Dr. Mercola – Green Lifestyle Market

20% of Water Pollution Is From Your Clothing

STORY AT-A-GLANCE

The dyeing and treatment of textiles uses many dangerous chemicals, such that these processes are said to contribute 20% of industrial water pollution globally
Millions of gallons of toxic effluent are discharged from textile mills, often at high temperatures and pH, which in and of themselves are damaging
Combined with the chemicals, the wastewater can contaminate drinking water and soil and even deplete the water of oxygen, harming marine life
Some of the heavy metals used in dyes are known to cause cancer and accumulate in crops and fish via contaminated water and soil
Chronic exposure to dye chemicals has also been linked to cancer and hormone disruption in animals and humans
When shopping for clothing, make sure it’s organic, biodynamic and/or GOTS-certified, and opt out of fast fashion’s “throwaway” clothing mindset

The clothes on your back probably don’t come to mind when you think about the biggest polluters on the planet, but the clothing industry is a toxic one, nearing the top of the list. Along with being a water-intensive industry, the dyeing and treatment of textiles use many dangerous chemicals, such that these processes are said to contribute 20% of industrial water pollution globally.¹

As noted by Rita Kant of the University Institute of Fashion Technology at Panjab University in India, color is a major reason why people choose to buy certain articles of clothing. “No matter how excellent its constitution, if unsuitably colored it is bound to be a failure as a commercial fabric.”²

While there are ways to dye clothing that are safe and do not harm the environment, the majority of textile dyes are toxic for virtually all forms of life.

Recommended: How to Eliminate IBS, IBD, Leaky Gut

Why Textile Dyes Are so Dangerous

When clothing is dyed, about 80% of the chemicals stay on the fabric, while the rest go down the drain.³ Problems exist not only with the dyes themselves but also with the chemicals used to fix or set the colors onto the fabrics. According to Kant:⁴

“The textile dyeing and finishing industry has created a huge pollution problem as it is one of the most chemically intensive industries on earth, and the No. 1 polluter of clean water (after agriculture). More than 3600 individual textile dyes are being manufactured by the industry today.

The industry is using more than 8000 chemicals in various processes of textile manufacture including dyeing and printing … Many of these chemicals are poisonous and dam- aging to human health directly or indirectly.”

Examples of some of the toxic chemicals used to dye textiles include the following:⁵

Sulphur	Naphthol
Vat dyes	Nitrates
Acetic acid	Heavy metals, including copper, arsenic, lead, cadmium, mercury, nickel and cobalt
Formaldehyde-based dye fixing agents	Chlorinated stain removers
Hydrocarbon based softeners	Nonbiodegradable dyeing chemicals

Toxic Dye Chemicals Lead to Water Pollution

Millions of gallons of toxic effluent are discharged from textile mills, often at high temperature and pH, which in and of themselves are damaging. Combined with the chemicals, the wastewater can contaminate drinking water and soil and even deplete the water of oxygen, harming marine life. Kant explained:⁶

“It [mill effluent] prevents the penetration of sunlight necessary for the process of photosynthesis. This interferes with the oxygen transfer mechanism at air water interface. Depletion of dissolved oxygen in water is the most serious effect of textile waste as dissolved oxygen is very essential for marine life.

This also hinders with self purification process of water. In addition when this effluent is allowed to flow in the fields it clogs the pores of the soil resulting in loss of soil productivity. The texture of soil gets hardened and penetration of roots is prevented.

The waste water that flows in the drains corrodes and incrustates the sewerage pipes. If allowed to flow in drains and rivers it effects the quality of drinking water in hand pumps making it unfit for human consumption. It also leads to leakage in drains increasing their maintenance cost. Such polluted water can be a breeding ground for bacteria and viruses.”

Some of the heavy metals used in dyes are known to cause cancer and accumulate in crops and fish via contaminated water and soil. Chronic exposure to dye chemicals has also been linked to cancer and hormone disruption in animals and humans.⁷

Azo dyes are among the most commonly used and the most toxic, as they break down into cancer-causing amines. According to the Soil Association, in their report “Thirsty for fashion?” even azo dyes in very small quantities of less than 1 part per million in water may kill beneficial microorganisms in soil such that it affects agricultural productivity and may also be toxic to flora and fauna in water.⁸

Further, textile dyeing facilities tend to be located in developing countries where regulations are lax and labor costs are low. Untreated or minimally treated wastewater is typically discharged into nearby rivers, from where it spreads into seas and oceans, traveling across the globe with the currents.

An estimated 40% of textile chemicals are discharged by China.⁹ According to Ecowatch, Indonesia is also struggling with the chemical fallout of the garment industry. The Citarum River is now one of the most heavily polluted rivers in the world, thanks to the congregation of hundreds of textile factories along its shorelines.

When Greenpeace tested discharge from a textile plant along the river, they found antimony, tributylphosphate and nonylphenol, a toxic endocrine-disrupting surfactant.¹⁰ Kant further noted, “Some 72 toxic chemicals have been identified in water solely from textile dyeing, 30 of which cannot be removed. This represents an appalling environmental problem for the clothing and textile manufacturers.”¹¹

Clothing Manufacturing Uses Staggering Amounts of Water

The clothing industry is not only polluting water but also using massive quantities of it. Kant stated that the daily water consumption of a textile mill that produces about 8,000 kilograms (17,637 pounds) of fabric a day is about 1.6 million liters (422,675 gallons).¹² Further, some of the greatest water usage comes from growing the cotton used to make the clothing.

The Soil Association stated that growing cotton accounts for 69% of the water footprint of textile fiber production, with just 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) of cotton requiring 10,000 (2,641 gallons) to 20,000 liters (5,283 gallons) of water to produce.¹³

Green America also noted that it takes 2,700 liters (713 gallons) of water to grow enough cotton to make a T-shirt (and this doesn’t account for the water used for dyeing and finishing).¹⁴ Cotton is also considered to be a “dirty” crop, requiring 200,000 tons of pesticides and 8 million tons of fertilizers to grow, annually.¹⁵ The Soil Association added:¹⁶

“Cotton production uses 2.5% of the world’s cultivated land, yet it accounts for 16% of all insecticides sold globally. It also accounts for 4% of artificial nitrogen and phosphorus fertilisers used globally. It is estimated that growing cotton requires 200,000 tonnes of pesticides and 8 million tonnes of synthetic fertilisers every year.”

Problems With ‘Fast Fashion’

The fast fashion industry dictates that you must buy the latest new clothing fad each season, adding more garments to your probably already overstuffed closet. Americans have increased how much clothing they buy due to this consumption trend, with the average person bringing home more than 65 articles of clothing in 2016, according to the “Toxic Textiles” report by Green America.¹⁷

At the same time, Americans throw away 70 pounds of clothing and other textiles each year.¹⁸According to the U.S. EPA, textiles made up 6.1% of municipal solid waste in 2015. Only 15.3%, or 2.5 million tons, was recycled while landfills received 10.5 million tons of textiles in 2015, accounting for 7.6% of all municipal solid waste landfills.¹⁹

Even when clothing is recycled, Green America notes that “less than 1% of the resources required to make clothing is recaptured and reused to create new clothing.”²⁰ When you donate clothes, it’s also not a sustainable solution, as the majority end up getting sold to textile “recyclers” and exported to other countries.

The Ellen Macarthur Foundation’s Circular Fibres Initiative describes the clothing industry as a linear system that is “ripe for disruption:”²¹

“The textiles system operates in an almost completely linear way: large amounts of non-renewable resources are extracted to produce clothes that are often used for only a short time, after which the materials are mostly sent to landfill or incinerated. More than USD 500 billion of value is lost every year due to clothing underutilisation and the lack of recycling.

Furthermore, this take-make-dispose model has numerous negative environmental and societal impacts. For instance, total greenhouse gas emissions from textiles production, at 1.2 billion tonnes annually, are more than those of all international flights and maritime shipping combined.

Hazardous substances affect the health of both textile workers and wearers of clothes, and they escape into the environment. When washed, some garments release plastic microbreads, of which around half a million tonnes every year contribute to ocean pollution – 16 times more than plastic microbeads from cosmetics. Trends point to these negative impacts rising inexorably, with the potential for catastrophic outcomes in future.”

Poison Found in 95% of Baby Food

A national investigation found 95% of baby foods tested contained the heavy metals lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury. Some also contained the rocket fuel component perchlorate
Apple and grape juice, oat ring cereal, macaroni and cheese, puff snacks and rice-based foods had the highest levels of heavy metals
Heavy metals are developmental neurotoxins that can harm a baby’s developing brain and nervous system
Organic food may still contain heavy metals due to the presence of heavy metals in soil
There are several ways parents can safeguard their infant’s food, including making their own or using organic or biodynamically-grown vegetables

Republished – Mercola

A national investigation commissioned by Healthy Babies Bright Futures (HBBF) recently made a disturbing finding. A shocking 95% of baby foods tested contained the heavy metals lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury.¹

I have often written about how most commercial infant formulas are high in processed sugar and questionable ingredients including soy. They can contain as much sugar as a can of soda yet lack the benefits of the natural sugars found in breast milk.

Worse, most formulas also contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs), synthetic vitamins, inorganic minerals, excessive protein and harmful fats while lacking vital immune-boosting nutrients found in breast milk.

Still, the new findings about poisons like heavy metals lurking in baby food add urgency to the problem and raise questions about how parents can safely feed their infants.

Related: Circumcision Linked to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

Disturbing Findings About Baby Food

Parent volunteers working with HBBF’s partner organizations were asked to buy the most prominent baby food brands at their local stores or online.

The organizations the parents worked with were the Alaska Community Action on Toxics, Campaign for Healthier Solutions, Coming Clean, Ecology Center, Environmental Justice Health Alliance, Getting Ready for Baby, Learning Disabilities Association of America, Organizacion en California de Lideres Campesinas Inc., and Texas Environmental Justice Advocacy Services.²

The foods selected by the parents included 61 brands and 13 food types, including infant formula, teething biscuits, cereals and fruit juices. The results were staggering. Lead was found in 94% of the baby foods; cadmium and arsenic in approximately 75% of the items; and mercury in just under 33% of the products.

Fifteen of the baby foods accounted for 55% of the heavy metal contaminants. These included apple and grape juice, oat ring cereal, macaroni and cheese, puff snacks and rice-based foods. Rice foods such as cereal and rice-based snacks account for one-fifth of the risks babies face, as these foods have high levels of arsenic, as well as the other three metals, HBBF says.³

Related: Autism Correlates with Circumcision

Contaminants Threaten Babies’ IQs

The presence of heavy metals in baby food has been known for a decade, but the HBBF’s study sheds new light on just how widespread the contamination is, and the specific risks babies and toddlers may face from such foods, especially to their IQs. An excerpt from the report reads:⁴

“The four heavy metals we found in baby food have a unique significance. All are developmental neurotoxins … They can harm a baby’s developing brain and nervous system, both in utero and after birth, for impacts that include the permanent loss of intellectual capacity and behavioral problems like attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

All four metals are linked to IQ loss from exposures early in life. The scientific evidence spans decades and continues to build: at least 23 studies published in the past seven years confirm these four heavy metals’ impacts to a child’s healthy development …

These metals are so prevalent in foods eaten by babies and toddlers that every child could be exposed daily to all three of the most common heavy metals detected in food — lead, arsenic, and cadmium — based on an analysis of federal surveys of children’s dietary patterns and heavy metals levels in food …”

Rocket Fuel Component Also Found in Baby Food

Related: Johnson And Johnson Knew Asbestos Was In Baby Powder, More Lawsuits Are Coming

Heavy metals are not the only IQ-lowering substances found in baby food, according to HBBF. The industrial chemical perchlorate, a rocket fuel component, was also detected, and this dangerous substance adds to the cognitive risks posed by heavy metals, HBBF says:⁵

“Perchlorate disrupts thyroid functions crucial to brain development and has been linked to IQ loss among children born to mothers with thyroid dysfunction, who are more vulnerable to perchlorate toxicity …

It is a rocket fuel component used since the Cold War. In 2005 FDA approved its use as an antistatic in plastic food packaging, and in 2016 expanded the approval to cover dry food handling equipment.

Perchlorate is also a degradation product of hypochlorite used to disinfect food processing equipment. Levels in children’s food increased dramatically from 2005 to 2012 …”

This is not the first time perchlorates — salts derived from perchloric acid used in the ways described above — have been found in baby food. Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found 15 brands of powdered infant formula were contaminated with the substance 10 years ago.⁶

Most people are exposed to perchlorate through their diet, in the form of contaminated water and/or foods. But the exposure infants receive may be far greater than that of adults if they are fed infant formula, as the toxin may be present in both the formula and the milk or water used to prepare it.

Perchlorate blocks the thyroid gland from taking up iodine, which can have a serious effect on a developing fetus and infant whose neurodevelopment depends on access to iodine.⁷ The harmful impact of perchlorate is also mediated by other endocrine disruptors that affect the thyroid found which might be found in the environment.

Related: Nurses Against Circumcision

Even Organic Baby Food Poses Risks

Sadly, parents can’t “shop their way out of” the toxic heavy metal problem by buying organic products, HBBF warns. Heavy metals are everywhere — they naturally occur in the soil, but pesticides, fertilizers, factory farms and other environmental pollution greatly increase their presence.

Because heavy metals are in the soil (whether deposited there naturally or through artificial means), leafy greens and root vegetables like carrots and sweet potatoes take up and retain them to a greater degree than fruits and above ground crops.

While parents may decide to buy organic foods and make their own baby food, this does not entirely solve the problem because organic standards do not set strict limits for such contaminants; both adult and baby foods may contain heavy metals.⁸

Parents also cannot rely on bottled water to avoid heavy metals. Bottled water is no safer than filtered tap water and generates toxic plastic waste to boot.⁹ In a previous article, I noted that that microplastics are also found in bottled water.

Parents Should Beware of Fruit Juices

The HBBF report recommends against giving babies and toddlers fruit juices for two reasons. First, because common juices like apple and grape contain heavy metals and secondly because parents tend to give excessive amounts of juices to their children. This means the metal levels can build up.

According to a consensus statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the American Heart Association and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, “Even 100% fruit juice offers no nutritional benefits over whole fruit.”¹⁰

There are other reasons to shun juice, say child and medical experts. Fruit juices can cause weight gain and lifelong obesity to the same degree as soft drinks, and their effect on teeth is equally destructive.

Most parents probably don’t realize that giving their child apple juice is akin to giving them a Coke, but metabolically, and in terms of dental health, it is. The lack of protein and fiber in juice counteracts any nutritional benefits, add the experts.¹¹

Over seven years ago, Dr. Oz and Consumer Reports exposed high levels of arsenic in fruit juices. A full 10% of juice tested by Consumer Reports exceeded federal drinking-water standards for arsenic in the U.S.

Low-level chronic exposure to arsenic can lead to gastrointestinal problems, skin discoloration and hyperkeratosis, chronic fatigue syndrome, high blood pressure, diabetes, reproductive problems, neurological problems, various cancers and reduced IQ, as cited in the HBBF report.

Rice Is Also a Harmful Baby Food

Though pediatricians continue to tell parents that rice cereal mixed with breast milk or formula should be a baby’s first meal, it is irresponsible advice that I have always resisted.

Acclimating infants to the taste of highly processed white rice could set them up for a lifetime of bad eating habits and put them at risk for diabetes.¹² The way that white rice is processed strips away vitamins, fiber and other nutrients. The rice that is left turns to sugar and raises insulin levels.

Since rice is submersed in water to grow, it also readily absorbs inorganic arsenic, which is the most harmful kind of arsenic. “Rice cereal has six times more arsenic than other types of cereal, like oatmeal and multigrain,” says Jane Houlihan, HBBF’s national director of science and health.¹³

“I have not been recommending rice cereal as a first food for many years, because I prefer babies eat whole grains with more nutrition,” agrees pediatrician Dr. Tanya Altmann.¹⁴ So, just how can baby food be made safe? Government clearly needs to do more, says the HBBF report, pointing out that:¹⁵

“FDA can use its testing programs, recall authority, and guidance to industry, among other tools, to characterize and control heavy metal levels in food. The agency tests a fraction of imported food in their Import Program, prioritizing food likely to pose risks to consumers, including those with high heavy metals levels.

Federal law gives FDA the authority to require a recall of food it deems to be adulterated, that ‘bears or contains any poisonous or deleterious substance which may render it injurious to health,’ including heavy metals …

Despite FDA’s many areas of authority and its recent emphasis on reducing exposures to heavy metals, for 88 percent of baby foods tested by HBBF — 148 of 168 baby foods — FDA has failed to set enforceable limits or issue guidance on maximum safe amounts. And none of the agency’s existing guidance considers the additive neurological impacts of multiple metals in baby food.”

How Can Parents Ensure Baby Food Safety?

I have often written about how parents can make sure their babies and toddlers eat the most nutritious and safest foods. For instructions on how to make your own homemade baby formula, see “The U.S. Campaign Against Breastfeeding.” Here are a few other ideas sparked by the HBBF report that appeared on CNN:

Feed your baby a variety of healthy foods — This will help children be less picky eaters and avoid future food allergies.¹⁶

Choose snacks carefully — Rice teething rusks and other teething biscuits have little nutrition.

Reduce juice — Water and milk should be the drinks of choice.

Serve carrots and sweet potatoes less frequently — When you do, peel them carefully and cook them in water that is then disposed.

Minimize the use of plastic, especially with reheating foods — Heat causes dangerous plastics to leach into the food.

Steam and puree organic or biodynamically grown vegetables — Cool them in small glass containers, then freeze and put in bigger containers.

Mercola

Study: Microplastics Were in the Gut of Every Sea Turtle Tested

(Dr. Mercola) Every year, anywhere from 5 million to 12 million tons of plastic debris enter waterways worldwide, which equates to an estimated 5 trillion pieces of plastic.¹ While some of this plastic is in the form of large debris like plastic bottles, six-pack rings and bags, much of it is in the form of tiny particles known as microplastics, which are less than 5 millimeters (mm) in size.

Featured Image Source

Microplastics can come from direct or “primary” sources, such as microbeads used in cosmetics or fibers used in clothing. They can also be secondary microplastics, meaning they’re the result of larger plastic items that have disintegrated due to exposure to waves, salt water, ultraviolet radiation and physical abrasion against shorelines.

Microplastics do not, unfortunately, simply disappear into the water. Their prevalence and abundance has made them one of the worst polluters in the oceans, with a variety of marine life ingesting the particles, either by intention or happenstance.

Related: Holistic Guide to Healing the Endocrine System and Balancing Our Hormones

Sea Turtles Are Ingesting Microplastics

Research published in Global Change Biology revealed that microplastics are ubiquitous in sea turtles.² Every turtle tested, which included 102 turtles from all seven marine turtle species from three ocean basins (Atlantic, Mediterranean and Pacific), contained the plastics, at varying levels.

Most abundant were plastic microfibers (most often blue or black in color), but fragments and microbeads were also detected, albeit in lesser quantities. Microfibers come from many sources, including shedding from synthetic fabrics, wear from automotive tires and degradation of cigarette filters and fishing nets and ropes.

Once in the water, turtles may be exposed via contaminated sea water and sediments. In the latter case, many sea turtles are known to feed along the ocean bottom, stirring up and ingesting sediment along with their prey.

They may also be exposed directly via their dietary sources. Microplastics can bind to seaweed electrostatically, for instance, while sponges, another turtle delicacy, also ingest microplastics.

In all, more than 800 particles were found by the researchers,³ but because the featured study only tested a small sample of the turtles’ gut content residue, it’s believed that their findings represent only minimum exposure levels to plastics.

“The total number of synthetic particles within the whole gut is likely to be the order of 20 times higher,” the researchers explained. “This suggests that the total levels of ingestion per individual (whole gut) may be higher in marine turtles than large marine mammals.”⁴

While microplastics don’t pose a risk of internal blockage the way larger plastics do, it’s likely that they affect marine animals on a more subtle, put potentially equally harmful, level. Microplastics may act like sponges for contaminants including heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) or pathogens, for instance, or could cause harm on a cellular or subcellular level, the study noted.

Sea Turtle Hatchlings Threatened by Microplastics

While the Global Change Biology study authors did not believe microplastics would pose as grave a risk to sea turtles as ingestion of larger plastic debris, this may not be the case for post-hatchling sea turtles.

“They’re pretty nondiscriminatory with what they’re eating at this life stage. They eat whatever floats past them,” Samantha Clark, a veterinary technician at the Loggerhead Marinelife Center (LMC) in Juno Beach, Florida, said in a news release.⁵ Clark cowrote a study that involved 96 post-hatchling sea turtles collected from the Atlantic coastline in Florida.⁶

Forty-five of the turtles were able to be rehabilitated and released, but 52 of the turtles died, allowing the researchers to analyze their gastrointestinal tracts, most of which contained visible pieces of plastic. Microplastics, larger mesoparticle plastics and even smaller nanoparticles were found in the turtles, with polyethylene and polypropylene the most common types of plastic detected.

Related: How to Detox From Plastics and Other Endocrine Disruptors

“[I]ngestion of micronizing plastic by post-hatchling sea turtles is likely a substantial risk to survival of these endangered and threatened species,” the study concluded, with study coauthor Dr. Charles Manire, director of research and rehabilitation at LMC, adding, “It’s not a question of if they have it, it’s how much they have.”

He told global conservation news service Mongabay, “Twenty-five years ago we would occasionally see a little bit of plastic in some of the smallest turtles,” said Manire. “Now, essentially, 100 percent of them have it … Sea turtles tell us the health of the ocean. The ocean tells us the health of the planet.”⁷

Filter Feeders Also at Risk

Other marine life, including filter-feeding sharks, rays and baleen whales, are also being negatively affected by microplastics. Animals like these may swallow thousands of cubic meters of water daily in order to capture enough plankton to survive, and with it they’re exposed to whatever else may be lurking in the water.

Not only do filter feeders live in some of the most polluted waters on the planet, but their numbers are already threatened. Half of the species of mobulid rays, along with two-thirds of filter-feeding shark species and more than one-quarter of baleen whale species are listed as threatened species by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).⁸

“Emerging research on these flagship species highlights potential exposure to microplastic contamination and plastic-associated toxins,” according to a study in Trends in Ecology & Evolution.⁹Study author Elitza Germanov, researcher at the Marine Megafauna Foundation, told Phys.org:¹⁰

“Despite the growing research on microplastics in the marine environment, there are only few studies that examine the effects on large filter feeders. We are still trying to understand the magnitude of the issue.

It has become clear though that microplastic contamination has the potential to further reduce the population numbers of these species, many of which are long-lived and have few offspring throughout their lives.”

Are You Eating ‘Plastic’ Fish?

The Center for Biological Diversity noted that fish in the North Pacific are known to ingest 12,000 to 24,000 tons of plastic every year, and, in a study of fish markets in California and Indonesia, one-quarter of the fish were found to have plastics in their guts.¹¹

Related: How To Heal Your Gut

Plastics and other man-made debris was also found in 33 percent of shellfish sampled.¹² What this means is that when you sit down to a seafood dinner, you’re probably eating plastic.

Writing in the journal Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management, researchers noted, “The potential for humans, as top predators, to consume microplastics as contaminants in seafood is very real, and its implications for health need to be considered.”¹³

The fact is, fish aren’t eating microplastic only by mistake. The particles develop a biological covering of algae and other organic materials while they’re floating in the ocean. And that film makes them smell like food to marine life.

Anchovies, for instance, use odors to forage, and the smell of microplastic entices the fish to eat. Study author Matthew Savoca, of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, told the Guardian:¹⁴

“When plastic floats at sea its surface gets colonized by algae within days or weeks, a process known as biofouling. Previous research has shown that this algae produces and emits DMS, an algal based compound that certain marine animals use to find food.

[The research shows] plastic may be more deceptive to fish than previously thought. If plastic both looks and smells like food, it is more difficult for animals like fish to distinguish it as not food.”

There’s Probably Plastic in Your Sea Salt and Bottled Water, Too

Microplastics, including microfibers, are seemingly everywhere. For instance, they were also found to be the predominant type of microplastic found in beer, tap water and sea salt samples.

“Based on consumer guidelines, our results indicate the average person ingests over 5,800 particles of synthetic debris from these three sources annually, with the largest contribution coming from tap water (88 percent),” according to researchers in PLOS One.¹⁵

Another study revealed the average person may swallow an estimated 68,415 plastic fibers every year just from contaminated dust landing on their plate during meals.¹⁶ This is a much larger source of exposure than plastics from seafood such as shellfish, those researchers noted, stating, “The risk of plastic ingestion via mussel consumption is minimal when compared to fiber exposure during a meal via dust fallout in a household.”¹⁷

Other sources of microplastics that you probably come across daily include sea salt, as 90 percent of sea salt sold worldwide contains plastic microparticles; it’s estimated that people consume nearly 2,000 such particles a year in their sea salt alone.¹⁸ More than 90 percent of popular bottled water brands sampled also contained microplastics, which in some cases may be coming from the packaging and bottling process itself.¹⁹

That being said, 94 percent of U.S. tap water samples were also found to contain plastic,²⁰ with microfibers again representing a major part of the problem. Even sewage sludge, which is applied as a fertilizer in industrial agriculture, is loaded with microfibers,²¹ which were found to cause changes in the soil, including altering the bulk density, water-holding capacity and microbial activity.

Are You Part of the Problem or Part of the Solution?

The magnitude of plastic used worldwide daily is mind-boggling, but you can make a dent by becoming conscious of the plastic you’re using daily — and cut back where you can. Some steps are easy, like swapping plastic bags, bottles, straws, utensils and food containers for more durable, reusable options.

Other steps may take more thought, like reconsidering what types of clothes to buy. A synthetic jacket (such as a fleece) may release up to 2.7 grams (0.095 ounces) of microfibers with each washing (that’s up to 250,000 microfibers). On average, such a garment releases 1.7 grams of microfibers, although older jackets released fibers at twice the rate.²²

So one thing you can do to curb plastics pollution is to wash your fleece and microfiber clothing less often, and when you do use a gentle cycle to reduce the number of fibers released. There are also products on the market that catch laundry fibers in your washing machine to help curb pollution.

Special coatings may also help to stop the loss of microfibers during washing, but the apparel industry has been slow to respond in taking steps to stop microfiber pollution.²³ You can also consider what your clothing is made out of. In a comparison of acrylic, polyester and a polyester-cotton blend, acrylic was the worst, shedding microfibers up to four times faster than the polyester-cotton blend.²⁴

Ultimately, however, plastic pollution needs to be curbed at its source. Rivers, being a major source of transport of plastic into oceans, should be a major focus of cleanup and prevention efforts. In fact, 95 percent of the riverborne plastic flowing into the ocean comes from just 10 rivers.²⁵

Martin Wagner, an associate professor at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology’s (NTNU) department of biology, believes that focusing on removing plastic from the ocean is a shortsighted solution because in order to stop it in the long run, it has to be traced back to its source, which in most cases is land and the rivers that transport it.²⁶

How to Make Hummus

(Dr. Mercola) One of the most endearing foods in Middle Eastern cuisine that has become popular worldwide is hummus. It is literally the Arabic word for chickpea, one of the main ingredients used to make this tasty dip. Other components of hummus include olive oil, garlic, tahini, lemon juice and salt.¹^,²

The actual origin of the dish has been lost in the passage of time, and several countries have claimed that they invented hummus. Egypt and Greece, for example, were major trading partners during ancient times, which led to both of them greatly utilizing hummus in their cooking. Regardless of who made it, the whole world now enjoys hummus because it’s easy to make, tastes great and can be paired with many foods.³

What Is Hummus?

Hummus is essentially a dip that is a popular fixture in Middle Eastern cuisine. Its core ingredients are chickpeas, tahini (sesame seed paste), olive oil, garlic and salt blended together to create a creamy texture. For adventurous people, more ingredients are added to modify the flavor to suit their personal preference.⁴

Related: Detox Cheap and Easy Without Fasting – Recipes Included

However, a caveat when it comes to eating hummus is that it may contain lectins, as it’s primarily made using beans. Lectins are sugar-binding plant proteins that attach to your cell membranes, and have been proven to be associated with inflammatory or autoimmune conditions. The good news is there are ways to minimize the effects of lectins in beans so you can enjoy this dip — more about this later.

How to Make Hummus at Home

Regular hummus is very easy to make. Here are all the things you need to stir up some delicious hummus in the comfort of your own home:

How to Make Healthy Hummus

Ingredients

2 cups chickpeas
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon Himalayan salt
1 garlic clove
1 tablespoon tahini
1 to 2 tablespoons pure, filtered water

Procedure

Drain and rinse the chickpeas. If you have time, pinch and remove the skins from each chickpea to make the hummus smoother.
Combine all ingredients in a food processor, then blend for five minutes until smooth.
Adjust seasonings such as salt and pepper, and adjust taste as needed.
Transfer to bowl and then serve.

Healthy Hummus Recipe Variations You Should Try

The great thing about hummus is that you can modify the ingredients to suit your taste and create something new. Each of the following recipes is unique, so I recommend that you try all of them at least once to find your personal favorite.

Related: How to Make the Healthiest Smoothies – 4 Recipes

Black Bean Hummus⁵

Ingredients

15 ounces (equivalent to 1 can) black beans
2 tablespoons tahini
1 garlic clove, chopped
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons cold, filtered water
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

White Bean Hummus⁶

Ingredients

1/2 pound cannellini (navy) beans
1 lemon, juiced
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1/2 cup tahini
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

Beet Hummus⁷

Ingredients

4 medium beets, cleaned, cooked, peeled and cubed
2 tablespoons tahini
5 tablespoons lemon juice
1 small garlic clove, chopped
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon lemon zest
Salt and pepper to taste
Substitute for rice
Note: To cook the beets, cover them with water in a saucepan; then simmer for 30 minutes or until tender.

Related: How to Avoid GMOs in 2018 – And Everything Else You Should Know About Genetic Engineering

If you find that regular hummus is getting boring for your taste, I encourage you to try the ones mentioned above. However, if you’re looking for something new and adventurous, you can swap out the beans for avocado to make sure your hummus is keto-friendly. It’s the perfect way to lower your carb consumption while simultaneously increasing healthy fat consumption. Check out this fat-rich hummus recipe from Megan Olson of Paleohacks:

Creamy and Bean-Free Avocado Hummus

Total time: 10 minutes

Ingredients

2 medium zucchinis, peeled and deseeded
1 to 2 large, ripe avocados
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/2 cup homemade tahini
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon minced garlic
Sea salt, to taste
Paprika and dried cilantro for serving (optional)

Makes 4 cups

Procedure

Slice off the ends of both zucchinis, peel and deseed them, then place in a food processor along with the avocado, olive oil, lemon juice, tahini, cumin, garlic and salt.
Process on high until smooth, scraping down the sides as necessary.
Transfer to a bowl, sprinkle with paprika and dried cilantro on top (optional) and serve.

Tip:

Use two avocados instead of one to thicken up the texture.
Try this avocado hummus as a marinade! Slather it on chicken, pork or beef to add depth and flavor.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.

Related: Homemade Vegan Nut Milk Recipes

Is Hummus Healthy for You?

A 2016 study published in Nutrients indicates that regular consumption of hummus helped increase intake of dietary fiber, beneficial fats, vitamins A, E and C, as well as magnesium, potassium, folate and iron. As a result, weight management and blood sugar levels can be managed and even improved.⁸
Individually, hummus ingredients provide their own benefits:

Chickpeas: Consumption of chickpeas may help manage insulin sensitivity better, as evidenced in a study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.⁹
Tahini: According to a study published by Health Promotion Perspectives, sesame seeds (which tahini is essentially made of) may help improve lipid profile, as well as fight oxidative stress.¹⁰
Extra virgin olive oil: This type of oil has been found to have healthy fatty acids and other minor constituents that may provide anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and cardiovascular benefits when regularly consumed.¹¹
Garlic: Extensive research done on garlic suggests that this herb possesses various benefits such as diabetes management, antitumor, cardiovascular health and antimicrobial properties.¹²

Hummus Nutrition Facts

Homemade, traditional hummus is rich in various vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids. However, be sure to control your portions when eating hummus, as you can quickly pile up the carbohydrates if you’re not careful. The table below provides a good overview of this food:¹³

**Hummus Nutrition Facts**
	Amt. Per Serving	% Daily Value*
Calories
Calories from Fat
Total Fat	21.13 g
Saturated Fat	2.807 g
Trans Fat	0 g
Cholesterol	0 mg
Sodium	595 mg
Total Carbohydrates	49.50 g
Dietary Fiber	9.8 g	1
Sugar	0.66 g
Protein
Vitamin A12 IU	Vitamin C	19.4 mg
Calcium121 mg	Iron	3.84 mg

Beware of Lectins Before Making Hummus

Lectins may negatively affect your health, especially if you have any of the following conditions:

Thyroid dysfunction
Arthritis
Diabetes
Heart disease
Overweight

To minimize the potential damage lectins can do to your health, here are important tips to follow before making your hummus:

Soak the beans in water for at least 12 hours before cooking, frequently changing the water. Adding baking soda can help boost the neutralization of lectins further.
Rinse the beans thoroughly and discard the used water.
Cook the beans for at least 15 minutes on high heat. Using low heat can actually increase the toxicity up to five times more. In addition, avoid any recipe that uses dry bean flour, as the dry heat of your oven cannot efficiently destroy the lectins.

Another effective way of eliminating lectins is using a pressure cooker, such as the Instant Pot. Avoid slow cookers, as they can increase the lectins further due to the low heat used. I encourage you to try hummus and taste for yourself why countless people enjoy it, as it can introduce you to a new world of flavors. Just remember to control your portions accordingly to prevent consuming too many carbohydrates, and don’t forget to soak and cook the beans properly first to reduce the lectins.

Frequently Asked Questions About Hummus

Q: Can you freeze hummus?
A: Yes, you can freeze hummus if you prepared more than what you need. Make sure to place it in an airtight container, but don’t fill it up too much as the food will expand. To thaw, simply place the hummus in the lower portion of your refrigerator a day before you want to eat it.¹⁴

Q: Can dogs eat hummus?
A: No. Hummus contains other ingredients that may be harmful for your pet.¹⁵

Q: How long does hummus last?
A: Homemade hummus can last three to five days in the refrigerator. In the freezer, it can last between six and eight months.¹⁶

Q: Is hummus low carb?
A: Hummus can be a low-carb dip if you control your servings. A single tablespoon of chickpeas contains 7.87 grams of carbohydrates, so watch your portions carefully.¹⁷

Q: Is hummus fattening?
A: Not necessarily. Hummus contains various healthful ingredients that can support your overall well-being. However, be mindful of the servings as consuming too many carbohydrates can pose a negative effect to your health in the long run.

Q: Is hummus paleo?
A: No. Chickpeas are legumes, which do not belong to the paleo diet.¹⁸

Q: What can you dip in hummus?
A: You can dip various foods in hummus such as carrots, celery and other vegetables. If you want, you may also use it as a dip for cooked meats to give them a different flavor.¹⁹

Q: Is hummus gluten-free?
A: Yes, because the ingredients used to make hummus are not grains.²⁰

Household Chemicals Causing Obesity

Bunt, Waschmittel, Flaschen, Waschmaschine, Plastik

(Dr. Mercola) Using satellite data, the Health Effects Institute found that 95 percent of the world is breathing polluted air.¹ Their statistics are based on outdoor sources of pollution, including transportation vehicles, industrial activity and coal power plants. Although these numbers are considerable, they are likely conservative and do not account for small particulate pollution in your home.

Over the past 50 years the number of soaps and detergents have grown at an amazing rate as manufacturers work to meet the demands of consumers looking for quick, fragrant solutions to a dirty problem.² However, using these chemical household cleaners as seldom as once a week come with significant health risks.

For example, one recent study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine³ demonstrated weekly exposure to chemical cleaning solutions increases your risk of lung damage from fine particulate air pollution.

Recommended: How to Detox From Plastics and Other Endocrine Disruptors

Disinfectants and Detergents Increase Your Child’s Risk of Obesity

Another study⁴ has linked exposure to cleaning products in early childhood to an increased risk of obesity. According to research published in 2013,⁵ 20 percent of American deaths are associated with obesity, and the younger you are, the greater the influence on your mortality. Since 1980, childhood obesity rates have tripled in the U.S. and the rate of obese teens has quadrupled.

In this study, the researchers evaluated the gut flora of more than 750 babies between the ages of 3 and 4 months who were part of the Canadian Health Infant Longitudinal Development (CHILD) cohort. Fecal samples were collected at the start and end of the study to evaluate the type and number of bacteria.

During the study, researchers asked parents how often cleaning products were used and confirmed these answers with a visit to the residence. Reassessment was done at age 1 and 3 years, including a measurement of the child’s weight.⁶ The data revealed a change in the child’s gut microbiota, which differed depending upon the cleaning products used in the home.

For instance, children exposed to disinfectants had higher levels of Lachnospiraceae bacteria while levels of Haemophilus dropped. Children who lived in homes where eco-friendly products were used had lower levels of Enterobacteriaceae.

When the child’s weight was measured at the end of the study, those in contact with disinfectants had higher BMI scores, whereas homes where eco-friendly products were used experienced an inverse trend. The researchers controlled for a wide range of other potential factors affecting changes in gut bacteria, such as vaginal or cesarean birth, breastfeeding and exposure to antibiotics.⁷

While there was no evidence that gut microbiome changes caused the reduction in obesity risk, the analysis showed exposure to detergents and disinfectants did increase the risk.⁸ Lead author and pediatric professor at the University of Alberta, Anita Kozyrskyj, commented on the results:⁹

“A possible explanation is that mothers who used eco-friendly products during pregnancy had more nutritious diets and a healthier pregnancy.

As a result, their healthy microbiome was passed on to their newborns, leading to both a lower chance of their infants having lower levels of Enterobacteriaceae three to four months later and becoming overweight. When infants are implicated, changing the composition of microbiota at a critical time of development may affect the immune system.”

Recommended: Detox Cheap and Easy Without Fasting – Recipes Included

The High Cost of Obesity

In December 2011, severe obesity was included as a qualifying disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act, raising the cost to society as a whole. Data collected from thousands of Canadians has also confirmed obesity surpasses smoking in terms of creating ill-health, and Dutch researchers have predicted obesity and inactivity will overtake smoking as a leading cause of cancer deaths.

One study¹⁰ reviewed data from more than 170 countries measuring health effects associated with body mass index (BMI) and found 12 percent of adults, globally, are obese. When those who are overweight but not obese are included, the global rate is nearly 30 percent. This echoes previous studies and suggests there are now more overweight people than there are underweight ones.¹¹

Many who are obese develop Type 2 diabetes, a condition caused by insulin and leptin resistance. Those with Type 2 diabetes are at higher risk for cardiovascular disease, peripheral vascular disease, stroke, heart attack and negative health conditions associated with damage to microvasculature, including blindness and kidney disease.

Obesity also increases your risk of developing gallstones, crystal-like deposits created inside your gallbladder.¹² The stones may be made from cholesterol in individuals who are obese, and the size can vary from a grain of sand to the size of a golf ball. While they don’t always cause symptoms, if they block the pancreatic duct you may experience noticeable pain lasting several hours.

A study published in the journal Neurobiology of Aging has also found structural changes in the brains of overweight individuals typically seen in far older people.¹³ The researchers discovered those who are overweight had accelerated loss of the brain’s white matter, and calculated the volume lost in an overweight 50-year-old was comparable to the same volume lost in a slim 60-year-old.

The loss may be related to an increased inflammatory response, but the exact reason remains undetermined. Higher amounts of body fat can contribute to various forms of cancer. While the connection isn’t clear, doctors believe low-level inflammation caused by obesity can gradually damage DNA over time, leading to cancer. The following types of cancer have been linked to obesity:

Endometrial cancer	Esophageal adenocarcinoma
Breast cancer	Gastric cardia cancer
Liver cancer	Kidney cancer
Pancreatic cancer	Colorectal cancer

Recommended: Best Supplements To Kill Candida and Everything Else You Ever Wanted To Know About Fungal Infections

Strong Link Between Gut Microbiome and Weight

The importance of the human gut microbiome to health is only beginning to be explored. Several studies have described the structure and capacity of the microbiome in a healthy state and a variety of disease states.¹⁴ Ongoing efforts to characterize the function and mechanism continue to provide a better understanding of the role gut microbiome plays in health and disease.

The gut microbiome changes quickly during the first year or two of life and is shaped by breast milk, the environment and other factors. However, the number and type of bacteria tends to stabilize by the time you are 3 years old.¹⁵ That said, exposure to antibiotics, cleaning supplies, stress, processed foods and medications can all impact the health of your gut microbiome.

The bacteria have been linked to how people respond to medications, and it’s been suggested it may be linked with how well you sleep. Weight management is another area of health affected by the type of bacteria living in your gut. Your gut microbes influence appetite, inflammation and efficiency of metabolizing, and have a significant impact on your immune system.

Data from a Danish study¹⁶ revealed your gut microbiome may be responsible for how much weight you can lose and under what circumstances. The study’s coauthor, Arne Astrup, Ph.D., explained:¹⁷

“Human intestinal bacteria have been linked to the increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity, and scientists have started to investigate whether the intestinal bacteria can play a role in the treatment of overweight.

But it is only now that we have a breakthrough demonstrating that certain bacterial species play a decisive role in weight regulation and weight loss.”

In studies comparing intestinal bacteria in obese and lean individuals, researchers found lean individuals had a rich community of microbes brimming with many species, but obese individuals had a less diverse group of microbiota.¹⁸

Although documenting the differences does not indicate discrepancies are responsible for obesity, further research in animal studies¹⁹ and the featured study indicate changes in gut microbiome may hold a significant clue to weight management.

For example, in one small study,²⁰ calorie restriction and physical activity was found to impact the composition of the gut microbiome. The goal of the study was to determine the influence of a treatment program on the gut microbiome, finding those in the high weight loss group experienced a greater change in total bacterial growth and diversity than those in the low weight loss group.

Weekly Use of Chemical Cleaners Comparable to Pack-a-Day Smoking

As mentioned earlier, exposure to cleaning solutions as seldom as once a week may accelerate decline in lung function, as demonstrated by research from the University of Bergen in Norway.²¹ The researchers found once-weekly use of cleaning solutions for 20 years produced damage to lung tissue equivalent to smoking 20 cigarettes a day for 10 to 12 years.

The researchers used data from over 6,000 participants whose average age was 34 at the time of enrollment in the study. After 20 years of follow-up, women who used commercial cleaning solutions experienced reductions in lung function, measured by forced expiratory volume and forced vital capacity, at a much faster rate than those who used them less frequently or not at all.

Nontoxic Cleaners Safer for You and the Environment

The average American worker spends nearly one hour on housework daily.²² However, there’s a misconception that in order to get a truly clean home, you have to put on rubber gloves and spray harsh chemicals.

One of the primary reasons to regularly clean is to remove many of the toxic chemicals accumulating in house dust, including flame retardants and phthalates.²³ However using commercial sprays, wipes and scrubs actually introduces more toxins into your environment.

If you’ve ever felt sick, dizzy or gotten a headache after cleaning your home with typical supplies, it’s likely because of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Long-term use of these chemicals can damage your liver, kidneys, central nervous system and even cause cancer.²⁴

After testing 25 household products, including air fresheners and all-purpose cleaners, researchers found the average product contains 17 VOCs.²⁵ Products with fragrances are particularly problematic and studies reveal nearly 35 percent of Americans have had health problems when exposed to them.²⁶

Meanwhile, a typical professional cleaning product will contain more than a 132 different chemicals, among them fragrances, surfactants, phosphates, detergents and more.

If you are ready to switch to nontoxic, efficient and effective cleaners, discover how you may create your own at home using most of what you already have in your cabinets in my previous article, “Keep a Clean House with Nontoxic Cleaners.”