Obesogens: Pesticides

by | Nov 3, 2018 | Weight Management

Pesticides

Chemical pesticides in both food and water have been linked to increased weight in children and insulin resistance in rodents. (1,2)

Are Pesticides only in my Food?

No, pesticides are also in your water and in many of your cleaning and household products.

Water:

Typical tap water contains trace amounts of Atrazine, an herbicide used in many row crops.  Atrazine has been linked to abdominal obesity and insulin resistance in rats. (3)

Considering most drink more water while trying to lose weight, the quality of your water should not be ignored.

For more on the quality of your water supply and its impact on your weight, read Liz’s Acadiana’s Green Moms  article on,  “Is Water Making You Fat?”

“I Don’t Think that Trace Amounts are that Big of a Deal.”

This is something I hear often.

Here’s my question to you, “How many people do you know, maybe even yourself, who take as few as 5-10 milligrams of  a medication for treatment of health concerns such as depression and diabetes gain as much as 20 or more pounds?”

I have seen patients in my office lose 20 pounds in a matter of weeks after being taken off of certain medications.

Yes, trace amounts of chemicals can trigger weight gain.

Weight gain is not just about counting calories.  It’s also about counting chemicals.

Besides food and water, where else are pesticides in my home?

Cleaning products such as disinfectants are registered pesticides.  Many spray pesticides in the air even though the product is not considered an air freshener.  Also, bug and pest control sprays are pesticides.

How Do I Reduce my Exposure to Pesticides?

  1.  Buy organic fruits and vegetables, especially the Dirty Dozen.
  2.  Buy organic dairy products including butter and cream.
  3.  Buy grass fed beef and poultry from your local farmers.
  4.  Convert your home to greener products.  Visit Acadiana’s Green Moms for more information.
  5.  Install a Water Filtration system in your home for least drinking and cooking.

Final Note:

I realize that much of what is recommended can be overwhelming and daunting.  Begin by making small changes and work towards the bigger goal of living a cleaner and greener lifestyle.  Take each step one at a time and before you know it, you will be on your way to living a more chemical free lifestyle.

References:

  1.  http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/1103862/
  2. http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0005186
  3. http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0005186