- Healthy living is a life style. It is about the environment you live in, the hair and skin care you use, the food you eat and water you drink.
- Healthy living also includes the precautions you take to protect your well-being.
- According to PewResearch Internet Project, 90% of American adults own a mobile phone as of January 2014. Carrying your cell phone in your pocket might decrease the mobility and quality of sperm, according to recent research.
- In the study, the male participants who were exposed to radiation from cell phones had less chance of normal sperm movement compared to the men who were exposed to less radiation. “Given the enormous scale of mobile phone use around the world, the potential role of this environmental exposure needs to be clarified,” explains Fiona Matthews Ph.D. from the University of Exeter and a lead researcher in the study. “This study strongly suggests that being exposed to radio-frequency electromagnetic radiation from carrying mobiles in trouser pockets negatively affects sperm quality.”
- Matthews and the team reviewed 10 studies on this subject. The research team observed that in the studies, radiation from mobile phones accounted for an average of about 8 percent reduction in the movement of sperm and an average reduction of 9 percent in sperm quality.
- In another study published by the Journal of Andrology, radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation (RF-EMR) from cell phones was shown to decrease sperm motility, which is the ability of a substance to move spontaneously and actively. RF-EMR also increased oxidative stress. Dr. Andrew Weil explains, “Oxidative stress is the total burden placed on organisms by the constant production of free radicals in the normal course of metabolism plus whatever other pressures the environment brings to bear (natural and artificial radiation, toxins in air, food and water; and miscellaneous sources of oxidizing activity, such as tobacco smoke).”
- Dr. Fiona Matthews and her teams study was published in a journal called Environment International. “This study strongly suggests that being exposed to radio-frequency electromagnetic radiation from carrying mobiles in trouser pockets negatively affects sperm quality,” Fiona Matthews concluded.
- There needs to be more research on the effects of cell phone radiation on male reproductive functions before it is considered hazardous. However, we always say that it is better to be safe than sorry. This is one of our rules for healthy living.
- Let’s take a look at some tips to avoid cell phone radiation.
- 1. Use a headset or speaker
- Headsets emit much less radiation than phones. Choose either wired or wireless. Experts are split on which version is safer.
- Some wireless headsets emit continuous, low-level radiation, so take yours off your ear when you are not talking. Using your phone in speaker mode reduces radiation.
- 2. Hold phone away from your body
- Hold the phone away from your ear and your body when you are talking. If you are using a headset, don’t put the phone in your pocket or clip it to your belt – put it in your purse. The amount of radiation absorbed by your head and body decreases dramatically with even a small distance.
- 3. Text more, speak less
- Phones emit less radiation when sending texts than during voice communications. Texting keeps radiation away from your head.
- 4. Call only when the signal is strong
- Fewer signal bars mean the phone must try harder to broadcast its signal to the tower. Place and take calls only when your phone has a strong signal. Radiation exposure increases dramatically when cell phone signals are weak.
- 5. Limit children’s phone use
- Young children’s brains can absorb twice as much cell phone radiation as those of adults.
- 6. Skip the “radiation shield”
- Radiation shields such as antenna caps and keypad covers reduce the connection quality and force the phone to transmit with greater energy, generating more radiation.
- 7. Put your phone ‘on airplane mode’ when your children are around
- It will help reduce radiation transmission. Do so when you sleep and try not to bring your phone in your bedroom.
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