What You Need to Know About Radiation Protection

Leigh Erin Connealy, MD

Since the tragic events at the Fukushima nuclear plant, I've had quite a few requests for advice on how we can protect ourselves from radiation's harmful effects. To the best of my knowledge, very low levels of radiation have arrived in the U.S. from Japan. It's important to remember, however, that we are exposed to other sources of radiation on a daily basis. For example, the earth itself emits radiation, as do television and computer screens, airport screening devices, tanning equipment and wireless devices (cell phones). Air travel exposes us to radiation, but the amount depends on the plane's altitude, latitude and solar activity. Even such unlikely sources as granite countertops emit some radiation. Then there are the medical sources, including X-rays and radiation therapy.

The accumulated effects from all these sources could be significant, so I encourage my patients to be proactive. Look over my suggestions on how to protect yourself and your family from radiation. None of them are difficult or expensive, and they could make a real difference in your health.

At higher levels of exposure, like those used to treat cancer, radiation can result in nausea and vomiting, hair loss, swelling, urinary difficulties, compromised immunity and infertility. But even low levels of radiation can make us sick. Symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, upset stomach or nausea, itchy, dry skin, tender scalp, repeated infections, including colds and flu, are common among people who have been repeatedly exposed to low doses of radiation.

The best way to protect yourself is by starting with the basic building blocks of good health: eat a nutritious diet of whole, preferably organic, foods; get plenty of sleep; at the very least, take a high-quality multi-vitamin daily, and consider adding supportive supplements (see below); engage in at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity daily; and drink a number of ounces equivalent to half your body weight (i.e., a 120 lb person should drink 60 ounces) of pure, fresh water each day.

Here are some additional ideas for minimizing radiation damage:

Lugol's Iodine Solution: Apply 2 ½ droppers full of the solution on lower legs. Follow up with an additional ½ tsp per day. Color changes to the skin are perfectly normal and temporary.
Detox with a clay-based product, like ZeoOne (10 drops twice daily) or Zeo-Tox (10 sprays, two times per day). Zeolite products are made with a special type of clay that attracts and removes radiation from the body.
If you prefer homeopathic remedies, try Radiation from DesBio (Deseret Biologicals). Follow dosage instructions on the product.
Take one high-quality probiotic supplement each night. Probiotics contain the “friendly bacteria” that populate a healthy digestive system and are required for a strong immune system. Look for a probiotic product containing at least 10 billion colony-forming units and take one daily, preferably in the evening.
Boron supplements (3 mg taken twice a day) can capture and remove radiation. I recommend taking 200 micrograms (mcg) of selenium to balance the boron.
Research has shown that curcumin, a compound from the spice turmeric used in curry powder, protects the skin against radiation damage. Recommended dosage is 500 mg once daily.
The antioxidant DMSO (dimethylsulfoxide) provides impressive protection at the cellular level against radiation in animal studies. DMSO is applied topically, so follow the instructions on the product you choose.
A soluble fiber known as beta-glucan significantly reduced radiation's negative effects in clinical trials. Beta-glucan boosts white blood cell activity, which improves recovery in damaged tissue, as well as identifies and eliminates tumor cells. Beta-glucan should be taken once or twice daily. It is available in a 3 mg regular strength or extra-strength (10 mg) version.

REFERENCES

Delia P, Sansotta G, Donato V, et al. “Use of probiotics for prevention of radiation-induced diarrhea.” Tumori 2007 Mar-Apr;93(2): suppl 1-6.

Goel A, Aggarwal BB. “Curcumin, the golden spice from Indian saffron, is a chemosensitier and radiosensitizer for tumors and chemoprotector and radioprotector for normal organs.” Nutrition and Cancer 2010;62(7):919-30.

Okunieff P, Xu J, Hu D, et al. “Curcumin protects against radiation-induced acute and chronic cutaneous toxicity in mice and decreases mRNA expression of inflammatory and fibrogenic cytokines.” International Journal of Radiation, Oncology, Biology, Physics 2006 Jul 1;65(3):890-8.

Gu YH, Takagi Y, Nakamura T, et al. “Enhancement of radioprotection and anti-tumor immunity by yeast-derived beta-glucan in mice.” Journal of Medicinal Food 2005 Summer;8(2):154-8.