Fluoride Conspiracy & Cyanotoxins in Green Drinks?
Separating facts from fiction? Or Finding the Truth in Conspiracy Theories.
Hi there,
I recently came across a conspiracy theory claiming that fluoride is added to the US water supply to "dumb down" the population. Like every good conspiracy theory, there is a kernel of truth contained in it. It's true that high levels of fluoride in groundwater have been linked to lower IQ levels in children.
However, the fluoride concentrations in municipal water supplies, which are intended to prevent cavities, are lower than those found to affect IQ. Studies that have observed fluoride's impact on IQ were primarily conducted in areas of China and India with high natural fluoride levels and agricultural runoff. Nuance is often missing in conversations today.
Nuance is often missing in conversations today.
For example, I recently read a Twitter thread that started with: "Cyanotoxins have been associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's disease), a fatal neurodegenerative disease. And Athletic Greens might be loaded with them." The Twitter thread, read by over 100K people, suggests that a popular green powdered supplement drink could be dangerous because certain cyanobacteria species produce toxins that may cause neurodegeneration. The thread cited research papers on cyanobacteria toxins and neurodegenerative diseases, and included a link to a study that found four out of 18 spirulina supplements tested had cyanotoxin levels exceeding Oregon Health Authority guidelines (you can read the study here).
So where does the truth lie? Are we all going to lose IQ points due to fluoridated water? Can green drinks with spirulina cause ALS?
I'll let you read the new article on fluoride (below) to get the context, nuances, and details on fluoride. Yes, fluoride is a toxin at higher levels with negative effects, and genetic variants matter as far as the level at which you are likley to notice the negative effects. I came away from reading the research with more concern about my tea consumption than water, but everyone needs to weigh their own risks and benefits.
As far as spirulina goes, the manufacturer of Athletic Greens did add context to the Twitter conversation by explaining that it is grown under controlled conditions and third-party tested for cyanotoxins. Additionally, numerous studies have demonstrated the positive benefits of spirulina, which has been consumed for centuries.[ref] Nuanced information is important. There are risks and benefits to all foods and supplements, which makes understanding and quantifying the risk something that takes a bit of individual thought and research. Moderation in everything?
Gratefully yours,
Debbie
New article!
Fluoride Detoxification Genes
Key takeaways:
~ Fluoride may help your teeth resist decay by increasing the resistance to acid produced by bacteria.
~ Too much fluoride is linked to skeletal and dental fluorosis, decreased IQ levels, and problems with thyroid hormone production.
~ Genetic variants impact your resilience to the negative effects of chronic fluoride consumption. Some people are more likely to be affected at lower levels, while others may not notice problems until fluoride exposure reaches higher levels.
~ There are many ways to reduce your exposure to systemic fluoride if you want to concentrate the fluoride on your teeth.
What I've been reading:
1. Mendelian randomization analyses reveal causal relationships between the human microbiome and longevity (Scientific Reports)
Mendelian randomization studies are a way of determining if an outcome is likely caused by something. In this case researchers were looking at the link between specific gut bacteria and longevity. Several recent studies have shown that there is a link between longevity and the gut microbiome. This new study brings in the link between genetics and the gut microbiome -- your genes (along with environmental exposure) influence which microbes flourish in your intestines. The study looked at the genes that impact gut microbes and found that they also are linked with longevity, thus showing a causality between gut microbes and aging.
PEA (Palmitoylethanolamide) and luteolin are anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective supplements. This study found that the combination of PEA and luteolin decreased Long Covid olfactory issues. The randomized, placebo controlled trial used an oral supplement with ultramicronized PEA-LUT 770 mg for three months.