Discover the damaging health effects of toxicants.

What are toxicants? 

Toxicants are manufactured harmful substances such as insecticides and many other industrial chemicals released into the environment by human activities. These different types of toxicants are carcinogens, allergens, neurotoxins, and endocrine disruptors. Exposure to toxicants can have long-term health impacts. The effect of toxicants on health is determined by the chemical released, the type and concentration of the chemical, and where it is found.

The average person is exposed to thousands of chemicals in their environment each day: perfumes, cosmetics, cleaning products, water bottles, and foods can have harmful toxicants such as pesticides and herbicides, to name a few. While you can limit your exposure to some of these toxicants, it is impossible to avoid them altogether. With the increased usage of toxicants, many Ithaca, New York residents may be concerned about the health effects of toxicants. 

Signs or symptoms of toxicants on your health

Whether you are eating a delicious meal at a restaurant or trying out a new perfume or shampoo, you are consuming or applying chemicals from preservatives, artificial dyes, and additives. Unfortunately, small amounts of toxicants may go unnoticed; we tend to be exposed to toxicants from an early age. If the body is not well enough to detox them, they accumulate in the body, causing harm. 

The liver and kidneys work to filter toxicants from the blood. Then, the toxicants are expelled either through excretion or sweat.  

Signs of toxicant buildup may include:

• Hair loss
• Skin issues such as rashes 
• Brain fog or memory problems
• Headaches
• Mood swings
• Fatigue
• Trouble sleeping
• Constipation
• Digestive issues such as nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting
• Bad breath
• Body odor 
• Depression 
• Anxiety 
• Inability to lose weight 

Health effects of toxicants

Most chemicals are considered dangerous because they cause harm when they contact the human body. They poison the body, creating damage that keeps the body from functioning normally. With long-term buildup, toxicants can harm your health. 

Toxicants damage enzymes and tissues that are essential for your organs to function correctly; they can cause a range of health problems, including:

Cancer – Hazardous material exposure contributes to the development of various cancers as the toxins can damage or alter your cells. While you can control your exposure to the sun’s damaging rays or cigarette smoke, other carcinogens may be present in the environment or your foods and are harder to avoid.

Cardiovascular disease – Exposure to toxicants, such as herbicides, puts you at risk for developing heart disease. 

Anxiety and depression – Certain toxicants can impair the nervous and endocrine systems leading to mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, mood swings, and insomnia.

Diabetes – Toxicants may be stored in fat cells, causing weight gain, metabolism, and insulin function changes. This can make maintaining your blood sugar levels challenging and cause diabetes.

Parkinson’s disease – Exposure to environmental chemicals such as pesticides, heavy metals, and solvents causes damage to the nervous system and increases the risk of Parkinson’s.

Tips to reduce the buildup of toxicant overload

To avoid the toxic overload of chemicals and damage to your body, consider the following tips:

• First, eat organic foods whenever possible.
• Install water filters and air purifiers in your home; we recommend New Wave Enviro for a water filter.
• Use phthalate and paraben-free products; we recommend products such as Beautycounter.
• Support your body with whole food, herbal remedies, and homeopathy supplements under the care of a health care practitioner.

At Nutritional Wellness Center, we work to determine specific supplementation through Nutrition Response Testing® to help your body restore its normal function so that it can eliminate toxicants that may be impacting your health. 

Contact the Nutritional Wellness Center in Ithaca, New York, to learn more about it. Call (607) 277-1964 or email [email protected] 

Disclaimer: Nutrition Response Testing® is a service mark owned by Freddie Ulan. Nutrition Response Testing® is a non-invasive system of analyzing the body to determine the underlying causes of ill health. When these are corrected through safe, natural, nutritional means, the body can repair itself to attain and maintain more optimum health. The FDA has not evaluated the statements in this article.