Everyday toxins can be a serious hazard. From the foods we eat and the water we drink to a wide range of environmental chemicals, we are contaminated every day with unregulated substances with known and unknown toxicity. At high enough levels, toxins are poisonous to our cells, tissues, and organs. These compounds can be water-soluble and quickly eliminated through the urine, or fat-soluble and hide in the fat tissues of the body for long periods of time. Regardless, toxins alter the internal terrain and ultimately can threaten our health, increasing our chances of developing cancer, diabetes, obesity, and other chronic diseases.
Heavy metals, such as mercury found in fish, cause neurological dysfunction as well as heart and kidney damage. Bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical from plastics, mimics hormones like estrogen that can stimulate cell growth and tumor development. Casein, a protein found in dairy products, can elicit an immune response that can lead to the development of diabetes.
Rebuilding from a disease requires you to find alternatives to foods and beverages that may be loaded with toxins that will slow down or even prevent your personal rebuild. This doesn’t mean you should obsess over your food choices. Just be aware of and informed about the potential hazards of everyday food toxins so you can make the best choices when selecting what to eat and drink.
Since there is an overwhelming amount of information regarding food toxins and environmental contaminants, I will break down the toxicity/disease connection into two parts: toxins in our food and environmental toxins linked to serious chronic conditions.
Toxins in Our Food
In the section “Three Foods That Kill,” we learned that bread, dairy, and sugar pose serious health issues when consumed every day. Grains containing gluten can cause leaky gut, a condition in which the barrier in the gut is breached, allowing unwanted proteins to enter the circulation. Gluten can cause an immune response that creates health-threatening disease. Dairy contains growth factors and inflammatory proteins, including casein, that can also increase gut permeability, thus setting the stage for autoimmune diseases, heart disease, the neurodevelopmental condition autism, and the brain disorder schizophrenia. Refined sugars, including table sugar (sucrose) and high-fructose corn syrup, are proven to cause diabetes, insulin resistance, and obesity. High insulin and inflammatory conditions trigger the development of certain cancers and coronary artery disease.
Toxins called lectins and phytates, found in grains and legumes, can also have ill effects on our health. Lectins and phytates are chemicals that protect plants from the harsh environment and the attack of insects. Lectins have been shown to contribute to unwanted intestinal permeability and to trigger immune reactions that create autoimmune disease and allergies. Phytates are considered antinutrients and mineral magnets, which bind to and remove minerals, such as iron, from the body. Experiments show that phytates in wheat-based foods block absorption of about 90 percent of the iron. Phytates also remove the minerals calcium, zinc, magnesium, and copper, which are crucial in countless metabolic reactions in the body. However, taking vitamin C or eating vitamin C–rich foods with high-phytate foods can improve mineral absorption.
Peanuts carry a dangerous mold, which produces the toxin aflatoxin. Aflatoxin is a potent carcinogen produced by the Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus molds, which grow on peanuts, corn, and cottonseed, and are even found in milk. Aflatoxin can cause liver damage and cancer, gastrointestinal dysfunction, decreased appetite, and decreased reproductive function.
Heavy metals are other food-based hazards with serious health implications. Mercury, lead, nickel, and cadmium cannot be degraded or destroyed; they enter our bodies through food, drinking water, and air. Heavy metals are a big deal, as they can accumulate in the body over time due to their slow elimination. They get into our water supply from industrial waste (power plants, pulp mills, waste incinerators) and acidic rain that can wash these metals into streams, lakes, and rivers. Organic mercury (methylmercury) is the form found in seafood. Basically, methylmercury is found in the aquatic microorganisms and sediment on the ocean floor. That sediment is consumed by small fish, which are then eaten by larger fish. The mercury works its way up the food chain until we are eating unhealthful amounts in our favorite Friday-night fish dinner. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, dangerous levels of mercury are found in king mackerel, marlin, shark, swordfish, tilefish, and bigeye tuna. High mercury is also found in bluefish, grouper, Chilean sea bass, albacore, and yellowfin tuna.
Mercury toxicity has been shown to damage the central nervous system, peripheral nervous system, gastrointestinal system, kidneys, and heart. Data published in the Journal of Cardiovascular Disease & Diagnosis showed that mercury had multiple detrimental effects on the cardiovascular system, including endothelial dysfunction, vascular smooth-muscle dysfunction, and high levels of oxidation—all steps involved in the creation of atherosclerosis. The clinical consequences of mercury include coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmias, increased carotid artery thickness, left ventricular hypertrophy, and heart attacks. Mercury toxicity has also been shown to cause autoimmune disease. A study in Environmental Health Perspectives found that at low levels, methylmercury caused autoantibody production and immune dysregulation, leading to subclinical (without signs and symptoms) autoimmune dysfunction. Additional studies in Environmental International showed the link between elevated mercury levels and high levels of thyroid antibodies in women.
If that’s not bad enough, heavy metals have been found to interfere with normal gene expression and DNA repair, setting the stage for the development of cancer. Heavy metals have also been implicated in neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS).
The good news is that your body can rebuild from heavy-metal toxicity through powerful detoxification systems and the detoxifying protein metallothionein, which binds to those metals and transports them to the liver, where they are processed, detoxified, released into the gut, and eliminated through stool.
Fish is not the only protein source that can be toxic; meat also has potential hazards. Cooking at high heat levels, as you do when grilling, for example, kills bacteria and other food-borne pathogens, and it also causes protein in meat to produce compounds called heterocyclic amines. These compounds can be carcinogenic when the meat is burned, blackened, and charred. (See here for more information on this topic.) You should also completely avoid processed and cured meats, including the conventional cold cuts, sausage, and bacon that typically are served at popular delis and well-known sandwich franchises. Under certain conditions, the nitrites added to these foods as preservatives can morph into molecules called nitrosamines, which can cause cancer. Processed meats also contain a whole bunch of other nasty compounds that can affect your health. Meat doesn’t naturally come in a block wrapped in plastic, so avoid all processed meats. Stick to free-range grass-fed meats as a healthful protein source.
As I work with patients guiding them on proper nutrition, I am frequently asked about artificial sweeteners like NutraSweet (aspartame) and Splenda (sucralose). A dieter’s dream is to continue eating sweet things without all the calories or all the guilt. For many, replacing table sugar with artificial sweeteners is a common strategy for getting rid of body fat. Rewarding yourself with something sweet without the sugar may reduce your calories, but putting an unnatural substance in your body makes you a test subject for the “swallow it and see what happens” experiment. Artificial sweeteners pose a threat to our health.
Aspartame is made up of aspartic acid and phenylalanine (both amino acids) and methanol (wood alcohol). Aspartic acid can pass the blood/brain barrier and act as an excitotoxin, causing the overstimulation and death of neurons. For individuals who ingest too much phenylalanine, or have an inability to break it down, the side effects can include headaches, dizziness, seizures, and brain damage. Once aspartame enters the small intestine, the methanol is released and absorbed into the body. Methanol is then broken down into formaldehyde (embalming fluid, the kind found in the jars where frogs are kept before dissection) and formic acid, which is the toxin from the sting of red ants. Methanol toxicity can cause dizziness, vision problems and blindness, headaches, nausea and gastrointestinal disorders, weakness, fatigue, memory loss, and behavioral problems.
Another popular artificial sweetener is sucralose, a chemical made by adding chlorine atoms to sucrose. The chlorocarbons that make up sucralose have a similar structure to that of pesticides. Is sucralose safe? Well, as of 2006, only six human trials on Splenda had been published; most of the studies on Splenda were done on animals. Although the health problems in animals were significant, the Splenda researchers downplayed the adverse health effects in the animals to make sucralose appear safe rather than making sure people weren’t harmed.
Toxins in the Environment
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are chemicals that persist in the environment, get into the food chain, and end up accumulating in human fat tissue. POPs contribute to the development of disease and hinder your ability to rebuild from your health crisis. They include:
It’s a well-known fact that pesticides and herbicides are sprayed on our produce. PCBs are found in the soil and water supply, along with dioxins, BPAs, and phthalates from plastic household products. POPs have been shown to damage cellular DNA, destroy the immune system, promote tumor growth, and make cancers more aggressive. These chemicals are also commonly referred to as endocrine disruptors; they interfere with the hormonal system and thus produce adverse reproductive, developmental, neurological, and metabolic effects.
Growing evidence published in Environmental Health Perspectives has recently linked type 2 diabetes with DDT and PCB. Researchers found that these POPs impaired glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity and increased abdominal obesity, which led to high blood sugar and a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. These toxins are also known carcinogens. Research published in the American Journal of Epidemiology and Advances in Breast Cancer Research found that these chemicals acted as weak estrogen, which made cancers of the breast and prostate more aggressive.
Another important way toxins cause cancer is the attachment of the chemical to a cell’s DNA; this is called a DNA adduct. DNA adducts can cause mutations, interfere with DNA repair, and damage genes responsible for regulating cell growth and proliferation—all necessary steps in the development of cancer. Research found in the journal Carcinogenesis reveals that pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals, chemicals from cigarette smoke, and the chemicals from processed foods all act on DNA. The chemotherapeutic agents cyclophosphamide and cisplatin are also known DNA adducts that have been shown to cause secondary cancers. The toxic compounds found in cigarette smoke damage the DNA-repair gene p53, which, in addition to repairing genetic damage, is the gene responsible for activating a cell’s self-destruct mechanism (apoptosis) when the genetic damage is too extensive.
Obesity is now a global problem, not only for individuals but also for the health care system and the economy. High-calorie, nutrient-poor foods, combined with a lack of physical activity, are the major causes of this pandemic. However, recent findings published in the journals Endocrinology and Environmental Health Perspectives have found a third culprit behind the obesity issue. They report that endocrine disruptors like DDT, BPA, PCB, and organotins (metallic compounds containing lead, tin, and mercury) can increase the number and size of fat cells and alter the hormones involved in appetite, satiety, and food preferences. In combination with processed foods and physical inactivity, these obesogens (chemicals that make more fat) are becoming a major factor in the development of obesity.
Toxicity has also been linked to infertility, neurological disorders, attention deficit disorder, and other learning challenges.
Detoxification
Toxicity, your body’s response to a toxin, depends on the built-in detoxification system found in the liver. Efficient detoxification depends on a series of reactions that bind toxins to specific molecules to escort them out of the liver and into the gut for elimination. The liver’s detox system depends on specific amino acids and nutrients such as cysteine, selenium, and zinc derived from foods.
If your internal terrain has become toxic from years of processed foods, too much alcohol, and the overuse of prescription drugs, the liver’s detoxification system fails to do an efficient job at removing harmful substances. You have no way to protect yourself and rebuild quickly and effectively if you are exposed to toxins and unable to detoxify and discard them quickly. An overtaxed liver; nutrient deprivation (from nutrient-deficient foods); and the constant exposure to toxic chemicals in our foods, air, and water can create serious disease.
Enter glutathione. Glutathione is one of the most important antioxidants in the body. It is needed for the detoxification of toxins, including heavy metals. Found in every cell of the body, glutathione protects our cells from free radical damage by recycling the other antioxidants, including vitamin C and vitamin E. Formed from the amino acids glutamic acid and cysteine, glutathione is the major ingredient the liver needs to break down and eliminate toxins from food and the environment. Glutathione owes much of its strength to the amino acid cysteine. Cysteine is rich in sulfur, which is abundant in eggs, garlic, and onion. These foods and cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, kale, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage) help restock glutathione levels.
Glutathione doesn’t come in a pill; it is created by nutrients found in different food sources. This is another reason to eat a variety of whole foods that provide the basic ingredients for proper function, including detoxification. Nutraceuticals, including N-acetylcysteine, niacin, alpha-lipoic acid, and CoQ10, can also help replenish glutathione stores, thus improving your detoxification so you can rebuild from a health crisis and prevent its return.
Summary
In order to rebuild from disease and prevent recurrence, you have to eliminate processed foods that contain additives, preservatives, refined grains, dairy, and sugar, as well as reduce your exposure to the POPs found in everyday products, including plastic bottles, metal food cans, detergents, flame-retardants, food, toys, cosmetics, and pesticides.
To help reduce the burden of toxins that you ingest, as well as their potential health risks, you have to become a modern-day hunter-gatherer and forage for natural foods, grass-fed meats, and fish that don’t contain high levels of mercury. Consider buying organic produce from your local farmers’ market and farm stands. Aslo, clean your produce with a vegetable and fruit wash. You may also want to look for household products that are free of BPA, phthalate, and dioxins. These chemicals are hazardous not just to bugs—they pose a real threat to us.