EMFs 101

You’ve probably heard about EMFs from cell phones, televisions, and power lines. You may have even heard that they’re not so great for our health. But did you know that even nature creates EMFs? In this blog, we’ll look at what EMFs really are, how they can affect us, and what we can do to keep ourselves and our families safe.

What Are EMFs?

Electromagnetic fields—often called EMFs—are basically invisible energy zones that surround us all the time. They come from nature, like the earth’s magnetic field or sunlight, and from things we use every day, like cell phones and X-rays. You’ll find them everywhere—from that electric charge in the air before a thunderstorm to the appliances in your home. The way they affect us depends on how fast they move, which is known as their “frequency.” (3) (6)

Why are they important?

Our bodies run on tiny electrical currents, and EMFs can influence those currents. Everything vibrates at different frequencies—some high, some low. High-frequency EMFs like X-rays are clearly harmful, but even low-frequency signals from phones and Bluetooth can affect us. The closer and more often we’re exposed, the stronger the impact. That’s why devices we keep near us—like phones and wireless headphones—are major sources of EMF exposure. (2) (4)

How EMFs Affect Our Health

EMFs can stir up trouble in our bodies by creating free radicals—those pesky molecules that damage cells and cause oxidative stress. Over time, this can lead to inflammation and increase the risk of chronic issues like diabetes and even cancer. They can also throw off our stress response, making it harder to sleep well and leaving us feeling anxious or moody. And yes, EMFs may even impact fertility and reproductive health. (4) (10)

Kids are using cell phones at younger ages, and their developing brains make them more vulnerable. Regular use has been linked to stress, headaches, fatigue, trouble focusing, and reduced learning ability. And excessive screen time can impact brain development. (4) (11)

More people are reporting electromagnetic hypersensitivity—including headaches, brain fog, dizziness, irritated skin, and learning and memory problems. In addition to our kiddos, pregnant people and folks with chronic illness may be especially sensitive. (8) (9)

Simple ways to reduce exposure

1. Keep your distance

Avoid carrying phones in pockets or right next to your body for long periods of time, and don’t hold the phone to your ear to chat. Keep all devices away from your body, and turn them off or switch on airplane mode, while you sleep. Plug in Wi-Fi modems somewhere other than your bedroom & rooms where you and your family spend the most time.

2. Wire up

Although wireless headphones are convenient, the harm they can cause is not. Sometimes the most advanced tech is not the best for our health.

3. Create tech free spaces at home

Any room with an electrical outlet has EMF, but keeping some spaces free of other tech is a good way to give our systems a rest.

4. Create tech free times, too

Taking breaks from tech is good for our health on every level. Set times—ideally every day—whether it’s 10-15 minute breaks during the day, or early in the morning and after a certain time at night—to give yourself a break from screens. Treat it like the reward it is for you and your family, and not like a punishment. Ahhh a break from the overstimulation—time to spend with each other--what a relief.

5. Grounding

Walking barefoot on the earth or getting your hands dirty in the garden can do wonders for your state of wellbeing, and many say it helps recalibrate our bodies and minds when we’ve been over-exposed to man-made EMF. There will always be skeptics, but we recommend trying it for yourself and seeing how it feels. Simply being immersed in nature without our devices—with or without shoes—is good medicine (that does have a good amount of science backing, too, if you need it).

Sometimes getting out onto the earth is easier said than done (hello, winter!), so grounding mats might be an option to look into.

6. EMF Protection devices

Grounding mats are just one of many EMF protection options—like phone stickers or whole-home blockers. These products often use materials such as silver, copper, or carbon fiber to help block or neutralize EMFs. Opinions vary widely: some people swear by them, others don’t, and some may even be harmful. Research is ongoing, so it’s best to do your homework before buying. Trust your intuition—our How to Listen to Your Body blog offers tips to help you decide. (12)

How to Support your Body

The good news: EMFs may be everywhere, but so are the things that can support us. Here are some of the ways we can nourish our resilience:

Antioxidants

Antioxidants are like peacekeeper molecules—they pair up with and calm down those unstable free radicals so they don’t cause trouble in our bodies. Our bodies make them naturally and many familiar foods give us a boost because of the vitamins and minerals in them. (16) Some of the most powerful antioxidant foods are:

• Almonds
• Broccoli
• Cherries
• Eggs
• Flax seeds
• Kiwi
• Oranges
• Kale
• Pumpkin seeds
• Salmon
• Spinach
• Strawberries
• Tomatoes
• Walnuts
• Kidney, pinto, and black beans

(13) (14)

We can find antioxidants in herbs, too, including:

• Fennel
• Garlic
• Turmeric
• Green tea
• Gingko biloba
• Rosemary
• Oregano
• Sage
• Thyme
• Ginger

(13) (14)

There are too many to list them all here, but rest assured—many of the foods and herbs we eat every day are giving our bodies antioxidant support. Eating a wide variety of colorful fruits and vegetables is the key. And--we know it’s not always easy to get all the nutrition we need from our food, especially when we’re busy (can you relate?), which is why we created our Super Foods and Greens Powders to help keep us strong when we’re on the go.

Vitamins and Minerals

The reason many of these foods give us the support we need is because of the vitamins and minerals in them—which are antioxidants themselves. Some of them that pack a powerful punch are:

Vitamin C: found in citrus fruit, berries, and our Vita C and Immune Aid

Vitamin E: found in almonds, dark leafy greens, pumpkin seeds, and our Gut Health Oil

Zinc: found in salmon, walnuts, berries, and our Oyster-Min supplement

Omega-3 Fatty Acids: found in eggs, flaxseeds, salmon, and our Cod Liver Oil

Stress Support

EMFs—like so many aspects of modern life—can make us feel stressed and lead to all kinds of imbalances. That’s why it's so important to do what we can and then take our focus away from worrying about them. Instead, we can shift our attention toward what makes us healthy—our relationships with ourselves and our loved ones, all the resources available to support us, and the things that bring us joy.

We created our Stress Less guide to support us when life feels like a lot and blended some herbs to lean on when we could use some reinforcement. Our Natural Balance and Anxiety Relief formulas can help soothe and fortify us, and our Magnesium Lotion and Sleepy Time tincture can help bring healthy rest.

The most important things we can do to support our health are the things we can do right now, so—let's take a breath (or a few), know that we are doing our best, and remember—we are in this together.

Disclaimer - This blog post is provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services, and its statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. The information provided should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease. Always seek the advice of a qualified health care provider regarding a specific medical condition.

Sources:

1. What are EMFs and 8 Things you can do – Functional Patterns https://functionalpatterns.com/blogs/articles/should-you-start-using-emf-blockers-and-emf-protection
2. Electric & Magnetic Fields | National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/emf
3. Radiation: Electromagnetic fields https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/radiation-electromagnetic-fields
4. Effects of electromagnetic fields exposure on the antioxidant defense system - PMC https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6025786/
5. Free radicals https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=ut1099
6. Radiation: Electromagnetic fields https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/radiation-electromagnetic-fields
7. EMFs: Health Impacts and Reducing Exposures | The Institute for Functional Medicine https://www.ifm.org/articles/emf-health-reducing-exposures
8. Why electrohypersensitivity and related symptoms are caused by non-ionizing man-made electromagnetic fields: An overview and medical assessment - PubMed https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35537497/
9. The Impact of EMFs on Health: Should You Be Concerned? - Pulse & Remedy https://pulseandremedy.com/uncategorized/impact-of-emfs-on-health/
10. The effect of chronic exposure to extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields on sleep quality, stress, depression and anxiety - PubMed https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30547710/
11. Effect of non-ionizing electromagnetic field on the alteration of ovarian follicles in rats - PMC https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4844484/
12. Shielding methods and products against man-made Electromagnetic Fields: Protection versus risk - PubMed https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30831365/
13. How to Protect Yourself from EMF Radiation | Deanna Minich https://deannaminich.com/how-to-protect-yourself-from-emf-radiation-2/
14. Microsoft Word - Top 20 Foods High In Antioxidants https://www.stjohns.health/documents/content/top-20-foods-high-in-antioxidants.pdf
15. Understanding antioxidants - Harvard Health https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/understanding-antioxidants