← The Ultimate Human with Gary Brecka
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From the moment you wake up, invisible toxins are flooding your body. From the deodorant you swipe on to the nonstick pan you fry your eggs in to the air you breathe during your commute. Toxins are harmful substances that can negatively affect the body's cells, organs and systems, even in small amounts. In our modern world, most of the toxins we encounter are man made chemicals. They're found in plastics, processed foods, cleaning agents, personal care products, and even in the air we breathe. They enter the body through the skin, through the lungs, and even through the digestive system. And they often silently accumulating over time. These silent saboteurs are hijacking your hormones, inflaming your gut, and speeding up cellular aging. You don't have to live in a bubble, but you do need to live with intention. The truth is ultimate. Human Think your home is a safe haven. Think again. From the moment you wake up, invisible toxins are flooding your body. From the deodorant you swipe on to the nonstick pan you fry your eggs in to the air you breathe during your commute. These silent saboteurs are hijacking your hormones, inflaming your gut, and speeding up cellular aging. But here's the good news. Once you know where they're hiding, you can kick them out. And for good. Welcome back to the Ultimate Human Podcast. I'm your host, human biologist Gary Breckett. And in this episode, we we're pulling back the curtain on the uncomfortable truth. Most of us are living in a toxic environment. Just like when a fish gets sick, we clean the tank not from air pollution or factory smoke, but from the everyday products you trust the most. Your toothbrush, your gum, even the cup your coffee comes in. These aren't trace exposures. They're daily assaults on your hormones, your mitochondria, and your immune system. But knowledge is power. And when you know where toxins are hiding you, you can take control and upgrade your biology. So let's dive in. Toxins are harmful substances that can negatively affect the body's cells, organs and systems, even in small amounts. Some are naturally occurring, like heavy metals or mold spores. But in our modern world, most of the toxins we encounter are man made chemicals. They're found in plastics, processed foods, cleaning agents, personal care products, and even in the air we breathe. They enter the body through the skin, skin, through the lungs, and even through the digestive system. And they're often silently accumulating over time. And while the body is designed to detox through the liver, the kidneys, the gut, the skin, and even our sweat. Our current exposure levels can overwhelm these systems, leading to inflammation, hormonal balances, fatigue, and even chronic disease. Common types of these toxins include endocrine disruptors. You might have heard this word, but these are endocrine disruptors that interfere with hormones like BPAs or thylates. There are also neurotoxins. These harm the brain and the nervous system like heavy metals and solvents. There are carcinogens, which are things that are linked to cancer, like formaldehyde and certain preservatives. And then there are the immunotoxins, which weaken the immune system, like pfas, the polyfluoro alkyls and mold toxins. So where are they hiding? Well, synthetic material in our cars and homes release semi volatile organic compounds, or SVOCs, like fluids, phthalates, polyfluoro alkyl substances, commonly called PFAS, and flame retardants. When they're heated, these aren't chemically bound, so they often outgas easily, especially when cars reach an interior temperature over 80 degrees Celsius. Due to the tight space and the high surface to air ratio. Car cabins become hot boxes of airborne toxins. These SVOCs are linked to hormonal disruptions affecting fertility, thyroid metabolism, and even childhood brain development. Even our dishwashing detergent. Automatic dishwashing detergents adds especially liquids and pods, are formulated with powerful alkaline substances, corrosion inhibitors and enzymes that can be harmful if you ingest them, you inhale them, or even if you touch them. Young children, by the way, are especially vulnerable. This exposure can occur when curious little hands reach for detergent pods or they open the dishwasher doors. There are even some common harmful ingredients in dishwasher detergents, like fragrance chemicals. These are linked to asthma, natural neurotoxicity, and even cancer. Phylates, which often carry fragrances, can actually damage our DNA, lower our IQ, and even disrupt our hormones. Isothiazolanones can trigger allergic reactions, neurotoxicity, and irritation to the skin, the eyes and the lungs. SLSS when you see these on labels, these are sodium lauryl sulfates, a surfactant that may irritate skin and even damage the eyes. Very high. Alkaline liquids with pHs up to 13 can cause internal burns or swelling if ingested, particularly in children. And cookware adds to this toxic load. Your cookware might be also leaching toxins into your food, especially under high heat or when scratched or damaged. Toxic chemicals in cookware include these polyfluoro alkyls. These pfas, especially in these non stick cookware pans, they cause hormone disruption and immune issues. And black plastic utensils. These are recycled E waste with flame retardants. These brightly colored glazes, they can actually leach heavy metals like lead or or cadmium. Even our laptop computers, our phones and our electronics. Recent studies have shown that using laptops and phones directly on your body can expose you to electromagnetic fields and electric currents that far exceed the safety recommendations of the products themselves. In a recent study, it was found that laptops emitted EMFs of up to 49.8% above safety limits. And chargers were even worse, generating currents up to 483% higher than what's considered safe for adults. This is why I always tell my clients not to plug these in next to your nightstand at your bed at night. These invisible currents can penetrate deeply into the body and pose serious health risks, especially with prolonged exposure. Exposure to EMFs also significantly increases the production of reactive oxygen species Ross or unstable molecules that attack your DNA. They attack your proteins and they even attack your lipids. This imbalance leads to oxidative stress which can damage cells and overwhelm your body's natural defenses. Over time, this stress has been linked to major health concerns including neurolog disorders, heart disease, reproductive issues and even an increased risk of cancer. Even more concerning, EMFs may interfere with critical antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase and catalase, which is your body's built in system for neutralizing harmful free radicals. When these enzymes are impaired, your ability to repair and protect cells diminishes, paving the way for chronic inflammation, accelerated aging and even long term health complications. Despite their names, laptops and phones are not safe to use directly on your lap or your body. So doing so can expose you to hidden radiation, elevate your oxidative stress and even silently weaken your body's natural defense systems. Aluminum cans and coffee cup linings are another villain. You might be shocked to learn that nearly all aluminum cans are lined with plastic. This lining serves a dual purpose. It prevents the beverage from corroding the metal and it stops them from tasting metallic. However, it also introduces hidden chemicals into your drinks. These plastic linings can contain harmful substances like bisphenols or BPAs, a notorious hormone disrupting chemical. Even if a can is labeled BPA free, manufacturers often replace BPA with similar chemicals like bps or bpf, which still carry health risks. These chemicals in the lining can leach into the drink over time, especially in Beverages with high acidity like sodas and energy drinks, which is where you find a lot of these aluminum cans. Cans. Prolonged exposure to these chemicals has been linked to several health concerns, including hormonal imbalances, reproductive issues, increased risk of certain cancers, behavioral changes in children, which I've talked about a lot of times on my podcast. The issue isn't just limited to beverages, however. Canned foods like vegetables, soups, and even meats also have plastic linings. This lining not only extends shelf life, but it also prevents corrosion, though it comes at a significant cost. The potential for harmful chemicals to leach into the food. So acidic foods are particularly susceptible, as their acidity can cause the plastic to break down faster and release these chemicals right into your meal. You might think that cartons are a safer alternative. However, many cartons, especially refrigerated ones, are lined with plastic, making up about 20% of the carton structure. This polyethylene plastic comes into contact with the contents, whether it's milk, juice or broth. So even though these cartons are often marketed as more eco friendly, they still contain harmful plastic that can leach into chemicals and right into your food. And finally, our toothbrushes, our floss, and our chewing gum. You might not think twice about your daily dental routine, but some of the products we rely on for oral health come with surprising toxic baggage. Dental floss, especially glide styles designed for smooth movement, have been found to contain these high levels of pfas, polyfluoroalkyl substances, the notorious forever chemicals that accumulate in the body over time. And your body has a very difficult time getting rid of, if at all. A study published in the Journal of Environmental Health Perspectives found that women who used oral b glide floss had higher blood levels of something called PFHXs, a type of PFAS associated with immune and hormonal disruption, than those that did not use the same type of dental floss. Toothbrush handles may also contain pfas because they're treated with plastics, and these plastics are designed for durability and resistance to wear. Since PFAs are not bound tightly to materials, there is a huge concern about potentially leaching when we have them in frequent use. Chewing gum is another stealthy source of synthetic exposure. Many gums contain plastics or synthetic rubbers like polyvinyl acetate, which is a preservative, and titanium dioxide, which is used for the coloring. Recent research has found that gums release thousands of microplastic particles into your saliva, and within minutes of chewing these gums, these particles can contribute to inflammation, end to oxidative stress in your body, from skin foundation to deodorant. Many of these personal care products contain endocrine disrupting chemicals such as parabens, phthalates and synthetic fragrances or pfas. These substances are absorbed through the skin and have been found in human blood and urine, indicating a systemic level of exposure. EDCs and personal care products have been linked to oxidative stress, inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction, all of which are implicated in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome. Parabens and phthalates, for instance, have been shown to disrupt estrogen and androgen signaling, potentially leading to hormone related cancers and reproductive issues. PFAS are often added to make up for water resistance and durability, and they're not only persistent in the environment, but they're also bioaccumulative, meaning they build up in the body over time and may alter lipid metabolism, increasing insulin resistance. So how do you detox to reduce your toxic load? Start by ditching the plastic. I know it's hard, but just make an effort to ditch as much of the plastic as possible. Switch to glass, ceramic, stainless steel or silicone containers and never heat your food in plastic. Yes, even if it's labeled BPA free. Skip the plastic utensils and drinkware too. Let the air flow by cracking your car window before driving and using a HEPA air filter purifier in your home to reduce VOCs and airborne chemicals from from paint, furniture and heating systems. Next, try cleaning up your kitchen. Cook with cast iron, ceramic or stainless steel. Some of these stainless steel products are surgical stainless steel and they don't leach any chemicals into your food. Instead of non stick pans, filter your water using a reverse osmosis system that remineralizes your water to remove heavy metals and microplastics. Always scan your label guys. Avoid products that list fragrances, parabens, sodium lauryl, sulfate, phylates or even pfas. Use tools like EWG Skin Deep to vet your personal care products and your hygiene products. These are free tools that you can use that will guide you to chemical free living. Support your body's detox pathways through nutrition, loading your meals with cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, kale and brussels sprouts, even regular sauna session and adding herbs like cilantro and parsley, which can help bind toxic heavy metals. Include probiotic rich foods like kimchi, sauerkraut and kefir or other fermented vegetables to support your gut and eat plenty of fiber to help eliminate toxins. Under professional guidance, you might even consider adding activated charcoal, chlorella or milk thistle to your routine to support your liver's detoxification and binding some of these toxic chemicals and carrying them out of the body. And remember, sweat it out. Use an infrared or dry sauna and try dry brushing and exercise regularly. One of the best ways to flush toxins is through sweat and through your lymphatic system. Remember, our lymphatic system is a static system so we need our muscles contracting in order to eliminate this waste. And do your best to reduce EMF exposure by using wired headphones, turning off your wi fi at night and keeping your laptops and phones off your body whenever possible and away from your head at night, especially if they're plugged into the wall. Be mindful of your gum and floss. Choose plastic free floss made from silk or biodegradable materials and go with gum brands that don't contain plastics, BHT or artificial sweeteners. Brands like Simply Gum or Zelli's are great options. And finally, reduce everyday exposure with smarter cookware. Look for labels like PFA free, PFC Free or PFOA Free. Or opt for stainless steel, cast iron or carbon steel over nonstick. Never microwave black plastic ever ever ever. And avoid putting cast aluminum in the dishwasher. You can also begin by replacing your scratched or aging pans. Use only cookware that's labeled dishwasher safe to prevent chemical breakdown during cleaning. You don't have to live in a bubble, but you do need to live with intention. The truth is toxins are everywhere but so are your choices. By becoming more aware and making smarter swaps, you're not just protecting your health, you're investing in your energy, your longevity and your future. Every small change adds up. If you want to see how I do this, even how I navigate a toxic free light while I'm on the road. Go over to theultimatehuman.com and sign up to be one of my VIPs where you'll get all kinds of behind the scenes content. You'll get live Q&As with me. I'll show you everything that's in my kitchen. I'll show you what toothbrushes I'm using, what toothpaste I'm using. I'll let you have a full view into how you can design a chemical free lifestyle. And that's just science.