A healthy immune system defends the body against disease and infection. But if the immune system malfunctions, it mistakenly attacks healthy cells, tissues, and organs. Called autoimmune disease, these attacks can affect any part of the body, weakening bodily function and even turning life-threatening.

Recent epidemiological studies have shown that the incidence of autoimmune diseases has increased over the past 25 years. Indeed, according to a research round-up article from the prestigious scientific journal Nature, a team of researchers has shown that antinuclear antibodies — a type of autoantibody that is a common biomarker of autoimmune disease — have become increasingly prevalent in the US population over the past 25 years.[1]

Besides the Western diet, which is characterized by a high intake of processed foods, red meat, refined carbohydrates, etc., there is another major factor which explains this increased incidence of autoimmune diseases: exposure to environmental toxins. Many research papers have pointed to a possible causal link between exposure to these toxins (which includes heavy metals, pesticides, chlorinated solvents, asbestos) and an increased risk of developing autoimmune diseases. Sources of the aforementioned toxins are food, water, air, lining of cans, cleaning supplies, ink, etc.

There are many mechanisms, some more complex than others, through which exposure to environmental toxins contributes to autoimmune disease. Examples of such mechanisms that can cause immune disruption following toxic chemical exposure include: toxic chemicals can induce epigenetic expressions, bind to immune and endocrine receptors throughout the body and promote immune dysregulation, bind to nucleic acids and promote anti-nuclear autoimmunity, deplete antioxidant reserves, promote immune barrier degradation, induce lymphocyte dysregulation, and alter normal antigen-presenting responses.[2]

So, what can you do to minimise your exposure to environmental toxins? With regards to heavy metals, avoiding fish with high levels of mercury (e.g. shark, swordfish, ray), bone broth which is often contaminated with lead and e-cigarettes, which contain cadmium, are all good ways to avoid them. In the past, many home-building products and materials had asbestos in them. Common products with asbestos are ceiling tiles, insulation in walls and attics and material sprayed on walls to soundproof or decorate them. To avoid inhaling asbestos fibres, take precautions to avoid damaging asbestos material. To avoid pesticides and chlorinated solvents, try to use non-toxic home cleaning products.

Toxicity and environmental toxins have been linked to autoimmune diseases by causing dysregulation of the immune system. Hence, minimising one´s exposure to these toxins is a major way to reduce the risk of developing autoimmune diseases.

It is of paramount importance to find detoxifying strategies to eliminate or substantially reduce this toxic burden from our bodies (blood, tissues and cells). Reinforcing the natural detoxification of your body can help you fight back and restore functionality and the immune system.

[1] https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01834-x

[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8325494/

In his critical book entitled “Why We Age-and Why We Don´t Have To”, genetics professor at Harvard Medical School Dr. David Sinclair defines telomeres as a cap that protects the end of the chromosome from attrition, analogous to the aglet at the end of a shoelace or a burned end of a rope to stop it fraying.[1] It is well established that as we age, telomere length shortens. After telomeres shorten to a certain length, a cell stops dividing and becomes senescent. Consequently, telomere length is a crucial biomarker of ageing.

If telomere length is such a major biomarker of ageing, we may ask ourselves: can we, through lifestyle changes and diet (including intermittent fasting), increase telomere length and/or decrease the rate of telomere shortening? There has been mounting evidence that the answer to this question is yes[2]! The focus of this particular article is to explore and summarize the relationship between exposure to all kinds of environmental toxins and telomere length. Future articles will discuss the impact and effect of lifestyle changes and diet on telomere length.

Environmental toxins include: air pollution, pesticides, ionizing radiation, heavy metals, among others. Reports that several air toxics, such as benzinidine, were associated with shorter relative telomere length. [3] Findings suggest an association between occupational exposure to pesticides and shorter telomere length.[4]

In conclusion, there is mounting evidence that environmental toxicity, in all its sources and forms, a risk factor which surrounds us everyday, shortens telomere length and, thus, negatively impacts our healthspan and lifespan. It is of paramount importance to try to avoid such exposure as much as possible and to find detoxifying strategies to eliminate or reduce substantially this toxic burden from our bodies (blood, tissues and cells).

[1] Lifespan: Why We Age – and Why We Don’t Have To. Book by David A. Sinclair PhD.

[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3370421/

[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7517667/

[4] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35914599/