The Role of Environmental Toxins Play in Developing Obesity and Diabetes

Two thirds of the American population is overweight. One third of those overweight are obese and 5% of them are morbidly obese. 25% of all children are obese. It is estimated that by the year 2230, America will have reached the landmark of having 100% obesity. Something is terribly wrong in America.

The long held belief that unwanted weight gain is simply a matter of calories in versus calories out is coming under substantial review and analysis. As it should because if it was a matter of simply burning more calories daily than we put in, it is inconceivable that America would be in the shape that the statistics above indicate we are.

There is no question that our lifestyles, including poor quality food choices, low fiber, low phytonutrient, high glycemic, high stress and low physical activity contribute significantly to the current epidemics of obesity and diabetes. In fact a new, “diabesity” has been coined to reflect the growing occurrence of these two modern day plagues. However, mounting scientific evidence points to a much unheralded contributing source of the problem: the increasing burden of environmental toxins, including pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals, PCB’s, phthalates, plastics, petrochemicals, etc.

Environmental toxins interfere with the regulation of glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride metabolism and induce insulin resistance in a number of ways including, altered adrenal and thyroid function, impairment of appetite control mechanisms, inflammation, mitochondrial injury and oxidative stress.

The most recent and perhaps most startling example of how toxic exposure induces obesity is the dramatic increase in obesity in babies. The Harvard School of Public Health in 2006, published a report stating that rates of obesity in infants less than six months old had risen by 73% since 1980. Furthermore, the article reports that the recent epidemic of obesity in six months old is not related to diet or lack of exercise, since babies live on breast milk and/or formula and do not exercise.

Evidence suggests that infants’ bodies contain a high load of environmental toxins. Exposure to trace amounts of environmental toxins may be a hidden trigger for the onset of obesity. The average newborn has 287 chemicals in the umbilical cord blood, of which 217 are considered neurotoxic. The chemicals that infants are exposed to are the same ones that their mother’s are exposed to since they are being shared through the umbilical cord. They include, bisphenol A, flame retardants, heavy metals such as arsenic, lead and mercury, insecticides, pesticides and phthalates. These chemicals induce a variety of negative effects on systems within the human body which include being carcinogenic, neurotoxic and obesogenic.

Toxins such as persistent organic pollutants (POP’s), found in pesticides, pharmaceuticals, polyvinyl chloride and solvents, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB’s), found in flame retardants, hydraulic fluid, paints, sealants, caulking, adhesives and carbonless copy paper and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE’s), found in building material, electronics, airplanes, plastics, polyurethane foams and textiles have been linked to both obesity and diabetes.

It has been demonstrated that these toxins induce insulin resistance, increase glucose (blood sugar), cholesterol and fatty liver.

Most importantly, new research shows that weight gain can happen even when there is no increase in calorie intake. In one study, test rats that were given toxic chemicals but kept otherwise on a normal calorie intake and exercise regime showed significant weight gain. In six months, these rats were 20% heavier and had gained 36% more body fat than control rats who had not been exposed to those toxic chemicals.

The danger of environmental toxicity is being recognized on a national level. Recently, the National Institute of Health, the US Food and Drug Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Academy of Sciences met to explore this new phenomenon of obesogens – toxins that cause obesity.

While recognizing this new threat on a national level is critical, we as individuals must take action on an individual and community wide basis. What can we do to protect ourselves and our families from the new epidemic of environmental toxin induced obesity and diabetes.

Firstly, we must remove the toxins from the immediate environment of our homes and workplaces. We must “green” our homes by adopting non-toxic alternatives to household cleaners, soap, window cleaners, laundry detergents, dishwashing liquids, furniture polishes, etc. This change must include personal care products like toothpaste, mouthwash, hair shampoo, cream rinse, makeup, hair sprays, etc.

This change must follow us into our workplaces as well. Become aware of the chemicals used to clean bathrooms, windows, carpets, walls, etc and alert your coworkers and supervisors to the dangers inherent in using commercial toxic chemicals for these purposes. The more discussion that is generated, the more the consciousness of all will be effected for the better.

Just think for a moment what is was like when people started demanding organic food choices. Initially, supermarket chains were slow to respond and all that was available were small health food stores. Now, years later every major supermarket has a “health food” area, some have even opened their own health food store chains and large health food chains have moved into our communities. Choices abound now and prices have become more competitive.

Secondly, we can regularly participate in comprehensive nutritional detoxification programs for ourselves and our loved ones. Under the guidance of a skilled clinical nutritionist/nutritional health care practitioner who uses a “medical foods” approach to detoxification, plan out a program to help detoxify the major organs that are responsible for detoxification in your body. These organs include the liver, colon and kidneys.

Detoxification is an energy requiring process that puts a metabolic burden on the body, therefore the focus should be on increasing nutritional support by providing a nutrient dense, low allergenic combination of protein, fat and carbohydrate medical food. It is crucial not to diminish nutritional support while detoxifying as in the case of water or juice fasting which potentially can lead to increases in free radical formation and cellular damage.

Thirdly, use hyperthermic therapy in the form of far-infrared saunas to assist in detoxifying the body. Many cultures have for centuries used heat as a part of an overall wellness lifestyle. The Native American sweat lodge for example has long been used as a tool for physical, mental and spiritual purification. The Environmental Protection Agency has shown that sauna therapy increases the excretion of fat soluble toxins and heavy metals. Far infrared saunas are particularly effective for removing toxins because the heat from them penetrates deeper in the body.