We’ve all heard of fluoride – most commonly from our dentist. We are encouraged to use toothpaste that contains fluoride and it’s very common for children to receive fluoride treatments as they grow. Most of us also know that it’s in our drinking water; this mass medication through water systems, was considered safe, and was implemented around 1951 to help prevent tooth decay. It is even on the World Health Organization’s List of Essential Medicines needed in a basic healthcare system. Fluoride can also be found in our air, our soil, our food, … water, vitamins, medications, clothes, toys, carpets, furniture and non-stick cookware! WOW! We’re preventing tooth-decay in a big way! Good for us! Well, please read on. You may very well change your mind. How is it impacting our fertility?
What Is Fluoride?
There are 3 types of fluoride found in use today: (1)Sodium fluoride, (2)Sodium silicofluoride and (3)hydrofluorosilicic acid. However did you also know that fluoride is a waste product? Until recently, all fluoridation chemicals were obtained from the Phosphate fertilizer manufacturing and mining process in central Florida. Due to the lack of controlled processing, these chemicals are known to contain higher levels of certain contaminants, particularly arsenic. In recent years, an increasing number of water departments have begun purchasing their fluoride chemicals from China … where quality control leaves even more to be desired.
Is Fluoride Safe to Be Ingested?
As you may be beginning to understand, the problem comes because fluoride is not safe to be ingested. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) typically label sodium fluoride as “…toxic by ingestion, inhalation and skin contact” and that PPE (personal protection equipment) for handling should include safety glasses and gloves. Fluoride is not an essential nutrient. No disease, not even tooth decay, is caused by a “fluoride deficiency”. Not even one biological process has been shown to need fluoride; on the flip-side there is extensive evidence that fluoride can interfere with many.
Numerous studies have found that fluoride negatively impacts the male reproductive systems by:
decreasing testosterone levels
reducing sperm quantity
reducing sperm motility
altering sperm morphology
reducing capacity to breed
increasing oxidative stress
Of significant interest, in 1994, one researcher at the Food & Drug Administration that populations in the U.S. with more than 3 ppm fluoride in their water had lower ‘total fertility rates’ than populations with lower fluoride levels!
However, this is not the only population that stands to be harmed. Studies have shown that in women, fluoride is known to cause ectopic calcification the of arteries, which results in repeated miscarriages and still births. Fluoride toxicity is also linked to problems of hormonal imbalances, thyroid disorders (which are associated with increased risk of miscarriage, and reduced FSH), diabetes, neurological disorders, osteoporosis, arthritis, heart disease and cancer. There have even been studies done that have specifically linked fluoride exposure to reduced IQ in children and low birth weights.
What Can I Do?
Most developed countries have banned fluorides in their water. Europe is 98% fluoridation free! So, you can either move to Europe – OR – you can start by purchasing a good water filtration system for your family. Use that water for your daily ingestion, whether it be drinking or cooking. Get rid of the non-stick cookware – stainless steel or cast iron are good alternatives. In addition, avoid dental fluoride treatments, and switch to a fluoride-free toothpaste. Also, if you are currently on any of the following medications, I strongly urge you to work with a holistic doctor to transition safely off of any of the following fluoridated drugs:
Anesthetics
Antacids
Anti-anxiety
Antibiotics
Antidepressants
Anti-fungal antibiotics
Antihistamines
And most importantly, do your own research and make informed decisions about the products you buy.
Some of it is out of our control – but control what you can!
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Sarah Clark empowers couples to discover how lifestyle and diet can dramatically impact their chances of conceiving. She was diagnosed with premature ovarian failure at 28 and had both her kids with donor eggs. Not until years later did she discover that the root cause of her infertility was a food intolerance. Join the Free Fab Fertile Support Group on Facebook for mini-challenges, motivation and inspiration!
References:
- http://fluoridealert.org/articles/50-reasons/
- http://fluoridealert.org/studies/brain01/
- https://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation/factsheets/engineering/wfadditives.htm
- http://fluoridealert.org/issues/water/fluoridation-chemicals/
- http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/154164.php
- http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/how-safe-is-fluoride/
- http://www.theessentialconnection.net/pdfs/Infertility-Connection.pdf
- http://isthmuswellness.com/conditions/causes-of-infertility/getting-pregnant-with-holistic-support/fluoride-and-infertility/
