A new review from the University of Illinois at Chicago demonstrated that chemicals and plastics commonly used in homes could significantly increase your risk of Type II diabetes.
For this study, the researchers looked specifically at the effects of exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). They analyzed data from 27 prospective studies conducted between 1996 and 2016 that linked EDC exposure and Type II diabetes risk.
Several common EDCs stood out…
Numerous studies found that exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) doubles the risk of Type II diabetes. Of course, the government banned PCBs in 1977. But they still persist in the environment as well as in dairy, fish and meat products.
Other studies linked exposure to organochlorine (OC) pesticides to double the Type II diabetes risk. Again, the government banned these pesticides, for the most part, in the 1970s. But, again, they are still found in dairy, fish, and meat products.
The analysis found evidence linking Type II diabetes to several other types of EDCs, including:
• Traffic-related air pollutants
• Bisphenol A (BPA), a synthetic chemical found in plastic consumer products
• Phthalates, chemicals used in food packaging, building materials, pharmaceuticals, toys, and personal care products like deodorant, hairspray and perfume
Researchers suggested that people who live in areas with fewer green spaces, greater exposure to industrial and air pollution, and limited access to healthy food sources run a greater risk.
They also provided seven suggestions to lower your risk of exposures:
1. Wash fruits and vegetables, or use organic foods.
2. Replace fluorescent light bulbs (which includes the twisted, compact, dim fluorescent bulbs once required by the government).
3. Wash hands often, especially before eating.
4. Avoid plastic containers with #3 or #7 printed on the bottom.
5. Use glass and ceramic containers for food preparation and storage.
6. Use non-plastic materials for flooring, medical equipment, shower curtains, and toys whenever possible.
7. Avoid all synthetic chemicals in personal care products and perfumes.
Another common consumer product linked to Type II diabetes
In another new study, researchers found a link between mouthwash and Type II diabetes risk. In fact, men and women who use mouthwash two or more times a day have a three-times greater risk of developing pre-diabetes and Type II diabetes compared to non-users.
That finding probably surprised many — both inside and outside the medical world. But it makes perfect sense to me, as antiseptic mouthwashes kill bacteria in the mouth, the entry to the GI tract.
Indeed, more and more science confirms the importance of the healthy bacteria found naturally in your microbiome. (Your microbiome is the environment of natural, healthy bacteria in your GI tract, which runs from your mouth to your rectum.)
And a healthy microbiome helps prevent any number of chronic diseases, including Type II diabetes. In fact, research shows that the Type II diabetes drug metformin actually works by influencing healthy bacteria in the GI tract to metabolize sugar and carbs before they ever enter the bloodstream. (Metformin derives from an ancient European herbal remedy called French lilac, so that finding didn’t surprise me either!)
Of course, while these chemicals undoubtedly contribute to disease risk, ultimately, sugar and carb consumption is the No. 1 underlying cause of Type II diabetes, heart disease and a host of other chronic diseases. And other, new research demonstrates the Warburg Effect that excess sugar causes cancer too. (Refer to the January 2018 issue of my Insiders’ Cures newsletter for more details about this 70-year-old theory just now gaining traction. Simply use your username and password to login to the Subscriber Sign-In via www.DrMicozzi.com. Not yet a newsletter subscriber? Sign up here.)
To learn about all the natural steps you can take to reverse and prevent Type II diabetes, be on the lookout for my brand-new protocol, Dr. Micozzi’s Integrative Protocol for Defeating Diabetes, set for release later this month. Stay tuned here for more!
Source:
“Disparities in Environmental Exposures to Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals and Diabetes Risk in Vulnerable Populations,” Diabetes Care. 2018 Jan;41(1):193-205