Letter: Endorse healthful foods as reaction to virus | Letters

To the Editor: The following is an open letter to Dr. Mark Levine, Commissioner of Health and fitness.

Expensive Dr. Levine, Thank you for all your tireless endeavours to navigate us via this complicated time. It is not an effortless process. I would like to provide some of my fears and ideas.

I’ve noticed more than the previous many a long time that everyone’s health and fitness, together with younger young children, has been deteriorating. As a nation, People in america are in all probability the unhealthiest folks of all the created nations, inspite of the fact that we have fantastic professional medical facilities and some of the greatest doctors in the globe. 1 in five Us residents suffers from vehicle-immune diseases. Why is this?

Some of the answer may possibly lie in the reality that obtain to health-related treatment is not evenly dispersed across the nation. But I consider that part of the response lies in the actuality that we ingest foods that are contaminated with chemical fertilizers and preservatives, with significant sugar written content, and laced with antibiotics, development hormones, and pesticide residues. The traditional farming tactics (applying pesticides) and the industrialized food program in the United States is contributing to an overload of artificial and toxic substances in our bodies. This benefits in weakening our immune devices, generating us all vulnerable to succumb to bacterial infections triggered by pathogens (the microbes and viruses that are often present). Studies show that pesticide-induced immune process issues are a main health concern. There is proof that the pesticides which incorporate glyphosate (these kinds of as Roundup), for instance, not only damage the superior bacteria in the soil, but also in the human gut microbiome. And as you know, a perfectly-well balanced intestine microbiome is dependable for a effectively-operating immune method.

My concern for you is: Rather of only recommending vaccinations and social distancing to guard us from viral bacterial infections like the flu and the current COVID 19 virus, why aren’t the Vermont Department of Overall health along with the Vermont Company of Agriculture, and the Vermont Agency of Human Services, demanding or mandating that all Vermont citizens are ensured straightforward entry to wholesome, natural and organic, and healthy meals? This is especially very important for little ones. It is essential to note that pesticide-handled meals crops get rid of their dietary value. Why is not there extra emphasis on regenerative farming tactics that reduce the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers so that the crops are grown in nutritious, fertile soil and as a result have the full nutrient value and do not contain any pesticide residue?

If just about every little one and grownup in Vermont is informed about and encouraged or assisted to invest in nourishment-dense, organic and natural, unprocessed food, their immune programs would be stronger and much more resilient to ward off viral inflammations and other ailments. It is a point that undesirable meals harms us, but superior food items can recover us. I assist your endeavours to enrich the health and fitness of our citizens, in particular the overall health of our children.

Carol A. Berry,

Manchester