These days, toxins are everywhere. They’re in our water, our food, and the air we breathe. We even absorb them from the household cleaning products that we use on a daily basis.
And that’s the problem.
These toxins are harming people. Autoimmune diseases have been increasing each year, and research is now showing that environmental toxins are one of the leading causes.
Recent research out of the Mayo Clinic discovered that more than 14 million Americans suffer from at least one autoimmune disease. When families in Memphis or elsewhere are impacted by toxic exposure leading to severe health issues, partnering with knowledgeable lawyers in Memphis can help them understand their rights and determine what legal action they can take to pursue compensation.
But there is good news.
When you understand how these toxins affect your body, you can take steps to limit your exposure. Let’s dive in.
What You’ll Learn:
- What Are Environmental Toxins?
- How Do Toxins Cause Autoimmune Disease?
- Most Dangerous Autoimmune Disease-Linked Toxins
- Reduce Your Exposure to Environmental Toxins
What Are Environmental Toxins?
Environmental toxins are chemical compounds that come from agricultural, industrial and daily use sources. Heavy metals, pesticides, solvents and hormone-disrupting chemicals are all considered environmental toxins.
Humans are exposed to them everyday through tap water, household cleaning products, processed foods and more. Mercury, aluminium, dioxin, pesticides and asbestos have all been linked to autoimmune disease in both laboratory animals and human clinical studies.
You may think this isn’t possible because most people aren’t JUST eating aluminum cooked food all day. But consider this…
You’re likely being exposed to multiple toxins at once.
Whether it’s through drinking contaminated water, munching on packaged snacks or breathing polluted air as you commute to work, your body is constantly filtering out toxins. That’s why researchers believe it’s the buildup of toxins from years of exposure that leads to disease.
How Do Toxins Cause Autoimmune Disease?
When toxic chemicals enter your body, they can overload your system and trigger autoimmune disease. Studies show that environmental factors have the ability to “turn on” autoimmune diseases in genetically susceptible individuals.
Here’s how environmental toxins can lead to autoimmune disease:
- Toxins bind to immune receptors which dysregulates the entire system. They cause your body to attack its own tissues.
- Environmental toxins can also destroy your gut lining (aka. leaky gut). They weaken your intestinal walls allowing food particles to escape into your bloodstream. Your immune system sees them as invaders and launches an attack.
- Exposure to toxins can change your genetics without changing your DNA. This is known as epigenetics. When this occurs, certain autoimmune disease genes can be switched on.
- Toxic chemicals deplete your body of antioxidants which causes inflammation. When your antioxidant levels are low (think: glutathione), your body starts attacking itself.
It’s true that genetics play a role in developing autoimmune diseases. But researchers now believe that toxins and pollutants in the environment are responsible for flipping the switch.
Think about it…
Your genes load the gun. Toxins pull the trigger.
Most Dangerous Autoimmune Disease-Linked Toxins
Believe it or not, some toxins are more dangerous than others.
Here are the toxins that have been linked to autoimmune disease:
Heavy Metals
Mercury, lead, cadmium and aluminium have all been shown to trigger autoimmune disease in research studies. Heavy metals cause your immune system to attack healthy cells by binding to proteins in your body. Your body sees them as invaders and tries to fight them off.
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
POPs are man-made pollutants that don’t break down easily. Dioxins, pesticides and industrial chemicals are a few examples of POPs.
Since they accumulate in your fat tissue, they can disrupt your immune system for years to come.
Research even shows that POPs increase your risk of testing positive for antinuclear antibodies. High levels of ANA are common in autoimmune disease patients.
Solvents
Trichloroethylene is an industrial solvent many companies use to clean their supplies. Studies link dry cleaning solvents to autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.
Air Pollution
If you thought air pollution was only bad for your lungs, think again.
Researchers conducted a study with over 81,000 Italians to determine the effects air pollution has on autoimmune disease.
They discovered there was a “dose-dependent relationship” between airborne particles and autoimmune disease. In other words, the more exposure you have, the higher risk you have of developing an autoimmune disease.
Endocrine Disruptors
Endocrine disrupting chemicals interfere with your hormones. BPA, plastics and lawn chemicals are a few everyday items that can cause your hormones to become imbalanced.
Autoimmune diseases affect more women than men. So when you throw hormones into the mix, it can increase your likelihood of developing an autoimmune disease.
Reduce Your Exposure to Environmental Toxins
While you can never completely avoid toxins, there are steps you can take to lower your exposure.
Here are a few things you can start doing today:
- Filter your drinking water. This is one of the easiest ways to reduce toxins. Not only will you be reducing your risk for autoimmune disease, but you’ll also be providing your body with cleaner water to absorb.
- Eat organic when possible. Eating organic will help you avoid ingesting pesticides and herbicides. Focus on the “dirty dozen” first.
- Limit your exposure to polluted air. Buy an air purifier and stick to natural cleaners when you deep clean your home. Air pollution isn’t just outside. The air inside your home can be more polluted than the air outside.
- Don’t store your food in plastic containers. Make the switch to glass or stainless steel food storage containers. And don’t heat your food in plastic.
- Read labels on personal care products. Most skincare and haircare products are loaded with endocrine disrupting chemicals. Opt for paraben-free products and stay away from anything with synthetic fragrances.
Final Thoughts on Autoimmune Disease and Environmental Toxins
There’s no doubt about it. Environmental toxins play a huge role in autoimmune disease.
Due to years of built up toxins, the immune system doesn’t function properly. People are eating cleaner, moving their bodies and seeking mental wellness. But if the root cause of disease (toxins) isn’t addressed, the desired outcomes will never be achieved.
Remember…
You can live a toxin-free life. Start by reducing yours today.
