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Dangers of Fluoride in Your Drinking Water
John Miller
Although there is a lot of evidence to suggest that fluoride is effective at preventing cavities, there is also a growing amount of evidence to suggest that ingesting excessive amounts of fluoride can have terrible consequences.
Fluoride, found in most municipal drinking water, Edmonton included, can have negative effects on many areas of your body, including the thyroid, liver, bones, kidney, cardiovascular system, immune system, and reproductive system.
The thyroid, although often neglected, is an immensely important organ that is unfortunately affected by fluoride consumption. In several studies using both rats and humans, increased consumption of fluoride led to decreased levels of important thyroid hormones. Thyroid hormones are needed for the proper development of all cells in your body and regulate metabolism of proteins fats and carbohydrates, as well as stimulating vitamin metabolism. Low levels of thyroid hormones has also been linked to severely decreased immune function in people chronically exposed to fluoride.
Your bones are also vulnerable to the effects of fluoride. Fluoride can alter mineral metabolism in your bones, which can lead to a loss in bone density and the growth of boney masses. Bone density may be further affected because fluoride can cause osteoblasts, cells that synthesize bone, to kill themselves. Also, ingestion of fluoride in small doses over long periods of time, like you might experience drinking fluoridated water, has been linked to osteosclerosis or hardening of the bones. And if that isn't enough to scare you, another couple of studies found a correlation between fluoride intake and the formation of bone tumours.
Your heart and cardiovascular system isn't safe either. Research has shown that the hearts of people with increased fluoride consumption are unable to relax properly and that fluoride can also cause abnormalities in the aorta, your primary blood vessel exiting the heart.
Research with mice suggests that fluoride also interferes with the pancreas, causing decreased secretion of insulin and increased blood glucose levels, changes that could lead to diabetes.
The effects of fluoride on the kidneys and liver have been well documented in humans. Several studies have shown a link between blood levels of fluoride and kidney function. The higher the levels of fluoride, the worse the kidneys function. Yet another study showed that high levels of fluoride in drinking water can cause kidney damage in children, and that the higher the levels are the worse the damage is.
As if the list of physiological systems damaged by fluoride wasn't long enough, possibly your favourite system, the reproductive system, is targeted as well. A number of studies show that fluoride can reduce fertility and be detrimental to the health and count of sperm, and when regional fluoride levels were compared to regional fertility rates across the US, it was found that as water-fluoride levels increased, fertility rates decreased.
How to fight fluoride*
First, avoid drinking tap water. Second, to help your body get rid of existing fluoride and prevent damage from fluoride you may inadvertently consume (in foods made with tap water, water from drinking fountains etc.), there are several supplements that can be helpful.
Iodine competes with fluoride in your body and can help to decrease the amount of fluoride that your cells take in. Talk to your health care practitioner about optimizing your iodine intake. A good liquid iodine supplement can be found here:Liquid Iodine Supplement
Riboflavin(B2) and niacin(B3) can also be helpful as they are needed by your body to incorporate iodine into cells and hormones and riboflavin has been shown to increase the excretion of fluoride.
More About Riboflavin
More About Niacin
Although there is evidence that low levels of fluoride can reduce the occurrence of cavities, there is mounting evidence that high levels of fluoride can have serious consequences to our health, and since controlling the exact dose present in the water supply is very difficult, it is recommended that you avoid tap water.
*Please consult with your qualified health care practitioner before attempting to treat yourself with any supplements.
Dangers of Fluoride in Your Drinking Water
John Miller
Although there is a lot of evidence to suggest that fluoride is effective at preventing cavities, there is also a growing amount of evidence to suggest that ingesting excessive amounts of fluoride can have terrible consequences.
Fluoride, found in most municipal drinking water, Edmonton included, can have negative effects on many areas of your body, including the thyroid, liver, bones, kidney, cardiovascular system, immune system, and reproductive system.
The thyroid, although often neglected, is an immensely important organ that is unfortunately affected by fluoride consumption. In several studies using both rats and humans, increased consumption of fluoride led to decreased levels of important thyroid hormones. Thyroid hormones are needed for the proper development of all cells in your body and regulate metabolism of proteins fats and carbohydrates, as well as stimulating vitamin metabolism. Low levels of thyroid hormones has also been linked to severely decreased immune function in people chronically exposed to fluoride.
Your bones are also vulnerable to the effects of fluoride. Fluoride can alter mineral metabolism in your bones, which can lead to a loss in bone density and the growth of boney masses. Bone density may be further affected because fluoride can cause osteoblasts, cells that synthesize bone, to kill themselves. Also, ingestion of fluoride in small doses over long periods of time, like you might experience drinking fluoridated water, has been linked to osteosclerosis or hardening of the bones. And if that isn't enough to scare you, another couple of studies found a correlation between fluoride intake and the formation of bone tumours.
Your heart and cardiovascular system isn't safe either. Research has shown that the hearts of people with increased fluoride consumption are unable to relax properly and that fluoride can also cause abnormalities in the aorta, your primary blood vessel exiting the heart.
Research with mice suggests that fluoride also interferes with the pancreas, causing decreased secretion of insulin and increased blood glucose levels, changes that could lead to diabetes.
The effects of fluoride on the kidneys and liver have been well documented in humans. Several studies have shown a link between blood levels of fluoride and kidney function. The higher the levels of fluoride, the worse the kidneys function. Yet another study showed that high levels of fluoride in drinking water can cause kidney damage in children, and that the higher the levels are the worse the damage is.
As if the list of physiological systems damaged by fluoride wasn't long enough, possibly your favourite system, the reproductive system, is targeted as well. A number of studies show that fluoride can reduce fertility and be detrimental to the health and count of sperm, and when regional fluoride levels were compared to regional fertility rates across the US, it was found that as water-fluoride levels increased, fertility rates decreased.
How to fight fluoride*
First, avoid drinking tap water. Second, to help your body get rid of existing fluoride and prevent damage from fluoride you may inadvertently consume (in foods made with tap water, water from drinking fountains etc.), there are several supplements that can be helpful.
Iodine competes with fluoride in your body and can help to decrease the amount of fluoride that your cells take in. Talk to your health care practitioner about optimizing your iodine intake. A good liquid iodine supplement can be found here:Liquid Iodine Supplement
Riboflavin(B2) and niacin(B3) can also be helpful as they are needed by your body to incorporate iodine into cells and hormones and riboflavin has been shown to increase the excretion of fluoride.
More About Riboflavin
More About Niacin
Although there is evidence that low levels of fluoride can reduce the occurrence of cavities, there is mounting evidence that high levels of fluoride can have serious consequences to our health, and since controlling the exact dose present in the water supply is very difficult, it is recommended that you avoid tap water.
*Please consult with your qualified health care practitioner before attempting to treat yourself with any supplements.
