12 WAYS TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM CELL PHONE RADIATION

Cell phones emit radiation – technically known as low-level radio-frequency (RF) radiation – which is close to the frequency of microwaves. Although it is not the same type of radiation found at nuclear power plants, it can disrupt normal cell activity. You wouldn’t stick your head in a microwave oven, but millions of people place their RF transmitters right next to their brain, often for hours at a time.

Is there a danger? The research linking cell phone use to brain cancer has been conflicting, but in 2011 the World Health Organization declared cell phone radiation to be a potential carcinogen. While the final word is still out on cancer risk, studies have shown changes in brain activity and brain glucose levels after someone holds a cell phone against their ear.

In fact, several studies have found that excessive cell phone use may disrupt sleep, cause headaches, and result in depression. The same may also be true of tablets that emit RF radiation. Furthermore, the younger you are, the greater the likely effect on the brain and other tissues, so children are especially at risk.

“We are bioelectric creatures,” says Shannon Kennedy, PhD, chief executive officer of Pong Research, based in Leesburg, Va. After all, our hearts and brains run on electrical impulses. “When people use cell phones, they are bringing in an outside source of electrical signals. In today’s world, people are being bombarded with electrical fields,” says Kennedy.

So with cell phones now such a big part of most people’s lives, how you do minimize any potential risk from the radiation they emit? Here are 12 tips for using your phone safely.

1. BUY A PHONE THAT EMITS LESS RADIATION.
2. KEEP YOUR CALLS SHORT AND INFREQUENT.
3. USE YOUR EARBUDS.
4. FROGET ABOUT BLUETOOTH. Bluetooth devices emit far less radiation than a cell phone does, but they still emit RF signals – and people tend to wear these ear pieces for much, much longer periods of time.
5. USE THE SPEAKER.
6. WATCH OUT FOR WEAK SIGNALS. Cell phone screens indicate both the life of the battery and the strength of the signal from the nearest tower. And while most of us keep an eye on that battery light, it’s also worth paying attention to the signal strength. When the tower’s signal is weak, your phone will automatically emit more RF radiation to communicate with the tower. It is better to wait until you have a stronger signal to make your call.
7. DON’T KEEP YOUR PHONE IN YOUR POCKET. If you must keep your phone in a pants or shirt pocket, make sure the antenna (typically on the back of the phone) faces away from your body.
8. USE A HOLSTER AND BELT CLIP.
9. DON’T SLEEP WITH THE PHONE NEAR YOUR HEAD.

10.  USE A PROTECTIVE PHONE CASE.

11.  TAKE YOUR ANTIOXIDANTS. Some vitamins, such as C and E, are known to protect against cell damage from various radiation sources. So if you are not already taking supplements, now might be a good time to start.

12.  GIVE YOURSELF A BREAK. You do not have to be talking and texting all the time. Give yourself an occasional break and turn your phone off. And of course, walk and drive safely, obey all traffic laws, turn off your phone in theatres, and don’t use it simply because you are bored. Read a book or magazine instead.

By Jack Challem

betternutrition September 2012