New research has shown that exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) may be responsible for high blood pressure in middle aged women. PFAS chemicals are some of the most harmful toxins ever created because they are nicknamed “forever chemicals”. They never break down and they accumulate in our bodies, especially in the fatty parts and the liver.

In a large, prospective study, scientists found a strong association between higher blood levels of PFAS chemicals and an increased risk of hypertension in middle aged women. Women with the highest PFAS concentrations had a 71 percent greater risk of developing hypertension. According to Sung Kyun Park, ScD, MPH, of the University of Michigan, "Our findings suggest that long-term exposure, even before midlife, may increase the risk of high blood pressure, and therefore, the benefit of reducing the population exposure to PFAS and potential prevention of high blood pressure and other health conditions would be enormous. PFAS are forever chemicals as well as everywhere chemicals”. Researchers have found these chemicals in the blood of people living in every continent.

I well remember a middle-aged female patient with uncontrollable high blood pressure even though she was taking concurrently five different blood pressure medications (anti-hypertensive drugs). I sent her to a health retreat for a 2-week detox and within one month her blood pressure was normal and she was only taking a low dose of one blood pressure medication. If the liver is overloaded blood pressure is much harder to control.

PFAS are forever chemicals as well as everywhere chemicals

PFAS are everywhere – they are used to prevent food sticking to pots and pans, to treat furniture and rugs and make rain repellent rain coats. They are also used in food wrap, sprays for shoes and leather, paint, floor wax and some shampoo.  The major brands containing PFCs include Teflon, Scotchgard, Stainmaster and Gore-Tex.   This means the chemicals are virtually indestructible, and some members of the PFAS family never degrade.

PFOA and PTFE are types of PFAS, and are used in the manufacture of Teflon.  They are released into the air when Teflon cookware is heated to high temperatures.  If you use this kind of non-stick cookware, you will be breathing in toxin fumes, and they will enter your food.  It is well known that if you keep a pet bird in the kitchen while heating a non-stick pan to high temperatures, the bird can die.  These fumes are highly toxic to birds! The inner lining of most air fryers contains PFAS.

PFAS don’t just raise the risk of high blood pressure. Numerous studies have linked PFAS chemicals to an increased risk of the following conditions:

  • Increased risk of kidney and testicular cancer
  • Reduced immune response to vaccines
  • Increased cholesterol
  • Increased liver enzymes
  • Small reduction in infant birth weight
  • Increased risk of pre-eclampsia in pregnant women

What you can do to minimize exposure to PFCs

Here are some tips:

  • Do not use Teflon or other non-stick cookware in your home. Stainless steel is the healthiest cooking surface.  To prevent food from sticking use a little water, olive oil, coconut oil or animal fat.
  • When purchasing furniture or carpet, do not have them treated to be stain resistant. This will prevent these chemicals emitting into your home.
  • Do not buy clothing that bears the Teflon label, or indicates it has been treated for water, dirt or stain repellency.
  • Minimise the amount of packaged and fast food in your diet. Often these containers are coated with PFAS to prevent grease from soaking through the packaging.  PFAS are used in containers such as hot chip boxes, pizza boxes and microwave popcorn bags.
  • Do not heat food in a plastic container in a microwave oven.
  • Use a good quality water filter
  • Do not buy personal care products that contain “fluoro” or “perfluoro” in the ingredients list. They are commonly found in nail polish, pressed powders, lotions and shaving cream.

What you can do to increase elimination of PFAS chemicals from the body

Take supplements which help your liver to detox your body from chemicals. Livatone Plus has been designed by a team of medical doctors and naturopaths and contains a combination of ingredients to support the phase one and phase two detoxification pathways in your liver. These liver pathways break down fat-soluble toxins into water soluble forms and only then can they be excreted from your body in water-soluble fluids such as the bile, sweat, saliva and urine. The bile is an important route the liver uses to eliminate toxic chemicals which are then carried out of the body via the bowel actions (feces).

  • N-Acetyl-Cysteine (NAC) is an excellent supplement to improve the ability of the liver and the immune system to metabolize and eliminate toxic chemicals in a way that they cause less harm in the body.

Other simple techniques to eliminate toxic chemicals include drinking more water, having a regular sauna and exercise program that raises a sweat.

We have been complacent with the use of these toxic chemicals and it is impacting on our internal body environment and also on our planet.

 

References

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances and Incident Hypertension in Multi-Racial/Ethnic Women: The Study of Women's Health Across the Nation | Hypertension (ahajournals.org)

https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/pfas/health-effects/index.html

The above statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease.