by Kelley Herring
Dioxins are a broad group of environmental contaminants lurking in many of the foods you think are safe and even healthy.
With names like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzo furans (PCDFs), and polychlorinated dibenzo dioxins (PCDDs)-these dangerous contaminants have been characterized by the Environmental Protection Agency as carcinogens. They have also been found to cause a wide range of detrimental health effects on hormone systems, fetal development, reproductive capacity and immune function. At high levels, dioxins cause a serious skin disease in humans called chloracne.
According to the Food and Drug Administration, most dioxin exposure occurs through the diet, with over 95% coming through the dietary intake of animal fats, specifically beef, pork, poultry, fish and dairy products.
The good news is that choosing meats and poultry raised organically and wild-caught fish can greatly reduce your exposure to these harmful substances. And there's no shortage of great recipes featuring SOLE foods (sustainable, organic, local and eco-friendly) at Healing Gourmet. Use our Personalized Recipe Search to find sensational recipes to suit your health needs and taste preferences.
When Does Farming Mean Harming?
If you’ve been eating farm-raised fish, you may have high levels of cancer-causing compounds called PCBs. A recent survey conducted by the Environmental Working Group found that 7 out of 10 pieces of supermarket salmon were so contaminated with PCBs they exceeded the standard of safety set by US health agencies 100 times over!
What’s more, the PCBs you consume in farmed fish today will stay in your body until 2025! But there is a simple detoxification procedure found to reduce PCBs in the body by 46%.
Learn more about testing your levels, detox methods and how to steer clear of PCBs on p. 17 of 20 Tests Your Doctor Hasn’t Performed, And Should!
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