Transcript CreatingHealth- Environmental Toxins 2015 copy

Environmental Toxins: The polar bear in the desert
Mark Pettus MD
March 11, 2015
www.thehealthedgepodcast.com
The Polar Bear in the Desert
Disease-death by a thousand cuts.
Long-Latency Diseases
Disease (how things appear)
Pre-diabetes, Diabetes, Obesity, Metabolic Syndrome, Heart
Disease, Stroke, Depression, Autoimmunity, Alzheimer’s,
Cancer, Fibromyalgia, Chronic fatigue
ADDHD, GAD, PTSD, Autism spectrum
Core Metabolic Imbalances (what drives them)
Environmental Toxins-detoxification
Insulin Resistance
Inflammation
Microbiome (Gut-Immune)
HPA Axis (fight-flight)
Root Causes (what are their origins)
Gene-Epigenome-Environment
Nutrition Movement Stress Response Environmental toxins
Sleep Social Connection Trauma Conflict Management
Mindfulness Spirituality-Meaning in Work, Love, Play
Learning objectives
• Review some common sources of environmental toxins
that pervade daily living.
• Examine how the growing burden of environmental toxic
exposure effects health and quality of life.
• Examine lifestyle, behavioral, and supplement strategies
that can reduce our toxic burden and optimize our capacity
for detoxification.
The Precautionary Principle
“We as physicians must act on facts…and on the most
accurate interpretation of them, using the best scientific
information. That does not mean that we must sit back
until we have 100% evidence about everything. When the
state of the health of the people is at stake…we should be
prepared to take action to diminish those risks even when
the scientific knowledge is not conclusive”
Horton. Lancet. 1998;352(9124):251
Exposure to environmental toxins
• Since WWII, more than 85,000 new synthetic chemicals have
been released into the environment.
• As a species we are exposed to 6 million lbs mercury and 2.5
billion lbs of other toxic chemicals each year.
• Most have not been tested for potential toxicity in adults (few in
children)
• Over 4 billion lbs of pesticides are used annually in the US.
• Current law allows 350 pesticides to be used on the foods we eat.
• The average home contains 3-10 gallons of hazardous materials.
• Traces > 280 synthetic chemicals can be found in the average
newborn
Toxic Load
Food
Supply
Mind-Body
Mercury
Skin Care
Household
Products
The Effects of Toxins
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Fatigue
Muscle aches / joint pain
Brain fog
Headaches
Sinus congestion and
allergies
Digestive problems
Skin problems
PMS and hormone
imbalances
Weight gain
Plausible evidence links toxic exposure with risk of:
• Immune: Autoimmune diseases, allergies, asthma, chronic
dermatitis, and multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS)
• Mitochondrial and Metabolic: Chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, PD,
autism spectrum, obesity, insulin resistance
• Endocrine and reproductive disorders: weight gain, PMS, PCOS,
Infertility, Endometriosis, Fibroids
• Digestive disorders: IBS, nausea and vomiting
• Neurological disorders e.g. Parkinson’s, ALS, Alzheimer’s
disease, autism spectrum, and multiple sclerosis
• Behavioral health disorders e.g. depression, anxiety, attention
deficit and hyperactivity
• Diabetes and cardiovascular diseases
• Parkinson’s, Autism, ALS, MS,
Dementia
• Fibromyalgia
• Chronic fatigue
• Complex pain syndromes
• Congestive heart failure
• Pre-diabetes/diabetes
• Phthalates are used in many common products easily released
into the environment. Exposure is airborne, from food and from
direct contact.
• They disrupt endocrine function and are associated with cancer
e.g., breast
Prevalent environmental toxic exposures:
• Persistent Organic Pollutants “POPS” e.g. PCBs, dioxin, DDT,
organochlorine pesticides, petrochemical fertilizers, herbicides
• Perfluorooctanoic acid “PFOA”: water repellant in scotchguard,
gortex, carpeting, upolstery and PTFE in teflon
• Polybrominated compounds: PBDEs, flame retardants in TVs,
computers, etc. “21st century PCBs”
• PCBs in meat, fish, dairy
• Bisphenol A “BPA” polycarbinated plastics, canned foods, cash
register receipts
• Atrazine agricultural pesticide and herbicide seeps into drinking
water
Cosmetics: looking good ≠ good health
Phthalates and Parabens
(hair and skin care products)
Fragrance (shampoos,
deodorants, skin and body care)
Diethanolamine (DEA)
Triethanolamine(TEA)
(found in many cosmetics)
Diazolidinyl Urea,
Imidazolidinyl Urea, and
Quarternium-15 (skin
and hair products)…all release
formaldehyde..sensitivities
Cosmetic Safety Database
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)
Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)
found in makeup, shampoos,
conditioners and toothpaste.
When combined with DEA and
TEA they form nitrosamines which
are carcinogenic
Triclosan: a synthetic
antibacterial in skin cleaners and
household products…a hormone
disrupter
www.cosmeticdatabase.com
Natural Cosmetics: www.drhauschka.com; www.avalonorganics.com;
www.evanhealy.com; www.sumbody.com
Fish and mercury
High
•Bluefish
•Grouper
•Marlin
•Tuna (yellowfin, blue,
albacore)
•Tilefish
•Seabass
•Mahi
•Swordfish
Low
•Arctic cod
•Anchovies
•Catfish,
•Crab
•Flounder
•Haddock
•Herring
•Mackerel
•Non-farmed salmon
•Trout
•Tilapia
•Oysters
•Tuna (skipjack and
chunk light)
Mercury
• Environmentally ubiquitous: levels 30x higher last 2 generations
• Enters the air and rain from coal- and oil-fired power plants, incinerators,
waste and manufacturing plants that use mercury to produce chlorinecontaining plastics, PVC piping, pesticides, etc.
• Enters water and soil from natural deposits, volcanic activity, mining ore,
and disposal of wastes e.g. batteries
• Methyl mercury formed in soil and water by algae and bacteria, then
ingested by fish; also in fungicides
• Elemental mercury and amalgams used in dental fillings, batteries,
electrodes, barometers, fluorescent light bulbs, red tatoo dye, skinlightening creams and thermostats
• Federal Toxic Release Inventory: over 6 million lbs of toxic waste in the
form of mercury compounds in toxic waste generated by industry, most of
which is released directly into the environment
Mercury: Health Effects
• Damages enzymes and other proteins by binding
sulfhydryl groups, e.g., metallothionein, hemoglobin,
glutathione
• Promotes oxidative stress by formation of lipid
peroxides, H2O2, and hydroxyl radical
• Depletes glutathione and selenium
• Penetrates nerves and binds to cysteines on Ach
receptors
• Damage to brain and kidneys
• Cognitive dysfunction, depression, irritibility, tremors,
changes in vision and hearing
• Probable carcinogenic
Food Additives
MSG and Glutamate
Glutamic acid is a non-essential amino acid found in plant and animal
protein.
Glutamate is the most abundant neurotransmitter in the brain.
Glutamate activates or excites cells to “communicate” important messages
important for growth, development, learning and memory…essentially a
brain stimulant.
MSG or monosodium glutamate is a synthetic chemical added to processed
foods to make them more palatable.
The scientific literature regarding the health effects of MSG indicates
controversy over the potential of MSG to cause various adverse
reactions—from headaches and migraines, altered mood and cognition to
endocrine disruption.
? Genetic susceptibility; “leaky” blood brain barrier
Principles of Healthy Detoxification
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Minimize your exposure to toxins by eating organic foods,
moderating processed foods with refined grain flour, sugar,
avoiding large game fish, and …
Drink filtered water
Keep your bowels moving at least once a day
Use of flax seeds, probiotics, and magnesium citrate
Eat organic animal products.
Eat 6-8 servings of colorful vegetables and fruits including
cruciferous veggies (broccoli, cauliflower, brussell sprouts,
kale) and allium family e.g. garlic, onions, leeks, watercress,
green tea, cilantro, berries, etc.
Eliminate nicotine and moderate alcohol intake (e.g. no more
than 1 drink/day)
Principles of Healthy Detoxification
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Exercise: Interval cardio 20-30” twice week; yoga; tai chi;
Resistance 20” twice/week; Walk a lot and use stairs
Eliminate white flour and sugar and HFCS
Minimize char-broiled meats (heterocyclic amines)
Don’t be afraid to sweat e.g. sauna, steam
Mercury and dental amalgams
Home testing for mold
Reduce toxic thought-behavioral patterns e.g. Mindfulness
practice, CBT
Chelation protocols for heavy metals
What else can a person to do to reduce toxic burden?
• Buy and eat organic whenever possible
• Consider glass or ceramic containers instead of plastic
• Decline stain protection treatments for upholstery or floor
coverings
• Ask about VOCs (volatile organic compounds) in paints, new
carpeting, furniture
• Avoid polycarbonate plastics with “7” and “3” stamped on
bottom. Consider aluminum instead.
• Switch to stainless steel or hard-anodized aluminum pots and
pans when Teflon cookware wears out
• Vacuum/dust at least once per week: Air purification ionizers
• Carbon Filter water
Cruciferous and Allium Vegetable Families
Enhance Blood and Lymph Circulation
Aerobic exercise
Yoga
Massage and body work
Sauna and heat
therapy
Skin exfoliation and
brushing
Mind-Body
Detoxification
Ewg.org
Environmental Working Group ewg.org
Free Apps
Supplements
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Multivitamin with mineral supplementation
Milk Thistle
Curcumin/turmeric and rosemary
Probiotics
Magnesium citrate (400-800 mg/day)
N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) (1200-2400mg)
SAMe (400-800)
Vitamin D (2,000-5,000 units/day to level 30+)
Co-Q-10 (200-400mg)
Alpha lipoic Acid (400-1000 mg)
Great web sites to explore
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www.foodnews.org
www.centerforfoodsafety.org
www.orgfood.com
www.diamondorganics.com
www.ewg.org
www.greenhome.com
www.allergybuyersclub.com
www.seventhgeneration.com
www.ewg.org/skindeep
Thank you.