Your Tech May Be Making You Sick and Tired (Literally) — Here's How To Avoid Harmful EMFs

Staying glued to our phones is easy. Social media keeps us connected to friends and loved ones; texting makes it possible to talk to anyone in an instant; and games and apps keep you entertained for hours on end. Many of us even use our phones as alarms to wake up in the morning, making them a piece of tech we truly rely on every day. While technology is amazing and a helpful tool, devices like phones and microwaves may be radiating harmful waves (EMFs) that cause us to feel sluggish and sick — and with how often we use our tech, overexposure is easy. Keep reading to see the damage that EMF exposure can potentially cause and what you can do to limit it.

What do EMFs do to us?

Many of us are overexposed to electromagnetic frequencies (EMFs) emitted by electronics, says Zapped (Buy from Amazon, $15.99) author Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD. “People are frequently fatigued from acute, cumulative and chronic EMF exposure,” she cautions. The reason? EMFs have been shown to have a negative impact on thyroid and adrenal function.

How can I limit EMF exposure?

Feeling sluggish and concerned EMFs are to blame? Good news: There are some steps you can take to limit overexposure and feel your very best. Check out three tips from Gittleman below.

Move 1 inch from your phone.

When chatting on your cellphone, “distance is your friend,” says Gittleman. The closer you are to your phone, the more EMFs you’re exposed to. Instead of holding it directly to your ear, put the phone on “speaker” and hold it at a distance or set it down instead of pressing it up to your ear when you chat. UC Berkeley research suggests doing so reduces the strength of EMF waves you come into contact with.

Reheat leftovers like this.

Once you hit “start” on your microwave, step into the next room while your food heats, says Gittleman. While microwaves may top the list of EMF-producing appliances in your house, their energy waves significantly dissipate with distance, notes a study publishes in the Journal of Radiological Protection. Every step you take away from the microwave noticeably may cut EMF exposure.

Try a magnesium supplement.

EMF exposure may decrease levels of magnesium in the body, suggests an animal study from Biological Trace Element Research. Magnesium is important for healthy bones, muscles, nerve function and more, and it may also help mitigate damage from EMFs. “EMFs produce free radicals in our bodies, and magnesium acts as a powerful free-radical scavenger,” says Gittleman. Opt for a highly absorbable form of magnesium called magnesium L-threonate, which can pass the blood-brain barrier. Supplementing daily may help shore up deficiencies and shield against energy-sapping EMF exposure, so talk to your doctor to see if this is a good option for you.

This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. Always consult your physician before pursuing any treatment plan.

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A version of this article originally appeared in our print magazine, Woman's World.