Carine Pieterse
Natural Health
Brisbane Bayside
Carine Pieterse
Natural Health
Brisbane Bayside
Carine Pieterse Natural Health Brisbane - Logo
Carine Pieterse
Natural Health
Brisbane Bayside

Health News Articles

Environmental Toxins Affecting Thyroid Health

Picture of Carine Pieterse

Carine Pieterse

Clinical Naturopath
Nutritionist
Homeopath
Iridologist

Brisbane Bayside

naturalhealth.net.au

Ready to get started on a healthier you?

Book your online appointment here

Visit our Contact page

Environmental Toxins Affecting Thyroid Health

Share this Post

Facebook
Pinterest
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

The thyroid gland is very susceptible to damage from environmental toxins.  This is because a lot of these toxins have a structural similarity to thyroid hormones, so therefore easily absorbed.  There are thousands of chemicals in our environment and the safety of most of these chemicals haven’t been tested. On a daily basis, we can be continually exposed to a high volume of toxins in our homes, which we absorb through our skin and breathe in, affecting our thyroid and other functions.  Look out for these toxins and see where you can gradually reduce and change to an alternative:

  • Pesticides
  • BPA – found in plastics such as water bottles, heating up food in plastic, glad wrap
  • Triclosan – anti-bacterial in soaps
  • Perchlorate thiocyanate – Perchlorate is in the production of leather, rubber, paint and batteries.  It accumulates in our soil, groundwater, and food grown in contaminated soil. Drinking water, grains, produce, and dairy products from animals raised on contaminated soil may contain elevated levels of perchlorate fertiliser, smoking
  • Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB’s) – these toxins are used in lubricants, and in the production of plastics, adhesives, and paints
  • Products high in VOC’s (volatile organic compounds) such as paint, carpets, curtains, flooring
  • Mercury  – Common sources of mercury exposure include dental amalgams, seafood, and pollution from coal-burning power plants.  Mercury reduces iodide uptake, therefore, inhibits thyroid hormone production
  • Lead – contamination to lead has increased substantially due to industrialization, mining, and the previous use of lead in petrol. Lead is also found in paint in older homes, inexpensive metal jewellery, and children’s toys.
  • Perfluorinated compounds – these compounds can act as endocrine disruptors and is widely used in consumer goods including food packaging, paper wraps, firefighting foams, pesticides, textiles, industrial surfactants and emulsifiers, and Teflon

This reference article from the University of California San Francisco – Study Finds Wide Exposure to Environmental Toxics in Cohort of Pregnant Women, regarding the high absorption of environmental toxins by the foetus, indicates that our exposure to toxins starts at a very early age already.

This probably all looks like doom and gloom information because we can’t control all our exposure.  Though here are some tips on things that you can control and reduce:

  • Drink only filtered water
  • Look at the Clean Fifteen, Dirty Dozen food lists showing which foods absorb less chemicals and are good to eat non-organic.  The Dirty Dozen – best to eat these foods organic and the Clean Fifteen food list would be fine to eat non-organic
  • Look at this list (see list below) to see which fish are high in mercury to avoid
  • Ensure you have optimal selenium and iodine levels – make an appointment to do the necessary tests
  • Stop use of chemical, synthetic soaps, creams, cosmetics and change to natural, organic products
  • Stop using “non-stick” cookware and change to Neoflam cookware/stainless steel cookware/ceramic cookware made by Xtrema/Glass cookware

References:

High Mercury Fish To Avoid

  • Southern Bluefin Tuna
  • Spanish Mackerel
  • Sailfish
  • Rays
  • Gemfish
  • Orange Roughy
  • Ling
  • Grouper
  • Marline
  • Barracuda
  • Shark (flake)
  • Swordfish
  • Wahoo
  • AVOID: Farmed Barramundi

Low mercury fish

  • Prawns
  • Lobsters
  • Oysters
  • Salmon
  • Canned tuna
  • Sardines
  • Calamari
  • CONSUME: Wild Barramundi

Sources

  • Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ)
  • Fishers For Conservation Inc (FFC)

Are you wanting to optimise your health?

More health articles to explore...

Turmeric - The Spice of Life - Carine Pieterse - Natural Health
General Health Advice

Turmeric – The Spice of Life

In recent years, Turmeric has been promoted from just a humble ingredient in curry dishes to taking its place on the menu of most hipster …

Read More →
Woman Sleeping - The Importance of Sleep | Carine Pieterse - Natural Health
General Health Advice

The Importance of Sleep – Improving your Sleep Hygiene

How many hours are you sleeping a night? Are you perhaps compromising on your sleeping hours so that you can get more things done? Poor …

Read More →
Anxiety and the Gut-Brain Connection - Natural Health Carine Pieterse
Digestive Health

Anxiety and the Gut-Brain Connection

Latest research indicates there’s a strong connection between your gut health and mental health such as anxiety and depression. Are you experiencing uncomfortable and at …

Read More →