By Elizabeth Renter, Natural Society, http://naturalsociety.com/safe-levels-food-contaminants-contribute-chronic-disease-risk/

We are exposed to countless pollutants on a daily basis in our food, air,  water, clothing, and homes. And while many of them are known to be toxic, the  consequences of low-level exposure are largely unknown. Despite the FDA  and EPA claiming safety for the small amounts of contaminants we’re exposed to,  a recent study indicates that long-term, low-level exposure to food contaminants could result  in an increased risk of chronic diseases associated with metabolic function like  diabetes.

If you eat right and exercise but are still unable to improve your health,  these low-level toxins could be to blame.

Researchers studied two groups of obese mice—both receiving a diet of  high-fat and high-sugar content. One group also received a “cocktail” of  pollutants at a low dosage from pre-conception to adulthood. Those mice  experienced unforeseen health effects.

Read: Study  Finds Even ‘Safe’ Levels of Sugar Aren’t Safe

Though they didn’t experience weight gain or toxicity, the female mice fed  the pollutants did become glucose intolerant, suggesting possible effects on  insulin signaling. In the males, results were different, with no change in  glucose tolerance but negative changes in liver functioning related to  cholesterol synthesis.

“This report that confirms something we’ve known for a long time: pollution  is bad for us,” said Gerald Weissmann, M.D., of The  FASEB Journal. “But, what’s equally important, it shows that evaluating  food contaminants and pollutants on an individual basis may be too simplistic.  We can see that when “safe” levels of contaminants and pollutants act together,  they have significant impact on public health.”

The results suggest these low-level pollutants, present all around us, could  be contributing to chronic diseases.

“This study adds evidences for rethinking the way of addressing risk  assessment especially when considering that the human population is widely  exposed to low levels of thousands of chemicals, and that the health impact of  realistic mixtures of pollutants will have to be tested as well,” said Brigitte  Le Magueresse-Battistoni, from the French National Institute of Health and  Medical Research (INSERM). “Indeed, one pollutant could have a different effect  when in mixture with other pollutants. Thus, our study may have strong  implications in terms of recommendations for food security. Our data also bring  new light to the understanding of the impact of environmental food contaminants  in the development of metabolic diseases.”

Unfortunately, the FDA  is failing to keep our food safe. As conscientious consumers who  know the government won’t step up to further regulate toxic exposure and  corporations behind the pollutants in our water and food supply won’t likely be  proactive, we have a duty to keep ourselves healthy in spite of the pollutants  around us. This can be done by minimizing exposure through the consumption of  natural organic foods and by detoxing our bodies on a regular basis through  natural means.

Additional Sources:

Medical News  Today

1. Mortality Rate Doubles: Study Shows that even “Safe” Levels of  Sugar Aren’t Safe
2. Study: Even Low-Level Pollution can Increase Cancer Risk
3. Chronic Disease to Cost $47 Trillion by 2030
4. Turmeric Shown to Cut Heart Disease, Diabetes Risk
5. Study Finds Teas to Contain High Levels of Fluoride – Could Lead  to Fluoride Labels on Food
6. Fish  Mercury Levels: 1/4 Freshwater Fish Exceed ‘Safe’ Mercury  Levels