How to Opt Out of Fluoridated Water
Fluoride has been added to most municipal water supplies in the U.S. over the past several decades – but is it really safe for your health? And what are your options if you wish to avoid drinking this toxic chemical along with your H2O?
There’s no question that fluoride is toxic in large quantities, but government officials have been telling us for years that it’s good for our teeth, and okay to consume in small amounts – such as in the amounts that are routinely added to our water…. But is it really?
Fluoride’s critics claim that it may be to blame for a wide range of diseases and human health problems, including thyroid disease, endocrine disruption, and cancer, along with bone and brain developmental defects.
Just how safe is fluoridated water, and if you would prefer not to risk it, what are your options for avoiding it?
Check out this article to learn more:
In 1945, Grand Rapids, Michigan became the first US city to fluoridate the public water supply. The idea quickly caught on, and the controversy began soon after: in growing numbers, a vocal minority has raised concerns about fluoride’s role in a broad range of health problems. Fluoridation critics suggest fluoride exposure may be implicated in physical symptoms spanning gastrointestinal problems, low fertility, thyroid disease, endocrine disruption, arthritis, and cancer.
Government health advisors disagree, arguing the benefits to developing teeth outweigh any established risks. Irrefutable evidence is hard to come by, due to the nature of the debate: in all major public health research, so many factors overlap that it can be impossible to either prove or disprove a condition’s cause. And a controlled study (deliberately administering high doses of fluoride on selected humans for decades) would of course be unethical.
Recently, however, Harvard researchers were able to study health data for communities in China where high levels of fluoride are naturally present in the groundwater. The results give cause for unease: “the children living in high-fluoride areas had significantly lower IQ scores than those who lived in low-fluoride areas.” The average difference was 7 points, and researcher Philippe Grandjean concluded that fluoride belongs among lead, mercury, and other poisons as a known neurotoxin and “chemical brain drain.” Grandjean suggested the developing brain may be irreversibly damaged by fluoride exposure, and the exact “safe” thresholds, if any, are unknown.
More and more of us are ready to opt out of fluoridation. But how can we take out these minuscule, tasteless molecules added at the treatment plant? If you’re serious about going fluoride-free, here are a few things to consider.
What Doesn’t Reduce Fluoride Exposure
- The most popular water filters — the inexpensive activated-carbon pitchers and tap-attachments sold under the brand names Brita and Pur — can’t remove fluoride.
- Boiling your water won’t help, as the fluoride does not evaporate easily like chlorine; as the volume of water decreases through boiling, the fluoride concentration actually goes up.
- Be aware that black and green tea as well as rooibos or “red tea” all contain high levels of natural fluoride; these beverages also provide beneficial antioxidants, but if you’re concerned that your overall fluoride intake may be excessive, consider reducing your tea consumption.
- Processed beverages and foods, non-stick cookware, some pharmaceuticals, non-organic grape juice and wine, and of course fluoride toothpaste will all increase your overall fluoride consumption.
Home Fluoride-Removal Systems that Work
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