Should
Toxin Exposure Be a Part of Preventative Screening?
By Veena Verma-Dzik, ND, FIAMA
chemicals are found in numerous places; in food, water, cookware, cleaners, pesticides, furniture, cosmetic products, implants and more. We are even exposed to chemicals that are found in the air and in common household dust. Many of these chemicals are non-degradable and persist in the environment, bioaccumulating in people, and consequently impose numer- ous health consequences.
D
Results of Toxin Exposure There are many toxic metals, some of
which include cadmium, mercury, man- ganese, and nickel to name a few. When exposed to heavy metals, free radicals are produced causing oxidative stress. If our bodies are unable to properly bind and detoxify these chemicals, they accumu- late throughout the body, the damage worsens, and normal health processes
34 Natural Nutmeg - March/April 2021
id you know that there are thou- sands of manufactured chemi- cals in the United States? These
within our cells begin to malfunction. Our intracellular antioxidants become depleted, and damage to lipids, proteins, and DNA occurs.
Almost all heavy metals are endocrine disruptors or carcinogens. The carcinogen- ic effect is linked to the damage caused to our DNA and chromosomal abnormali- ties. According to the World Health Or- ganization, there are approximately 800 chemicals capable of disrupting hormone receptors, synthesis or conversion.
The Endocrine System Let’s do a quick overview of the endo-
crine system. The endocrine system is com- prised of numerous glands, some of which include your adrenal, pituitary, and thyroid glands and the hormones associated with them. Making up your endocrine system are the male and female sex glands, and thus, sex hormones, estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. Not to mention, there are over 50 hormones and hormone-related molecules, such as neurotransmitters. With
all of these complex mechanisms, your endocrine system is responsible for growth and development, metabolism, appetite, the sleep-wake cycle, reproduction and regulating the release of hormones.
Endocrine Disruptors
Endocrine disruptors are chemi- cals that mimic the hormones our bod- ies make. To put it simply, they bind to hormone receptors within our bodies and alter hormone synthesis, transport, binding and metabolism. By doing this, they ad- versely affect development and reproduc- tion. With regard to estrogenic endocrine disruptors, these are of signifi cant health concern due to their ability to increase hormone-dependent cancers.
Not only are there endocrine disrup- tors, but neuroendocrine disruptors also exist. Because the endocrine system and brain work hand in hand, the neurological system is vulnerable to toxin exposure and damage, leading to negative impacts on
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