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Most people don't think twice about turning on the tap to fill a glass or take a shower. In truth, not only should you be thinking twice about using that water straight out of your tap, you ought to be limiting your exposure to the chemicals found in nearly every municipal water source in the United States.
Chlorine and fluoride are routinely added to water in the name of protecting public health, but there are some things every person should know about the dangers of these two substances.
Chlorine is added to kill harmful bacteria such as typhoid, cholera and dysentery. That's the good news. Sanitizing the drinking water allows industrialized countries to avoid these common diseases that plague other parts of the world.
The bad news is that chlorine reacts with other substances in our water, such as bits of animal and plant material, and creates trihalomethanes (THMs). THMs are known carcinogens.
Drinking chlorinated water containing THMs puts people at greater risk for urinary tract, kidney, and especially bladder cancer. Consuming chlorine is, unfortunately, not the only risk. Exposure to chlorine in showers and bath water allows the chemicals to enter the body through the skin. Some studies show that frequent swimming in chlorinated water increases the risk of bladder cancer by more than 50 percent.
Fluoride is added to tap water under the assumption that it promotes strong teeth and has other beneficial value to humans. The research on such claims is highly disputed. The facts show that drinking fluoridated water increases lead levels in children's blood (lead exposure causes developmental problems), contributes to brittle bones in older people, and damages the brain. Some research even indicates that fluoride contributes to migraines, dementia and depression.
Many in the United States use fluoride toothpaste in addition to drinking fluoridated water, further increasing their exposure to this toxic chemical. The American Dental Association has done an excellent job of hiding the dangers of fluoride and convincing people that their teeth will be soft and cavity-prone without fluoridated water and fluoride toothpaste. The research simply does not back up their arguments.
So what can you do to protect yourself from chlorine and fluoride? First, quit drinking tap water. Use bottled water without added chlorine and fluoride, distilled water, or local spring water. For a more longterm fix, install a Brita or Pur faucet-mounted cabon filter that removes chlorine, fluoride and other chemicals. You could also use a Brita or Pur filter pitcher. Reverse osmosis units can be easily installed under your sink and can be purchased at a reasonable price. A good filter that can be easily screwed on your shower head is good added protection from many of these chemicals.
The ultimate solution is to install a whole-house water filtration system. These systems remove harmful contaminants before they ever come out of your tap. Each of these options is relatively inexpensive, yet provides peach of mind for you and your family.
Considering that aging well in part depends on your ability to rid the body of excess chemical waste, a small investment in prevention could pay large dividends for feeling and looking great at any age.
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