Many of us took new year’s resolutions to eat healthier, get fitter, and detox our lives as best we can. Now we have good news for you: Those healthy living choices may also help you to reduce the level of toxic PFAS “forever chemicals” in your body. Read on to learn more.
Background: What are PFAS and why do they matter?
Maybe you already know about PFAS. But in case not, here’s a quick recap. PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. These manmade molecules contain multiple carbon-fluorine bonds which makes them extremely stable chemically. This stability also means PFAS is one of the most widespread environmental pollutants.
PFAS is linked with multiple health effects including:
- Kidney, pancreatic, and testicular cancers
- Dyslipidemia (increase in bad cholesterol)
- Cardiovascular disease
- Male infertility
- Reduced birth weight
- Immune system issues including reduced vaccine response
PFAS chemicals exhibit many useful properties which have seen their use skyrocket over the years. Chances are if something is greaseproof, non-stick, stain-resistant, or water-resistant, it probably contains PFAS. And as a result, your body almost certainly contains PFAS as well.
Healthy lifestyle choices that might reduce PFAS
Fortunately, many aspects of a healthy lifestyle seem to help reduce the negative impacts of PFAS, potentially reducing PFAS levels in your blood.
1, reduce cholesterol
There is a clear link between higher PFAS and increases in bad cholesterol. This is a key reason why PFAS is also linked with cardiovascular disease. But is this a two-way relationship? If increased PFAS is linked with increased cholesterol, does reducing cholesterol reduce PFAS? Well yes, or so this 2023 study suggests!
2, increase dietary fiber
Eat more fiber! That’s been the mantra for healthy living for many years, and for good reason. Dietary fiber, especially soluble fiber, is truly a super food. It helps with gut health, reduces cholesterol, stabilizes blood sugar, and helps maintain a healthy weight. But research also shows a correlation between increased fiber intake and reduced PFAS.
3, take probiotics
Probiotics are regularly touted as the answer to many of the health complaints that plague our modern society. Probiotics, or good bacteria, are essential for gut health and have many other beneficial side effects. Now it seems that some probiotics may also help bind PFAS in the gut and thus reduce exposure.
Other ways to reduce PFAS
Research into reducing PFAS is still in its infancy. The 3 approaches above are all part of a healthy lifestyle and if they reduce PFAS that’s a big bonus. But there are some other proven ways to reduce PFAS exposure if you’re worried.
Watch your food
One of the most common routes of PFAS exposure is eating and drinking. Here’s a few ways to avoid consuming so much PFAS:
- Don’t consume take out drinks and food. Or if you do, try to choose re-usable containers. That’s because most of the packaging is coated in PFAS to make it grease and water proof.
- Eat more organic or home-grown vegetables. PFAS is widely used in pesticides, and this means it accumulates in the plants as they grow. Organic food hopefully has fewer pesticides and thus less PFAS.
Be aware of PFAS in drinking water
An astonishing proportion of US water supplies are contaminated with PFAS. And sadly, evidence shows that bottled water is often just as bad. Our advice? Avoid bottled water, and use high-performance water filters at home. If you want to check whether your home may be affected, have a look at the EWG PFAS map.
Make changes around the home
There’s lots of other ways to reduce PFAS in the home. Here’s a few to try:
- Replace any non-stick cookware with PFAS-free alternatives. This includes ceramic, stainless steel, and cast iron.
- Replace your waterproofs with PFAS free alternatives. Most modern waterproofs use PFAS membranes and coatings.
- When you replace carpets or furniture, avoid stain resistant coatings.
The important role of PFAS testing
With health scares like PFAS it’s vital to understand exactly what your own exposure is. You can do this by taking a PFAS blood test like our convenient PFAS Core Panel. This can be taken at home and just needs a small amount of blood from a finger stick. Once you know your current levels, you will know whether you need to reduce your exposure or not. Regular PFAS tests will help you monitor the effectiveness of any lifestyle changes you make.
Disclaimer: This article is for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing in this article or on the web site represents medical advice or an offer of medical, diagnostic, or treatment products or services. Anyone concerned about their health should consult a licensed medical professional.
