Fluorine is the worlds 13th most abundant element (0.08% of the earths crust). It’s a highly dangerous element which has caused many deaths in laboratory experiments. Despite it’s explosive nature. Fluorine can be processed to remove the explosive compounds. This process is referred to as ‘fluoridated’. It creates Fluoride, a negatively charged fluorine ion.
Fluoride is added to public drinking supply and toothpaste due to research showing the negatively charged ions can help prevent tooth decay but reacting with minerals in our saliva and encourages them to bond to teeth, creating a protective layer.
However, increasing knowledge on the potential side affects of fluoride ingestion is becoming increasingly apparent:
As fluoride is non-necessary additive, the body doesn’t know what to do with it. This means the ion runs free around the body as it can’t remove large amounts. This causes accumulation on the surfaces it can stick to, bones. Skeletal fluorosis is an increasing build up of fluoride on the bones. It causes stiffness of tendon and reduced range of motion.
A similar dental condition can occur at the teeth ‘dental fluorosis’. Which is especially apparent in children with their baby teeth. It can lead to abnormal colouring and grooves when the adult teeth emerge.
It’s these conditions that you see in countries heavily dependent on ground water. In fact, most European countries have stopped fluorinating their water due to its adverse effects.
The takeaway is fluoride consumption should be greatly considered especially in childhood where the bones and teeth are still developing. Due to it’s naturally occurring nature fluoride cannot be completely removed from the body. Common methods for REDUCING fluoride from the diet include:
- Don’t drink fluoridated water; distilled/spring water and water filter jugs are available for a small price.
- Don’t use/swallow fluoride toothpaste; Toothpaste has been show to have high levels of fluoride, look at the ingredients list. You can buy no fluoride options online.
- Cut down on intake of processed foods; the process foods are made with my fluorinated water. eat organically.
- Drink tea with younger leaves; teas is shown to have high levels of fluoride especially in older leave beverages, Try tea with younger leaves for minimal consumption of fluoride and better health boosting properties.
- Avoid non-stick Teflon pans; Research has shown this lead to an increase in fluoride in water, stick to stainless steel to reduce levels.
- Stop eating mechanically deboned chicken; the process that debones chicken released fluoride into the meat, as the bone is where the fluoride is stored
