Toxicity as Possible Cause of Obesity

Fasting on water for a short period can be an important therapy for the reduction of toxicity. By stopping all food, the metabolic machinery of the body can focus on cleaning the blood and lymph. While water fasting may not be suitable for everyone research has shown calorie restriction and fasting to alleviate hypertension, diabetes, epilepsy, and rheumatoid arthritis. Recent research has shown that calorie restriction may be the most powerful way known yet to extend lifespan. This has worked great for mice and guinea pigs, so why not for humans?

Studies have shown that high glucose and insulin damage the mitochondria. Fasting reduces the total amount of oxidative stress within the cellular mitochondria. Fasting has traditionally been thought to enhance the liver’s ability to clear out metabolic by products from the blood stream, and regenerate the liver. There are indications from a few animal studies that dietary restriction may help to reduce the risk of age-related diseases. However, caution is indicated because long-term fasting or fasting in a polluted environment can deprive the body of nutrients that are critical to health. While fasting, vitamin C in the range of 1 to 4 grams per day should be taken, preferably the non-acidic form. Those who fast do often report a sense of renewal and clearer thinking. Fasting allows the liver to reduce the presence of recycled chemical messengers like adrenalin and other stress hormones. Caloric restriction appears to have measurable benefit for the immune system as well. It rests the intestines and liver, both key sites of immune function. It is estimated that 60% of our immune system resides in our intestines. By resting this major site of immune function with fasting, the immune function may be strengthened. A fast of 36 or 60 hours significantly increases the power of white blood cells to destroy disease causing bacteria.

After a 2-day water fast, a simple diet of rice, fruit, and vegetables is then followed for 5 days. This simple diet provides enough calories but is very easy on the intestinal tract. The rationale for vegetarian fare is twofold: vegetarian diets contain fewer potential food allergens that can cause food reactions, and vegetables provide more soluble fiber, bioflavonoids, antioxidants, and complex carbohydrates. Some do experience fatigue on this program; it will resolve upon resuming normal protein intake. A high vegetable content is recommended because of its ability to adjust liver detoxification. Also, vegetables contain a high level of soluble fiber, essential for rebuilding intestinal integrity. Vegetables also provide precursors to stimulate liver detoxification. The cruciferous (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts) has the widest range of therapeutic benefits. By choosing organic foods, you will benefit from the higher nutritional value as well as the lower pesticide content. Most doctors and government regulatory agencies do not take the health impact of pesticide residues on food supplies seriously enough. An Israeli study conclusively related a drop in the incidence of breast cancer among Israeli women to a new law prohibiting the use of pesticides. The estrogenic effects of pesticides accelerate breast cancer and other hormone-sensitive cancers, an effect that is magnified when more than one type of pesticide is present or when combined with the consumption of large quantities of alcohol.

Detoxification therapy can take months in the chronically ill so patience is a critical ingredient in the care of our poisoned population.

Can toxins make us fat?

Toxins can alter the hormonal regulation of weight, hormones that can increase our appetite. Toxins alter thyroid hormone metabolism and receptor function leading to lowered metabolic rate. Toxins can influence weight through increases in inflammation. Signals triggered by inflammation induce leptin resistance. Toxins alter mitochondria by damaging enzymes involved in fatty acid oxidation and thermogenesis. Other mechanisms are the effects of toxins on liver control of fat and glucose metabolism.

While research linking environmental toxins and impaired detoxification to obesity remains in its infancy, these factors can no longer be overlooked. Detoxification is a central component in long-term effective weight management and the tranquilizer, sedative, or antidepressant drugs can have toxic effects and cause weight gain. Medications in particular have been shown to promote weight gain... Hormones such as megestrol are used to increase appetite in cancer patients. Billions of dollars are pouring into obesity drug research to find the magic molecule that will burn fat or reduce appetite. It is clear that medications can affect our weight and may play a role in obesity for some people. But it is important to recognize that, if medications can influence weight, then certainly other foreign chemicals, including environmental toxins, can cause weight gain. Environmental toxins interfere with metabolism, overload the liver, promote insulin resistance, alter sleep and wake cycles, activate the stress response, and interfere with thyroid function, increase inflammation, damage mitochondria, that lead to obesity. Most researchers have largely ignored the effects of environmental chemicals on metabolism. Still, a few researchers have started connecting the dots linking toxins with the obesity epidemic. While research linking environmental toxins and impaired detoxification to obesity remains in its infancy, these factors can no longer be overlooked. Detoxification is a central component in long-term effective weight management and creating a healthy metabolism.

The Environmental Protection Agency has monitored human exposure to toxic environmental chemicals since 1972 when they began the National Human Adipose Tissue Survey. This study evaluates the levels of various toxins in the fat tissue from cadavers and elective surgeries. Five of what are known to be the most toxic chemicals were found in100% of all samples, toxic chemicals from industrial pollution that damage the liver, heart, lungs, and nervous system. Nine more chemicals were found in 91-98% of samples: A Michigan study found DDT in over 70% of 4 years olds. With the global economy, we may be eating food that was picked a day before in Guatemala, Indonesia, or Asia, where there are not the same restrictions on the use of pesticides as there are in the United States. Many of these chemicals are stored in fat tissue, making animal products concentrated sources. One hundred percent of beef is contaminated with DDT, as are 93% of processed cheese, hot dogs, bologna, turkey, and ice cream

OBESITY AND TOXICITY: THERE IS A CONNECTION.

Many people reach a plateau during weight loss. After the loss of a few pounds, it is often difficult to shed more weight. What is it that impedes weight loss and interferes with metabolism? Could it be as the fat is metabolized and the pollutants are released from the fat tissue where they are stored, and these chemicals cause a lowering of the metabolic rate? Although losing weight to reduce the risk of cardiovascular and degenerative diseases is very desirable it could be creating a very toxic situation. In the light of this knowledge it would only make since that a severely overweight person would want to follow a detoxification program prior to weight loss.

While we still have much to learn about this connection, we can no longer ignore the effect of environmental toxins on weight. It is certainly not the only factor in our obesity epidemic, or in any one person’s struggle with weight, but it must be considered in the evaluation and treatment of obesity. Non-alcoholic fatty liver is the most common liver disease in America, affecting 20% of the population. The major cause is not medication, a virus, or pollution. It is the most abundant toxin in our diet: sugar. Increases in sugar or refined carbohydrate consumption increase insulin and insulin resistance, which leads to the accumulation of fat in the hepatocytes. Increased fat inside the hepatocytes is produced from sugar, refined flour products, and high fructose corn syrup. Excess sugar calories also increase oxidative stress that further damage the mitochondria. Damaged mitochondria can’t effectively burn fat or calories, which leads to a slower metabolism and more weight gain. A fatty liver further impairs detoxification. A fatty liver is also an inflamed liver; it is called non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a form of hepatitis caused by insulin resistance. A fatty liver produces more inflammatory cytokines, free radicals, and leads to more mitochondrial damage.

More research is needed to explore the mechanisms that underlie this hypothesis and to examine clinical detoxification methods. Through the prism of understanding, a road map exist for tackling many treatment resistant and complex chronic diseases, including obesity.

More thoughts on obesity click here.

For more information about the biochemistry of fat click here.