Toxins - Everyday Exposure

What if that increasing waistline isn’t just about what we’re eating? What if our waistlines are expanding in response to exposure to everyday toxins? Visceral fat forms in response to chronic inflammation. Its function is to protect our body. Its presence around the liver, where toxins are metabolised, is a sign that the body has been overwhelmed, and this is not just about sugars and carbs. Visceral fat is an angry mess of inflammation and fat-soluble toxins.

This might explain why weight loss often plateaus. It is biologically plausible that the body would be reluctant to let go of visceral fat that is performing a vital function – detoxing the body.

Although it’s not possible to eliminate toxins, it is totally possible to reduce unnecessary, repeated daily exposure to potentially harmful chemicals when simple low-cost solutions are available. This was an important part of my journey to better health.

Below I have listed ten categories of toxins in our everyday life.

To find your self-test score out of ten, give yourself a point for every category you could do something further about. A score of 10 represents a 10/10 opportunity to reduce your everyday exposure to toxins.

1. Micro and nano plastics. These are found in our food, food packaging, drinking water, clothing, teabags, disposable cups and kitchen equipment. Many plastic particles are small enough to get into our body tissues. A 2024 study found plastic particles in carotid artery plaques in some patients. Those patients then had a higher incidence of cardiovascular events.

2.Scents. Most scents in cosmetics, cleaning products, personal hygiene products, candles, and air fresheners are harmful. Many are associated with cancer. The science is there, yet we are listening to marketing, peer pressure and social media instead.

3. Flame retardants in furniture, electronics and residential building materials. These accumulate in household dust.

4. Residues in our food. Chemicals used to prolong storage of grains used in bread, or reduce production losses due to insects and mycotoxins.

5. Additives in our food. One example of many is emulsifiers, which enable fat- and water-soluble chemicals to mix, and can damage the integrity of the gut lining, causing leaky gut.

6.Seed oils. For example, Canola oil. These are high in less desirable Omega-6s; they are refined in a chemical refinery, and when found in processed foods, they are often associated with even more harmful trans-fats.

7.Diesel and petrol fumes.

8.Household and other dust. “Obesogens” act like a hormone in the human body, as even a tiny amount can influence body systems, causing obesity, thyroid and other endocrine dysfunction.

9. Advanced Glycation End-products (AGEs). These are found in the crispy parts of food cooked at high temperatures. Higher-risk methods of cooking include BBQ, deep frying, air-frying – due to the high temperatures involved.

10.Teflon – the black non-stick coating on fry pans and cooking utensils.

Actions You Can Take

1.Knowledge is power. Your first One Percent Step is to educate yourself, which you can do while lying flat on your back by following these scientists on YouTube:

Dr Yvonne Burkart, PhD, is an environmental toxicologist with a research background in reproductive toxicology and endocrinology and former experience as a senior toxicologist in the flavour and fragrance industry. Watch her here: Dr Yvonne Burkart:

Dr. Leonardo Trasande MD, MPP is a professor in pediatrics, environmental medicine, and population health.

Watch Dr Trasande here, explaining how nano and microplastics are partially responsible for diabetes, cancer, obesity, heart disease, infertility and thyroid problems.

2.Have a look at my blog post titled “Reduce Your Toxin Exposure - One Percent Steps.” A lot can be achieved by changing the way you shop - what you buy.

3. Learn how to fast. Start with Time Restricted Eating, and progress to longer fasts (while working together with your health professionals). In general, the further you can progress the age-old skill of fasting, the healthier you will become. I can feel my body, my mind, and my spirit all breathing a massive sigh of relief when I fast! I am sure (and it is biologically plausible) that a large part of this effect is from detoxing. My skin clears, my joints no longer ache, my mind clears, and that stubborn retained fluid was never seen again.

You would be wise not to overlook this easy opportunity to improve your health.