Fluoride is everywhere. Most are not aware that this is a part of everyday life in some places. The claim is that we need Fluoride and must have it to ensure a better quality of life. Fluoride is actually toxic and if consumed over long periods of time can be quite harmful and create adverse reactions in both children and adults. Most municipalities include fluoridation as part of the water treatment process. This is something that was once done on a global scale, but has now become most heavily prevalent in the United States. There are also many products in the market that contain fluoride that we may still not be aware of. Fluoride is more toxic than lead, but slightly less toxic than arsenic.
Fluoridation is a process regulated by water management and treatment facilities to be made available to the public population. It is also included in the production of toothpaste as safe for consumption and marketed as a tool used in combating tooth decay. The concern is whether there is acute toxicity (a dose that can cause immediate toxic consequences) or chronic toxicity (a dose consumed over long timeframe with adverse effects). Fluoride has slowly crept into the mainstream market for food and food products. Here are some areas to be aware of when purchasing for our households.
Processed Food and/or Drinks: Many are still exposed to fluoridated drinking water. This is because once fluoride is added in large numbers to water it can end up in almost all processed beverages and foods. In the U.S., studies have shown that sodas, juices, sports drinks, beers, and many other processed foods, including infant foods, now have elevated fluoride levels. (We recommend only spring water, 100% natural not from concentrate juices and food with only minimal if any processing.)
Toothpaste: Many dental products now contain fluoride, including about 95% of toothpaste. Studies show that a significant number of children swallow more fluoride from toothpaste alone than is recommended as a total daily ingestion. (We only brush with Non-Fluoride toothpaste, which is sold at common grocery retailers.)
Pesticides: Due its toxicity, fluoride is used in some pesticides to kill insects and other pests. As a result of fluoride pesticide use, some food products like grape products, dried fruit, dried beans, cocoa powder, and walnuts all have high levels of fluoride. (Benefit of organic food is that they cannot use this deadly concoction on their crops and be considered Organically grown.)
Mechanically Deboned Meat: Foods made with mechanically separated meat (i.e. chicken fingers, nuggets, popcorn chicken etc), contain elevated levels of fluoride due to the contamination from bone particles that occurs during the mechanical deboning processing. (Simply not worth the convenience many find in "boneless" meat products.)
Fluorinated Pharmacueticals: Many pharmaceuticals are fluorinated, meaning they contain a carbon-fluorine bond. Although the carbon-fluoride bond in most drugs is strong enough to resist breaking down into fluoride within the body, this is not always the case as research has found that some fluorinated drugs, including cipro, do break down into fluoride.
The good news is that most fresh foods and fresh water contain very little fluoride. We are exposed to very little fluoride when drinking spring water and eating unprocessed fruit, vegetables, grains, eggs, milk, and meat. While there are some exceptions to this rule (e.g., seafood, some tea, water from deep wells, and fruit/vegetables sprayed with fluoride pesticides), it is a good rule of thumb to go by if you wish to reduce your fluoride exposure. We encourage choosing natural or organic fruits and vegetables since the US National Organic Program does not permit the use of the pesticides that leave high fluoride residues.
Forego Fluoride
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