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Pesticide warehouse fire and spill: environmental effects, detoxification and long-term impacts for anxiety and physical health

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pasticide warehouse and fire spill
The toxic green river/lagoon with poisoned/dead fish piling up (Credit: Drone Fundi)

One month ago, during the political riots in South Africa, a warehouse in Cornubia was burned down causing a slew of pesticides, insecticides and fungicides to be spilled into the nearby river and ocean, and burned into the atmosphere. This happened in a semi-industrial area bordering on residential areas such as Umhlanga Rocks and Sunningdale, and the informal settlement Blackburn. My sister and her family live in Umhlanga Rocks and we frantically communicated (during the riots and after the spill), trying to figure out what was going on, with me offering insights on how to help them mitigate some of the short-term toxic health effects. These included practical steps to avoid the toxic air and water, and some nutritional approaches to start supporting detoxification.

While this blog is specific to the situation in South Africa, something like this could happen near you one day. For this reason, I’m sharing what I have learned and what I already know about environmental toxins so you are aware of the short-term and long-term impacts for anxiety, mood and physical health.

Much of the nutritional support and detoxification recommendations are also applicable if you are dealing with smoke from forest fires too, like much of the western states of the US and Canada right now, and some countries like France and Greece in the EU.

The South African civil unrest and riots that led to the pesticide fire and spill

This article describes the civil unrest and explains how “South Africa suffered an insurrection attempt with two provinces, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng disabled, and national fuel and food supply lines disrupted.” It is thought that twelve masterminds planned and executed it on social media and then lost control after the looting started.

The pesticide warehouse in Cornubia, KwaZulu-Natal, was leased by United Phosphorus Limited (UPL) and was burned down as a direct result of this rioting and looting.

Queen Nandi Drive Durban
One of hundreds of  burning buildings: Queen Nandi Drive, Durban (Credit: Kierran Allen Photography)

The Cornubia warehouse was one of many hundreds of factories, stores and warehouses that were burned down, all contributing to a toxic soup in the atmosphere.

Wildlife photographer, Kierran Allen, captures the above scene and many other shocking images. Check them out on his Facebook page and here.

The pesticide warehouse fire and spill

The UPL product list is long and includes 124 herbicides, 43 fungicides, 52 insecticides and various other chemicals. I looked through some of the categories and found atrazine, paraquat, glyphosate, chlorpyrifos and many more.

As of today, 30 days after the initial fire, the company has not disclosed which products were part of the fire and spill (more on this below).

spilled products

As a result of the warehouse fire and spill, the Ohlanga river and Umhlanga lagoon turned a strange green-blue and thousands and thousands of fish were killed. The beaches and sea water became toxic too. Koi fish in a nearby neighborhood pond died. Surfers reported burning skin while surfing at Umdloti, 12 km north of the lagoon mouth.

Individuals in the community reported headaches, burning skin and eyes, asthma, nose and throat problems, and coughing. I also saw a report of “oily black goop floating on my pool surface” and getting on the paws of their cats and dogs.

Drone Fundi published an excellent 3-minute aerial video on their Facebook page and gave me permission to snag a screenshot of the dead fish image for this blog.

Umhlanga river

umhlanga river
The toxic green-blue river/lagoon with poisoned/dead fish piling up (Credit: Drone Fundi)

Excellent coverage by environmental journalist, Tony Carnie

Environmental journalist, Tony Carnie, has provided the most comprehensive coverage in a number of excellent articles on The Daily Maverick blog:

daily maverick article

Red flags about the fire and spill that concern me

As I read the media articles, the company press releases and reached out to the company, a number of concerning red flags started showing up:

  • UPL hired a risk management company to do the press releases and respond to enquiries. I did correspond with them and although very responsive they didn’t initially provide details of what pesticides were involved and then offered a partial list
  • The first press release on July 17, 2021 mentioned a warehouse storing “plant protection products.” I had never heard this term before and had to look it up – they are pesticides and other chemicals like insecticides and fungicides. It took a good few days for this to make it into media reports
  • UPL consulted with Dr. Gerhard Verdoorn and shared this in a press releases on July 19, 2021:

    He was provided with a list of the crop solution products stored in the warehouse, and was requested to provide guidance on the possible health implications posed by the release of these products into the environment.

    In his view, there is a minimal risk of any long-term effects to the health of people exposed to smoke from the warehouse. However, exposure in the short term to some of the chemicals contained in the crop solution products may result in dermal, eye and respiratory irritation.

This does not mention that Dr. Verdoorn is an industry spokesperson and I have concerns that they continue to downplay the severity and possible long-term impacts.

This same press release did mention some of the chemicals that were in the fire:

Some of the herbicides, such as chloroacetamides (for example, acetochlor, S-metalochlor), phenoxycarboxylic acids (2,4-D, MCPA and benzoic acids, or dicamba) may not have burned out completely. Two pyrethroids – alpha-cypermethrin and lambda-cyhalothrin – which are dermal, eye and respiratory tract irritants may have been present in the smoke.

  • One of my first thoughts was why is this warehouse located so close to residential areas and why don’t they have safety measures in place
  • 30 days later there is no disclosure of what pesticides and how much (The Daily Maverick blog reports this). One article mentioned they don’t want to provoke anxiety in the community by sharing the list. Not knowing causes anxiety and concerns.
  • 30 days later there is no expert commentary on long term potential impacts (I share more on this below) and long term mitigation/cleanup and detoxification approaches for the community

After watching movies like Erin Brockovich, Dark Waters (the true story of Dupont and Teflon) and Rainmaker, red flags like this need to be documented. I’m more than happy to take all this back if and when things change.

I share all this for the residents of this area who are being impacted right now, and so you can get an idea of red flags to look out for if you encounter something like this in your neighborhood one day.

Update August 17th: The list of chemicals

According to this Daily Maverick article, Here it is: The toxic stockpile of chemicals in torched United Phosphorus Limited Durban warehouse

*More than 26 000 kilograms of Masta 900, an insecticide containing the “very potent neurotoxin” methomyl for which “contact with skin, inhalation of dust or spray, or swallowing may be fatal.”

*Another 1 800 litres of methamidophos, also a “very potent neurotoxin”.

*More than 40 000 litres of products using the herbicide paraquat which poses “high risk for all life forms”.

*Over 19 000 kilograms of Terbufos, another “very toxic” chemical presenting “high risk to all forms of life”.

*More than 600 000 kilograms of products containing tebuthiuron, a chemical classified as “very toxic to aquatic life … with long lasting effects” sold under a variety of brand names including Lava 800 and Limpopo SC.

*More than 160 000 kilograms of potassium hydroxide and 100 000 kilograms of ammonia hydroxide, both intermediate products used in manufacturing that are “extremely caustic” chemicals that burn skin on contact.

*More than 3 000 kilograms of Cyprex, a “highly active herbicide” containing halosulfuron-methyl, a product that “may damage the unborn child”, according to the European Chemicals Agency.

*More than 500 000 litres of Triclon, a product containing triclopyr butotyl and classified as “flammable, harmful and environmentally hazardous” and that “may cause lung damage if swallowed”.

*More than 30 000 litres of MSMA 720, also known as monosodium methylarsonate which has been shown to have “limited evidence of a carcinogenic effect”, and over time converts to inorganic arsenic in soil with the potential to contaminate water sources.

*More than 30 000 kilograms of oxamyl-based insecticides, including products Bandito and Oxadate, that also present “high risk for all life forms”.

*Almost 11 000 kilograms of Tenazole, containing “extremely flammable” fungicide terbuconazole.

*More than 1 000 litres of Colloso, a fungicide containing the active ingredient carbendazim which “may cause heritable genetic damage”,  “may impair fertility”, and “may cause harm to unborn child”.

Practical solutions for short-term immediate exposure

As soon as I learned what had happened I started reading everything in the local media, contacted UPL, looked up the products they carry and immediately shared Dr. Elisa Song’s 2018 blog with my sister and friends: How to Detoxify When Air Pollution is High. Dr. Song published this resource for keeping children and families safe and healthy through the tragedy of the 2018 California fire season.

I knew her advice on “Optimizing Indoor Air Quality” would be perfect for the toxic pesticide situation too:

  • keep doors and windows closed at all times
  • have separate outdoor clothes and shoes
  • vacuum daily and use a HEPA filter
  • bring plants inside to help improve air quality
  • use your air conditioner as another way to clean the air and
  • diffuse essential oils.

My additions were as follows:

  • don’t hang clothes on the washing line
  • keep your pets inside and wipe them down after they go outside
  • ideally go somewhere away from the situation
  • definitely don’t go to the source to see what is happening as exposure will likely be much higher.

I also reached out to colleagues for specific information relating to a pesticide spill and certified Toxicity and Detox Specialist, Sinclair Kennally, very kindly did a write up specially for this situation. In her blog post, Environmental Toxin Exposure: what to do when disasters hit, she shares wonderful advice on:

  • daily best practices during the disaster
  • DIY strategies to reduce toxic exposure when supplies are scarce
  • herbs that can be used for first aid in a pinch
  • most important supplements for recovery afterwards
  • using activated charcoal or zeolite on laundry loads
  • making your own air filter pet care (using apple cider vinegar and bentonite clay/activated charcoal)
  • emergency essentials (especially water).

Detoxification solutions, and respiratory and immune health

Dr. Song’s detox advice on the same blog on “Supporting Respiratory and Immune Health” is very applicable for a pesticide spill such as this and for forest fires (and other environmental pollution): “Daily epsom salt baths to support detoxification and enhance magnesium and glutathione levels,” liposomal glutathione, extra magnesium and essential oils to support detoxification, immune and respiratory health. She mentions citrus and lavender essential oils which offer the added benefit of being calming and helping with sleep too (more on that below).

On Sinclair’s blog she empahsizes “Toxin excretion is the most crucial stage of any disaster” and she discusses sauna, binders, mobilizers and support for detox pathways in great detail.

The stores were all closed because of the looting so I gathered some additional resources in case folks didn’t have certain things on hand:

  • N-Acetyl Cysteine/NAC – improves glutathione levels, is a powerful antioxidant, “acts directly as a scavenger of free radicals” and is a mucolytic (clears mucus and relieves breathing difficulties)
  • Rooibos tea – is neuroprotective and it’s “cell-protective activity …is connected with the ability of reducing glycaemia, inflammation as well as oxidative stress.” It also eases anxiety and supports healthy cortisol levels
  • Apple cider vinegar (preferably organic with the mother) – “could be promising for attenuation of liver cell damages induced by several toxins through its powerful antioxidant properties” due to its major constituents of flavonoids and polyphenols.
  • Broccoli sprouts or extract – “the sulforaphane may be exerting its protective actions by activating a signaling molecule, NRF2, that elevates the capacity of cells to adapt to and survive a broad range of environmental toxins.” The authors go on to say it’s a “frugal, simple and safe means that can be taken by individuals to possibly reduce some of the long-term health risks associated with air pollution.”  A simple way to get some of these benefits is to make your own homemade broccoli sprouts (easy and lots of fun to nurture them and watch them grow!) and to consume them daily!
  • Vitamin D3 – “vitamin D is a significant factor in detoxification and protection against environmental toxins” (used based on vitamin D levels i.e. always test first)

Sleep, stress/anxiety, pyroluria and immunity

Sinclair starts with a reminder to “be gentle and kind with yourself and others” and Dr. Song also mentions the importance of  managing stress: “Psychological stress IS a toxin and fills up our inflammation bucket as much as any physical toxin.” Dr. Song recommends some wonderful kid’s books and breathing/meditation apps.

Of course, I wholeheartedly support their sage advice. I also recommend increasing tryptophan or 5-HTP, and GABA, as needed, if you are already using these amino acid supplements. You’ll increase  tryptophan or 5-HTP for the worry-type low serotonin anxiety and/or GABA for the physical-tension low GABA anxiety.

Supporting serotonin and GABA levels also help with sleep issues and GABA also supports a good immune system.

We know these chemicals can have a direct impact on neurotransmitter levels. One example is the insecticide fipronil impacting GABA levels. In this blog I share how the main mechanism of action is by targeting the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor and that recent research points to increased anxiety, aggressive behavior, memory problems and even Alzheimer’s disease in animal studies.

Another example is the herbicide glyphosate, which affects gut microbiota, causing anxiety and depression-like behaviors in mice, very likely via alterations in GABA and serotonin levels.

I also recommend bumping up your pyroluria supplements because zinc and vitamin B6 are depleted by added stress and worry.

Potential long term impacts on mental and physical health

This paper, Environmental Exposures and Depression: Biological Mechanisms and Epidemiological Evidence shares that pesticides are “quickly absorbed through the skin, mucous membranes, gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts, and the placenta” and can cause depression via various mechanisms:

  • Inhibiting the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE), which results in decreased degradation of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine
  • Interference with the serotonergic and dopaminergic systems

Depression may also be caused by DNA methylation in specific genes, “increased oxidative stress, astrocyte dysfunction, and impaired hippocampal neurotransmission.”  Prenatal exposure also increases the risk of depression.

This chapter, Psychiatric Effects of Organic Chemical Exposure, from the book, Effects of Persistent and Bioactive Organic Pollutants on Human Health, states that:

Clinicians should remain aware that psychiatric symptoms can arise from toxic chemicals in diverse situations including terrorist attacks with chemical agents, mass chemical disasters in industrial or community settings, individual chemical accidents, and intentional solvent inhalation. Emerging evidence also indicates that prenatal exposure to organic compounds adversely affects neurodevelopment in humans and may be associated with later risk of mental illness.

Other chapters in this book cover cancer, diabetes, heart disease, obesity, thyroid function, women’s and men’s reproductive health, bone and joint health, immunity, respiratory illnesses, cognitive function and Parkinson’s disease.

All this is why we need to know what products were part of the fire and spill.

Resources if you are new to using the amino acids as supplements

If you are new to using the amino acids tryptophan/5-HTP or GABA as supplements and want to know more in case you need them in a future situation, here is the Amino Acids Mood Questionnaire from The Antianxiety Food Solution (you can see all the low serotonin symptoms here) and a brief overview here, Anxiety and targeted individual amino acid supplements: a summary.

If you suspect low serotonin or low levels of any of the neurotransmitters and do not yet have my book, The Antianxiety Food Solution – How the Foods You Eat Can Help You Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood, and End Cravings, I highly recommend getting it and reading it before jumping in and using amino acids so you are knowledgeable. It also covers all the basics of a healthy diet that Dr. Song recommends.

The book doesn’t include product names (per the publisher’s request) so this blog, The Antianxiety Food Solution Amino Acid and Pyroluria Supplements, lists the amino acid products that I use with my individual clients and those in my group programs.

With much appreciation to Dr. Song, Sinclair for their helpful resources, the journalists, advocates and photographers, and to all the researchers.

Have you (or a loved one) experienced a pesticide or other environmental spill/disaster (or excessive smoke from a forest fire) and have these detox approaches and anxiety/sleep recommendations helped (or are they helping right now)?

Do you have any additional tips to share?

Feel free to post any questions here too.

Thyroid health and anxiety: fluoride, mercury, nitrates, phthalates and other toxins

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thyroid health and anxiety

Dr. Amy Myers MD, author of The Autoimmune Solution, The Thyroid Solution and The Autoimmune Solution Cookbook, presented on thyroid health at the recent Bioceuticals Conference on Autoimmunity in Melbourne. I promised to share some highlights from her presentations (she did 4 different ones) and since toxins play such a huge role when it comes to anxiety, I’m sharing some highlights from the toxins presentation and the top thyroid toxins you need to avoid: mercury, perchlorate, halides or halogens, nitrates, plastics and parabens and phthalates. These toxins all also play a role in anxiety too.

We also have a new meta-analysis published earlier this month: Association of Depression and Anxiety Disorders With Autoimmune Thyroiditis – A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis confirming what functional medicine practitioners like Dr. Amy Myers, Dr. Mark Hyman and Dr. Izabella Wentz have been educating about for years:

Patients with AIT [autoimmune thyroiditis] exhibit an increased chance of developing symptoms of depression and anxiety or of receiving a diagnosis of depression and anxiety disorders.

Taming the toxins is one of 4 pillars that Dr. Myers covers in her approach for preventing and reversing autoimmune disease:

Pillar I: Heal your gut.

Pillar II: Get rid of gluten, grains, and legumes.

Pillar III: Tame the toxins.

Pillar IV: Heal your infections and relieve your stress.

Dr. Myers shared the top thyroid toxins you need to avoid:

  1. Mercury
  2. Perchlorate
  3. Halides or halogens
  4. Nitrates
  5. Plastics
  6. Parabens and phthalates

“A 2011 study found that women with high mercury exposure are 2x more likely to have positive thyroid antibodies.” The paper: Mercury and thyroid autoantibodies in U.S. women, NHANES 2007-2008, reports this increase for thyroglobulin autoantibodies.

As far as anxiety is concerned, Kris Homme shares much evidence to support her belief that mercury toxicity is a likely root cause of the other root causes of anxiety in our Anxiety Summit interview.

Halogens or halides also have an impact on thyroid health. In areas where fluoride is added to the water there are “2x the rates of hypothyroidism than non-fluoride areas.”

Bromine is also an issue and is found in “flame retardants, plastics, many baked goods and citrus flavored drinks.”

GABA in relation to thyroid health and fluoride was not covered in the presentation but there is research showing that GABA reversed fluoride-induced hypothyroidism in an animal study. I blogged about this research here: GABA protects against hypothyroidism caused by fluoride and reduces anxiety. The fluoride-exposed mice that were subsequently treated with GABA were found to have improved results for T4, T3 and thyroid hormone-binding globulin (TBG levels) and healing of the structural abnormalities in thyroid follicles that were observed after fluoride exposure.

The authors conclude with this statement, reporting that GABA acted as a natural antioxidant:

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to establish the therapeutic efficacy of GABA as a natural antioxidant in inducing thyroprotection against fluoride-induced toxicity.

The amino acid GABA  helps with physical-tension and stiff-and-tense-muscles type of anxiety, often in certain settings like public speaking or driving, and the need to self-medicate to calm down, often with alcohol but sometimes with carbs and sugary foods. Insomnia can also be due to low GABA and you’ll experience physical tension (rather than the ruminating thoughts which is the low serotonin type of insomnia – although it’s not uncommon to experience both). GABA also helps ease panic attacks, muscle spasms and pain relief when muscles are tight.

“Nitrates, found in fertilizer and foods, resemble iodine enough to block thyroid hormone absorption.” In one study, Nitrate intake and the risk of thyroid cancer and thyroid disease women were found to be “more likely to develop thyroid cancer with higher nitrate levels in the water.” Research shows similar results with nitrites and children and thyroid cancer.

Since the amino acid taurine offers neuroprotection against ammonia in the central nervous system I suspect GABA may offer some protection against nitrates too.

Parabens and phthalates found in many personal care products (and fast-foods) “mimic estrogen and disrupt the hormonal cascade”, with higher estrogens resulting in higher TBG (thyroxine binding globulin).

“A CDC study found phthalates were 39% higher in the urine of individuals who ate 35% of their calories from fast food.” This CNN article: Fast food serves up phthalates, too, study suggests covers many of the hormonal impacts

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists released a report in 2013 stating that high levels of exposure to phthalates could lead to adverse reproductive outcomes in women. Research has linked these chemicals with increased risk of fibroids and endometriosis, which can cause infertility, and reduced IQ and behavioral problems in children exposed in the womb. High phthalate levels have also been linked with diabetes risk in women and adolescents.

There are countless ways that people can be exposed to phthalates. They are found in soaps, perfumes, nail polish, medications, and we can ingest, inhale and absorb them through the skin.

Out of all these routes of exposure, however, diet is emerging as a major one.

Dietary exposure is a major route of exposure of phthalates and this is one of many excellent reasons to cook and eat home-cooked meals. Dr. Myers makes it easy for you in her wonderful new book The Autoimmune Solution Cookbook.

Mycotoxins from mold are also an issue as is poor mouth health. I was pleased to see EMFs mentioned as it is a growing concern and is under-rated as having harmful effects on the thyroid and when it comes to unresolved anxiety, SIBO, oxalate issues and high cortisol.

As far as detoxification, Dr Myer’s has these general recommendations:

  1. Infrared sauna
  2. Glutathione, the master antioxidant and detoxifier
  3. Milk thistle, magnesium and alpha-lipoic acid (ALA)
  4. Cruciferous vegetables such as cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage
  5. Sulfur rich foods such as onions, garlic, eggs

In her bestselling book, The Autoimmune Solution (my Amazon link), Dr. Myer’s covers the four pillars in great detail. You can read more about taming the toxins in this blog post.

Have you identified and eliminated exposure to these toxins and seen improved thyroid health and/or reduced anxiety? Is ongoing detoxification a priority for you?

Nutritional and lifestyle support for mercury toxicity and detoxification in general

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I’ve poured through most of the transcripts of the Heavy Metals Summit and there is so much information on nutritional and lifestyle support for mercury toxicity and the detoxification process in general:

  • sweating and using a sauna in order to detox through the skin
  • broccoli sprouts (due to a glutathione boost from sulforaphane, an organosulfur compound – in Julie Matthews’s interview)
  • reducing EMF/ELF and microwave exposure – in Dr. Mercola’s talk! He shares how all this can make matters worse and has some simple approaches like turning off power in the bedroom at night! This was new to me and a brilliant approach!
  • eating organic (to minimize GMO/glyphosate effects on a leaky gut and a leaky blood brain barrier) and never using Roundup
  • addressing low zinc and low selenium
  • supporting methylation so the body can detox on it’s own
  • supporting the liver and increasing bile production which is needed for detoxification
  • addressing low stomach acid which is needed for bile production and absorption of minerals like zinc (which is depleted by heavy metals)
  • avoiding meds like PPIs (which reduce stomach acid) and NSAIDs (which contribute to leaky gut)
  • thyroid support/iodine (as needed)
  • getting the brain’s glymphatic system working with sufficient sleep, melatonin (liposomal) and even liposomal GABA (in Dr. Christine Schaffer’s interview)
  • supporting the vagus nerve in order to improve digestion and detoxification
  • using an air filter and water filters
  • using foods/products like curcumin, ginger, probiotics, apple pectin
  • adding DPP-4 enzyme for gluten issues (mercury depletes this)
  • avoid energy-efficient bulbs (they are high mercury)
  • having Epsom salts baths
  • improving elimination from the bowels and much more

This is the support I offer as a nutritionist and it’s wonderful to hear all these doctors/practitioners discuss about all this with a tie back to mercury, lead and other metals.

Whey is not mentioned on the summit but since someone shared how it’s benefiting her (in the comments of the Boyd Haley blog) I’m sharing here too since it helps with glutathione production. In this paper “a case is made for the use of hydrolyzed whey protein to support metal detoxification and neurological function.” I recommend whey to clients if tolerated.

Many years ago I heard a presentation by a biological dentist who then became a nutritionist – he shared that he used whey with mercury toxic patients (together with other nutrients) and saw metals go up in hair analysis and then come down as their symptoms improved.

As I’ve mentioned in the past, mercury chelation is a controversial topic and you’ll see comments very divided on what the safest approach is. This is not my area of expertise and I’m very cautious with recommendations in this area as I’ve had reports of harm from individuals using all the approaches you’ll hear about on the summit (and even the Andy Cutler protocol which is not covered). My best advice is to follow all the nutritional/lifestyle recommendations and if you do decide to go the chelation root, do your homework, find a practitioner to work with and listen to your gut. If what you’re doing doesn’t feel right then stop doing it.

As with any chronic health condition, mercury detox is a comprehensive approach and very individualized.

There is also a discussion about safe removal of amalgams/mercury fillings. They do need to be done safely so as not to cause further issues. The IOMT also offers excellent guidelines.

The summit also covers other metals like copper (Ann Louise Gittleman covers this and I blog about it here), arsenic (Dr. Joseph Pizzorno covers this – reducing consumption is a big factor; and non-organic chicken is a source) and aluminum.

You can still register here to hear day 7 interviews and the encores: The Heavy Metals Summit.

Have you seen benefits with a nutritional approach?

Anxiety and the adrenals: low zinc and high copper

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two-girls

Anxiety, feelings of constant overwhelm and fatigue, plus insomnia, sugar cravings, the inability to control blood sugar, lack of mental clarity… these symptoms can be due to adrenal issues and this condition is brutally disruptive. And yes, you can suffer from all of the above at once!

In just a few weeks, from November 7-12, my colleague and good friend, NY Times bestselling author Dr. Alan Christianson will be hosting The Adrenal Reset Summit. It’s co-hosted by nutritionist Evan Brand.

I cover the Adrenals and Anxiety in my interview with Dr. Christianson and a few of the aspects we cover are low zinc and high copper.  

Here is a snippet from me about zinc:

zinc is very underrated as being a nutrient that is commonly deficient and certainly when it comes to anxiety, it’s a huge factor. We have the zinc-copper imbalance and when we’ve got very high copper levels and low zinc levels, we may feel more anxious. But zinc is really, really important for so many things. I just mentioned serotonin, it’s really important as a cofactor for making serotonin and the other neurotransmitters like GABA which is a calming neurotransmitter.

It’s really, really important for adrenal function as well. There was actually a really nice paper that was published in December 2015 [Effects of Physical Activity on Trace Elements and Depression Related Biomarkers in Children and Adolescents], looking at children and adolescents and found that children and adolescents with lower levels of zinc also had low serotonin, they had high copper levels, and they also had lower cortisol levels, and sometimes, they had high cortisol levels. So, it varies but they definitely have issues with their cortisol levels and that’s obviously going to be a big factor when it comes to how they’re able to handle stress, what their mood levels are going to be like, what their cognitive function is going to be like, and everything else. So, zinc is a really important thing. It’s not talked about a lot and it’s something that is definitely a big factor.

I didn’t share this specific information during the interview but here are some of the results from the above study:

Older children, especially girls, had higher levels of depression. Participants with moderate and severe depression had significantly lower physical activity, serotonin, and zinc levels, zinc/copper ratios, and significantly higher copper and cortisol levels.

Physically active boys showed significantly lower depressive scores and improvement in cortisol, serotonin, copper, and zinc concentrations compared to girls of sedentary life style.

A little later in the interview Dr. Christianson shares what happened to him when he was inadvertently exposed to high levels of copper:

This is a brief insight I won’t go too far into but there was a period of time I was studying with a Vedic practitioner and there were these various rituals that I had to do. One of them was involving putting liquids in these containers and drinking and doing [some of these] meditations. The historical vessels [that] were used were copper-based and I got pretty toxic at one point. I had these horrible leg cramps. I really lost my capacity for exercise. It was very dramatic. I had a hard time climbing stairs and odd mood changes and odd twitches and what not. I finally realized that was the culprit and yeah, I did mega doses of zinc which I normally would not have tolerated well but I did fine with during that time and recovered from that. So, those are a real thing! (laughs)

adrenal-reset-summit

I hope you can join us for the summit! The line-up is excellent. Here are a few of the many excellent speakers and their topics:

  • Chris Kresser, M.S., L.Ac – Is Adrenal Fatigue Real?
  • Steph Gadreau, CHNP – Perfectionism and Adrenals
  • Aviva Romm, MD – Adrenal Adaptogens
  • Ben Lynch, ND – Adrenals and Methylation
  • Wendy Myers, FDN, CHHC – Heavy Metal Toxicity
  • Dan Kalish, DC – Adrenal Neurotransmitter Connection
  • JJ Virgin, CNS, CHFS – Preventing Adrenal Burnout
  • Julia Ross, MA – Neurotransmitters and the Food Mood Connection

You can register here https://uo178.isrefer.com/go/arsScott/trudyscottcn/

Breast cancer: DCIS, thermography, estrogen, toxins, glutathione and anxiety

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breast-exam

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month so I’ve gathered some wonderful information and resources for you about DCIS, thermography, prevention by addressing estrogen dominance, avoiding endocrine disruptors and environmental pollutants and finally how to boost glutathione for detoxification support.  

Ductal carcinoma in situ/DCIS: many don’t even consider this cancer

My good friend and fellow nutritionist Robin Nielsen recently posted about this on Facebook and because it was so beautifully said, I asked if I could share it:    

A neighbor just told me this morning that she had a double mastectomy in early August due to cancer, stage 0. And then she told me it was “Ductal carcinoma in situ”. I know many women who have reversed this by changing their diet and lifestyle. This is a touchy subject for many, but it breaks my heart to see women removing their breasts when there’s a chance they don’t have to.

If you are in the thick of this right now, trying to decide what to do, do your research. Get lots of opinions from integrative practitioners. Many don’t even consider this cancer.

And if you’ve had this done yourself, you made the right choice. Because whatever we decide for ourselves is right. Sending love out to all women who have had to make this decision.

I asked Robin to share one of her articles and here it is: What You Need to Know About Your Beautiful Breasts and Breast Cancer. These factors have a big impact on our beautiful breasts:

  • The food you eat: inflammatory vs. anti-inflammatory
  • The quality and quantity of sleep
  • The toxins you’re exposed to: environmental, body care and household products, poor quality foods, toxic people, toxic habits and more
  • Your perception of stress and our ability to manage the stress in our lives
  • Your thoughts
  • And other lifestyle factors like exercise, relationships, your sense of community, etc.
  • How you deal with your emotions – your ability to express yourself
  • Your body’s nutrient status – especially Vitamin D3
  • Your ability to restore, nourish and love yourself, i.e. learning how to receive
  • The bras you wear – studies have shown that wearing a bra that’s too tight can restrict vital blood flow and can contribute to toxin build-up in your lymphatic system

Thermography for early detection and accurate test results

A thermogram image (from http://earlybreastscreen.com/)

Here are The Best Breast Cancer Screening Tests – 6 Reasons Why I Recommend Thermography from Dr. Christiane Northrup, M.D.’s blog:

  1. Good for young, dense breasts and implants. Younger breasts tend to be denser. Thermography doesn’t identify fibrocystic tissue, breast implants, or scars as needing further investigation.
  2.  Detect cell changes in arm pit area. The arm pit area is an area that mammography isn’t always good at screening.
  3.  Great additional test. Thermography can be used as an additional test to help women and their care teams make more informed treatment decisions.
  4.  It Doesn’t Hurt. The pressure of a mammogram machine is equivalent to putting a 50-pound weight on your breast, which can be quite painful for most women.
  5.  No radiation. Another reason the United States Preventative Services Task Force reversed its aggressive mammogram guidelines was because of the exposure to radiation. It’s well known that excessive doses of radiation can increase your risk of cancer. It’s ironic that the test women are using for prevention may be causing the very problem they’re trying to avoid in the first place! And this doesn’t even touch on the harm done to the body from unnecessary biopsies, lumpectomies, mastectomies, chemotherapy, radiation treatment, and so forth.
  6. Thermography is very safe. Thermography is even safe for pregnant and nursing women! It’s merely an image of the heat of your body.

Estrogen dominance as a cause of breast cancer and how to prevent it by eating for hormonal balance

breast-cancer-prevention

Magdalena Wszelaki, founder of Hormones Balance, shares some signs of estrogen dominance as the leading cause of breast cancer: Breast Lumps? Thyroid Nodules? Horrendous PMS? Endometriosis? In her wonderful article: The Breast Cancer and Estrogen Link | 15 Ways to Prevent and Manage Breast Cancer Naturally, she covers how to move from fear to empowerment and prevention by eating for hormonal balance. The article covers estrogen dominance in detail addressing:

  • Most Breast Cancers are not Genetic
  • How Breast Cancer Forms and Multiplies
  • How Estrogen Feeds Cancer
  • Signs of Estrogen Dominance (ED)
  • Not All Estrogens Are Bad

But the big takeaway is that as Magdalena says:

You have more power over your risk of breast cancer than you think. There are many steps you can take to protect yourself. Each one of them has other positive domino effects for your hormonal balance and overall health.

She shares how to rotate seeds into your diet to balance hormone levels, how to increase cruciferous vegetables like kale, broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage and how to love your liver. Here are some of Magdalena’s tips for supporting your liver which she calls the “Estrogen Detox Ally”:

A sluggish liver does not carry out its important job of filtering toxins, chemical byproducts and hormonal metabolites from your body. This can leave you with high circulating levels of the dangerous estrogen metabolites. For Breast Protection:

  • Add bitters in the form of dandelion leaves and root, burdock, chicory root, parsley, radicchio or bitters in tincture form. They stimulate bile production which then helps “flush out” estrogen and other steroid hormones.
  • Add fiber, my favorite being 2 tablespoons of freshly ground golden flax seed. Fiber promotes good bowel movement which is essential in carrying out the toxic estrogens. Chronic constipation can contribute to the re-absorption of antagonistic estrogens back to the blood stream.
  • Add one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar or half a lemon to a glass of warm water and drink it before breakfast in the morning. This helps stimulate the gallbladder to release the bile which is instrumental in “flushing out” estrogen.

Be sure to read the entire article here to read more about gut health, red meat, wine, toxins, inflammation, exercise, smoking, the birth control pill (I also covered this and FAM in a recent blog on the connection to subsequent SSRI use), sleep and finally stress and cuddling!

If you want to learn more I encourage you to check out Magdalena’s no-cost “How to Use Food To Rebalance Your Hormones” Online Workshop.

cooking-for-balance

Avoiding endocrine disruptors and environmental pollutants

My friend and colleague Dr. Heather Paulson is the author of the soon to be released Textbook of Naturopathic Oncology. She is board certified in naturopathic oncology providing expert cancer care while creating a plan that restores health. She integrates her specialization in cancer and her love of nutrition, herbs, homeopathy, counseling, traditional healing, and current research to support you during your cancer journey and for cancer prevention. Dr. Paulson shares this about avoiding endocrine disruptors and environmental pollutants:

Endocrine disruptors are things in our environment that influence our hormonal system. You have probably heard about how plastics have been causing young boys to have feminine breasts. This plastic phenomenon is due to plastic disrupting the endocrine (or hormonal) system in boys. But the endocrine effects of environmental pollutants impacts both men and women. Some of the most common endocrine disruptors you are coming on contact with include plastic, pesticides, fragrances, beauty products, and cleaning products. Eliminating these from your personal environment is a critical piece of cancer prevention that is often missed.

She created this quiz How Toxic Is Your Home to help you see how well you are doing with endocrine disruptors. You can also find several checklists on her website to help you eliminate the necessary chemicals from your kitchen, yard, bedroom, and bathroom.

Boost glutathione levels to support the body’s detoxification channels

green-asparagus

 

And finally, my friend and colleague (and fellow South African) Kirsten Nussgruber shares the importance of reducing the toxic burden. When faced with the biggest challenge of her life – being diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer twice within a short three year period – Kirsten was forced to completely reevaluate what she believed was already a healthy lifestyle and now advocate for:

  • Eating clean and real food
  • Applying clean cosmetics and skin care products
  • And supporting the body’s detoxification channels

Kirsten shares the role of glutathione and ways to support body’s detoxification channels by boosting glutathione levels, often called your master detoxifier.

In its role as detoxifier it plays a crucial role in helping the body bind and get rid of many environmental toxins such as herbicides, pesticides, fungicides, insecticides, solvents, dyes, plastics, detergents and nitrosamines often found in processed foods.

Glutathione is also known to be cancer-preventing and has been found deficient in cancer patients. It can strengthen natural killer cells, a part of your immune system you want to have ready for action at all times!

In her blog post, she covers glutathione supplementation and shares a list of whole foods that boost glutathione production:
asparagus, acornsquash, avocados, broccoli, cabbage, cantaloupe, garlic, grapefruit, leeks, okra, onions, oranges, peaches, potatoes, spinach, strawberries, tomatoes, walnuts, watermelon, and zucchini.

Don’t be driven by fear and anxiety

As I said in my 2013 Breast Cancer Awareness blog: don’t be driven by fear and anxiety, instead use these wonderful resources as tools so you can be proactive and prevent breast cancer.

If you do get to a place where the anxiety and fear becomes overwhelming, don’t forget about the targeted individual amino acids like GABA and tryptophan for eliminating the anxiety and worry, obsessive thinking, negative self-talk, insomnia and overwhelm.

Here’s to beautiful healthy breasts for you and every woman!