Toxins & Inflammation: The Dangerous Link You Need to Know
How Environmental Toxins Trigger Inflammation
Written by Roxane Shymkiw
In our modern world, we are exposed to toxins constantly in our daily environment. Over time, they can accumulate in the body and have a profound impact on our health. Exposure to these toxins is one of the key contributing factors to chronic inflammation in the body. Although inflammation is a natural response in the body to injury and infection as a way of healing damaged tissue and fighting off pathogens, when the body does not switch off the inflammatory response, this chronic inflammation can lead to long term health issues in digestive, skin, and mental health and play a role in the development of autoimmune diseases. The symptoms of chronic inflammation can be as subtle as fatigue, bloating, skin conditions like eczema, joint pain, and brain fog.
What are environmental toxins?
Environmental toxins are substances we are regularly exposed to in our food, water and the air that we breathe. These toxins are also found in conventional household cleaning products, personal care items, and the materials used to build and furnish our homes and workplaces.
Some common environmental toxins include:
Pesticides and herbicides
Chlorine in our water
Endocrine disrupters (BPAs, phthalates, and parabens)
Chemical cleaning products
Toxic mould in damp environments
Heavy metals (mercury, lead, cadmium)
How do these toxins trigger inflammation?
Environmental toxins activate the immune system and trigger an inflammatory response. Constant exposure can lead to overstimulation of the immune system and lead to chronic inflammation. These toxins can also increase the production of free radicals in the body, damaging cells and tissues, which triggers inflammation as the body tries to repair itself.
Environmental toxins can disrupt the balance between good and bad bacteria in the gut, leading to an overgrowth of harmful bacteria and damage to the lining of the gut, making it more permeable to toxins to enter the bloodstream. The body responds with an inflammatory response to these foreign particles.
Endocrine disruptors such as BPA and phthalates can interfere with the normal functioning of our hormones by blocking or mimicking the actions of our hormones. This hormone imbalance is linked to chronic inflammation and a factor in fertility and reproductive issues, thyroid dysfunction, metabolism issues, and autoimmune conditions.
If the body cannot keep up with the removal of these toxins through the liver, kidneys, skin, and lungs, it will build up in our systems and the body can become overloaded, triggering inflammation.
How can we reduce our exposure to toxins and reduce inflammation?
Eat clean whole foods: Whenever possible, choose organic and non-GMO foods. Check out the EWG’s Clean 15 and Dirty Dozen lists to see which conventional produce has the highest levels of pesticides. Wash your produce thoroughly and eat a variety of colourful fruits and vegetables, as their antioxidant properties help combat inflammation.
Support gut health: A healthy gut is essential for lowering chronic inflammation. Eat plenty of prebiotic and probiotic foods to strengthen and support the gut wall integrity. Avoid or minimize highly processed foods as they contribute to the growth of harmful bacteria.
Detoxify naturally: Stay hydrated, eat fibre-rich foods, and support liver function with cruciferous vegetables to help eliminate toxins. Dry brushing and exercise also improve detoxification by promoting circulation and lymphatic drainage.
Switch to nontoxic products: Check out the EFW Guide to Healthy Cleaning and the Skin Deep database to find the cleanest products. Replace conventional household cleaning solutions, personal care products, like makeup and lotions, and plastic containers with more natural options and glass.
Reduce air pollution exposure: If you live in an area with high levels of air pollution, consider using a HEPA air purifier in the house. Open windows for fresh air to remove any household off-gassing from items such as carpet, furniture, or mattresses and use plants to purify the air in your house.
Manage stress: Stress can lead to and exacerbate chronic inflammation. Incorporate stress reducing activities such as yoga, deep breathing, or meditation to help lower inflammation.
Start by removing one or two toxins that you encounter every day and work up to replacing items such as household cleaners when you finish the product you currently have. Small intentional changes can have a great impact over time.
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References:
The Endocrine Disruptor Bisphenol A (BPA) Exerts a Wide Range of Effects in Carcinogenesis and Response to Therapy. Hafezi S.A., Abdel-Rahman W. M.; Curr Mol Pharmacol. 2019 Aug;12(3):230–238. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6864600/
Effectiveness of Different Washing Strategies on Pesticide Residue Removal: The First Comparative Study on Leafy Vegetables. Yang S.J., Mun S., Kim H. J., et al.; Foods. 2022 Sep 19;11(18):2916. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36141043/
Literature review and meta-analysis of environmental toxins associated with increased risk of Parkinson's disease Aravindan A., Newell M. E., Halden R.U., Sci Total Environ. 2024 June 25; (931):172838. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38685425/
