil and learn about how soil health is directly correlated to human health and how food is medicine. We’re working closely with Dr. Scott Stoll’s team at The Plantrician Project and bringing together some incredible luminaries like Dr. Uma Naidoo, Dr. Maya Shetreat, Dr. Rupa Marya, Dr. Michelle Perro, Dr. Mark Hyman, Dr. T. Colin Campbell and others. To our knowledge, this is the first-ever medical conference to be taking place on a living, breathing, working farm. We’re passionate about the idea of getting doctors out of their practices and letting them get their hands in the soil. There’s no better way to learn about the real fundamental difference between conventional and regenerative organic agriculture than by picking up a scoop of soil in our conventional model and picking up a scoop of soil in our regenerative organic model. Healing our planet begins with healing ourselves and how we relate to the planet and to one another, so through these tangible, in-person experiences, we can get even closer to that ultimate goal of a healed system.

What are some tips for consumers and practitioners to help this movement?

Get to know a farmer! Go get your hands in the soil, talk to your local farmers and start to rebuild that web of connection and relationship. Look around you and see how the Earth responds when we’re operating in a way that’s regenerative and allows natural systems to thrive. And for practitioners, get curious! Start breaking out of the siloed worldview of health and medicine and learn about the potent medicines that are all around us in our food and our soil.

Kirby Baldwin writes for KnoWEwell, the Regenerative Whole Health Hub and collaborative partner of Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp.

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Reducing Radiation Risks

WAYS TO LESSEN ELECTROMAGNETIC EXPOSURE

by Carrie Jackson

We are tied to our devices, continually connected via phones, tablets and computers, but this convenience comes at a cost. Many people are surprised to learn that our devices are constantly emitting electromagnetic fields (EMFs) and radiofrequency radiation (RF). According to the American Academy of Environmental Medicine, there is strong evidence of a correlation between these exposures and neurological, cardiac and pulmonary disease, as well as reproductive disorders, immune dysfunction, cancer and other health conditions.

CONSTANT EXPOSURE

Our exposure to EMFs has dramatically increased over the past few years, especially in homes containing cordless phones, wireless routers and smart meters. Every electrical device emits an EMF, whether or not it’s turned on. This constant radiation can cause damage to cells, and even comes from appliances such as refrigerators, microwaves, washing machines and baby monitors. The closer a device is to a person, the more potent the charge. “EMFs cause VGCC’s [voltage-gated calcium channels] to swing open and allow excess calcium into the cell. This causes elevated oxidative stress, inflammation and ultimately, if not counteracted, disease,” says Mieke Jacobs, an EMF consultant and founder of Healthy House Chicago. Jacobs, who does private house inspections in the Midwest, says that the rise of smart appliances and lighting in recent years has increased certain types of EMFs. “Dirty electricity consists of high-frequency voltage transients riding along the 60-Hertz electricity provided by the utility company. Many people are surprised to learn how prevalent it is in seemingly safer sources such as solar panels, compact fluorescent lights, dimmer switches and energy-efficient appliances,” she says.

CONCERNING EFFECTS

As a certified electromagnetic radiation specialist and founder of EMF Healthy, in Sedona, Arizona, Liz Menkes focuses on the radio frequency EMFs found in wireless devices and systems, alternating current (AC) electric and magnetic sources in wiring and appliances, and dirty electricity, all commonly found in homes. “EMFs have been linked to many symptoms and health conditions, and there is evidence of cancer risk from all four types,” she says. “AC magnetic fields were classified as a possible human carcinogen in 2001 due to evidence of increased risk for childhood leukemia. Radio frequency was classified as a possible human carcinogen in 2011 due to evidence of increased risk for brain tumors. Plus, there are links to many other health conditions such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.” Symptoms from EMF exposure can manifest in many ways. “Early warning signs include difficulty sleeping, difficulty concentrating, fatigue, headaches, irritability and anxiety. It is estimated about 30 percent of the population is moderately sensitive to EMFs, but have not connected the dots, since these are common symptoms that can be caused by many things. Other common symptoms can include tinnitus, skin rashes, dizziness, sharp stabbing pains, leg cramps, high blood pressure, nausea and hyperactivity, especially in children,” says Menkes. Less com-

mon symptoms include heart arrhythmias, unexplained nightmares and nosebleeds, as well as ADHD and food allergies in kids, adds Jacobs.

REDUCE EXPOSURE AT HOME

Tangible steps can be taken to lessen the risk. “The number one mistake people make is sleeping with their cell phones near the head of the bed. Leave it turned off in another room and get a battery-operated alarm clock,” says Menkes. “Turn off Wi-Fi at night, since EMF radiation affects melatonin production. If possible, hardwire your laptops, tablets, cell phones and other devices to eliminate Wi-Fi completely in the house. If you must use a cell phone, keep it in airplane mode as much as possible and don’t store it in a pocket or otherwise close to the body.” More in-depth interventions include electrical rewiring, as well as radio-frequency shielding that blocks EMFs with copper or another absorbent material. “Replacing dimmer switches helps, but not all electricians are aware of EMFs and have different priorities when upgrading a home,” says Jacobs. The federal government has no restrictions on overall EMF exposure. “The wireless industry and the government agencies that are supposed to regulate this industry want you to believe that the science is settled and wireless exposures are safe. Unfortunately, this message is not reality. EMF damage can manifest in myriad ways that include many conditions and that are occurring in ever-increasing amounts,” says Lloyd Burrell, author of EMF Practical Guide and France-based founder of ElectricalSense.com. The Building Biology Institute offers classes and resources to help create environments free of EMF hazards. “Any measure to reduce your exposure is worth taking, and will contribute to a healthier and more peaceful home environment,” says Menkes.

Carrie Jackson is a Chicago-based freelance writer and frequent contributor to Natural Awakenings magazine. Connect at CarrieJacksonWrites.com.

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