Where do Toxins Come From?
Updated: Jan 16
Where do Toxins Come From?
The modern life we have now would look like a Syfy dream only 100 years ago. Just two lifetimes ago, there were no cars, no TV, and flying in an airplane had not happened yet. There is a cost to our modern life. With it came pollution, mass commercialism, and an ever-quickening pace of technology, somewhat lifting us out of a more natural living environment. So now we have to ask, where do toxins come from.
Once we answer where toxins come from, you will be astounded by the number of toxins around you and your family.
Every day, your body is bombarded by chemicals and other toxins. Pesticides, herbicides, prescription medications are found in everyday foods. They are in the water that comes out of your kitchen tap and your shower.
You may already be avoiding some of the more obvious toxin sources like tobacco, food additives, dyes, and artificial flavorings. But in all areas and markets, labels can get complicated. They can proclaim buzz words like "BPA free," but in fact, they just added more BPS to make up the loss. So there is no health benefit but we feel better.
Other sources of toxins are hidden and less prominent. Many household and personal care products contain toxins. These are absorbed when you breathe fumes or apply artificial fragrances and petroleum-based moisturizers to your skin.
Where do Toxins Come From? – Toxins in food
Food is something our body uses to keep us healthy and wise. But from a nutritional perspective, many of the "food" products should be tossed into the garbage can. The worst offenders have processed cereals, white bread, trans-fats, and chemically altered items. Manufacturers were trying to solve serious hunger problems that plagued people for centuries before safe, reliable methods for storing food came into being. But these kind intentions have evolved and morphed into an unintended something.
Common food toxins include:
Nitrates & Nitrites in processed meats. When nitrites get exposed to heat with amino acids, they can turn to dangerous carcinogenic nitrosamines. Most processed meats contain sodium nitrites. Considering these are high-protein foods, it's the perfect combination for nitrosamine to form.
Too much omega-6 fatty acid in industrial seed oils like cottonseed, corn, soybean, safflower, etc.
Processed sugar, particularly high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS)
Genetically modified foods, mainly GMO corn, and soy
Built-up pharmaceuticals such as antibiotics and other toxins such as steroids and BHT found in animal products including meat, eggs, and dairy.
Pesticides and herbicides found on conventionally grown produce and grain.
Ask any food producer what their primary purpose is, and you will hear, "to make a profit." It is that desire to make as much as possible that is direct opposition to the individual's need to be healthy. Today though, food manufacturers [should] know full well that they produce harmful substances contributing to sickness and chronic conditions. Remember, health is not the goal; profit is.
Toxins in food are almost unavoidable. Eating a clean, organic diet will help you stay healthy and reduce your overall toxic load.
Where Do Toxins Come From – Toxins in water
Taking Clean Water for Granted - An Error on our Part?
Would you agree our precious dwindling resources of water are treated with blatant disregard? We do not even give it a second thought. Water is the base of almost all life on our planet, yet we treat it casually. We assume water is treated and safe to drink and bathe our children in the US. For the most part, that healthy assumption is valid. Deadly pathogens are dealt with before the water reaches our glass.
But how are we doing now, in the 21 st Century?
In 1972 the Clean Water Act was passed in the United States. In 1974, we adopted the Safe Drinking Water Act [SDWA]. The SDWA gave rise to the principle that every person has a right to clean water. Over forty-five years later, and into the foreseeable future, SDWA is the base for measuring drinking water safety. Around 45 years ago, we only knew a fraction of the threats to human health that we know today. Many risks did not even exist that long ago.
An estimated 90% of Americans drink safe water by the 1974 standards to the municipalities' credit. That estimate is by quality standards used over 48 years. Recent news about Flint Michigan's water problems gives rise to growing concerns about financial pressures on the delivery of safe drinking water. The issues in Flint, Michigan, have been going on for seven years now without resolution.
Many toxins are just not removed from tap water. Most of these newer threats find their way into natural sources of water used by all of us. Pharmaceuticals, industrial chemicals, pesticides, fertilizers, and heavy metals like mercury, lead, and arsenic is often present in trace amounts.
How do all these pollutants find their way into our water supply? There are several ways:
Industrial wastes like lead, arsenic, mercury, and petrochemicals leach into streams and rivers
Automotive fluids like antifreeze, gasoline, and car oil go down a storm drain and eventually flow into waterways
Lawn chemicals and waste from conventional farms – including fertilizers, massive amounts of animal waste, herbicides, and pesticides leach into groundwater and eventually make their way into waterways
Water percolates through landfills heaped with garbage, dead animals, and chemical waste, making its way into groundwater and waterways
Factory farms or CAFOs (confined animal feeding operations) that raise chickens and pigs and cattle release animal waste into waterways. The waste often contains pollutants, including antibiotics, steroids, hormones, and other pharmaceuticals.
Water flows downstream as it moves quickly from one location to another.
So an excellent healthy water source is not conditional on where we live, but the location of your water supply.
On the plus side, water filtration systems exist to make water much safer to drink. They are inexpensive and very to use, and easy to install.
For more information, see:
Where do Toxins Come From – Toxins in the air
Another answer to the question of where toxins come from is the air we breathe. How long can you hold your breath? Minutes? The air we breathe is essential to life. It should be full of oxygen. If we eliminate the basic needs of our body like air, water, sleep, and food, we die. The fastest death, in just minutes, is the elimination of air.
Unfortunately, dirty air is everywhere these days. The wind carries toxins like auto exhaust, smoke from wildfires, harmful gases from refineries and factories, and even radioactive particles all over the planet. Less-harmful toxins like dust, mold, pet dander, and mildew are present in the air too.
We are often subjected to paint fumes, perfumes, and artificially scented cleaners. We could laugh about opening the window to get 'fresh air. But the fact is, inside air is 2 x 4 more polluted than outdoor air. Why? Because of the materials inside our house outgas toxic gases from almost everything including cleaning supplies and clothing.
The dirtier the air you breathe, the less oxygen you get with every breath, and the more body is forced to deal with toxins. Again, good news. Some excellent air purification products are on the market to help ease the burden.
Where do Toxins Come From – Toxins in the Soil
You probably think dirt is dirt. Fifty years ago, it was. Fifty years ago, children's toys were made of wood, not plastic.
The Genetic Literacy Project reported that Glyphosate weedkiller [an ingredient in RoundUp by Monsanto] was found in 100% of California wines. Some argue the low levels are safe. Many disagree. The real question will Glyphosate use be banned?
On Oct 24th, 2017, Time ran an article about the increasing number of people who tested positive for Glyphosate. It shot up 500%
In December 2017, the EPA found "glyphosate is not likely to be carcinogenic to humans" "when glyphosate is used according to its label instructions." That statement is at odds with the World Health Organization panel and many other studies. Please keep in mind; this one discussion is about ONE chemical.
Hospitals, manufacturers, and everyday consumers contribute to toxins in the soil. Things like batteries, old electronics, leftover pesticides, herbicides, auto chemicals, and paint make their way into the land when discarded. And from there, they leach into groundwater.
Other soil toxins facts:
Plants feed on soil toxins then directly consumed by people and animals.
Soil toxins runoff into streams when it rains
Soil Toxins make their way into floodwaters
Some soil toxins are particularly persistent and mobile. Mercury accumulates in the environment and can move up the food chain into our fish supplies. To know the source of your food. come from mercury gets into your system, the symptoms can be:
emotional changes, impaired nerves
thyroid, and kidney problems
Where do Toxins Come From – Toxins in Synthetic Materials
Most of the fabric in our lives is wholly synthetic or at least part-synthetic. Most are treated with formaldehyde, chemical-based dyes, fire retardant, and more. The materials can add comfort, easy care, and a more attractive appearance. So the choice is yours to make. Washing fabrics well before using them can help. Try to use nontoxic detergents free of added fragrance.
Where do Toxins Come From – Toxins in Self-Care Products
Toxins are everywhere, including self-care products like deodorants, mascara, body washes, and lotion.
For more information, Read Toxic 12 The Ugly Unhealthy Truth.
Why Are Toxins Important to You?
In our opinion, both the health and weight loss industries concentrate on eating better and exercising as the go-to solutions. The medical professions back up that eating better and exercising as the only healthy activities as if toxins don't exist.
Recently, I attended a local hospital's leadership meeting wrestling with the concept of wellness. They were looking at how to incorporate a wellness program into the hospital. I applaud their desire to try. But I'm afraid I have to disagree. They did even consider understanding the need to address toxicity levels as a part of the wellness puzzle.
To be sure, eating healthy and adding movement [exercise] to our lives are important factors to living a healthier life. Still, they are not the only health concerns and, therefore, the only answers.
The reality that is now coming out in studies shows toxicity must be a concern. The unspoken third part of the health answer to those questions is the level of toxicity we receive daily from everywhere and how burdened our bodies are becoming with that toxicity.
It is part of our mission to try and add the topic of human toxicity to the health and weight loss conversations.