Are Toxins Main Drivers of Chronic Disease?

Conventional wisdom tells us don't smoke and keep alcohol consumption to moderate levels in order to stay healthy. But now a shift is occurring from these "active determinants of health" to passive determinants, according to Dr. Joseph Pizzorno, leader in the field of integrative medicine and founding member of the Washington State-based alternative medicine university Bastyr.

"The research is very clear—huge, huge, strong correlations between toxic load and most of your autoimmune diseases," Dr. Pizzorno points out.  "I would assert that about 90% of the diabetes epidemic is due entirely to environmental toxins."

While diabetes is often linked to sugar consumption, and obesity is a factor in that disease, sugar does not appear to be the sole factor responsible for the epidemic. Exposure to manmade and natural chemicals—including phthalates, PCBs, and arsenic—is believed to play a role. Studies have shown that obese people with low levels of environmental exposure do not necessarily have an increased risk for diabetes.

Laboratory testing to measure exposure and identify metals and toxic chemicals can be difficult and expensive. Dr. Pizzorno recommends avoiding exposure wherever possible.  For example, a primary source of PCB exposure is farmed fish. He estimates that about 20% of rheumatoid arthritis cases are due to PCBs. Cadmium, mercury, and lead exposure are also linked to chronic disease.

The human body is known to be highly adaptable. Eating a rainbow of foods that are rich in nutrients, and not contaminated, is sound advice.  Additionally, vitamin C may increase excretion of toxins and toxicants.  Dr. Pizzorno stresses a simple way to reduce your body's toxic load: "If nothing else, you must get fiber into people."