Toxins We Consume Daily

Vitamin A has been shown to be poisonous in large quantities but is essential to life as a micronutrient.

Similarly many of us take a daily multivitamin and mineral supplement containing all manner of minerals and metals which have been proven to be toxic in large doses, but which are essential to life in minute or ‘trace’ quantities.  Common examples are selenium (found naturally in Brazil nuts), chromium, potassium (found in bananas), copper and zinc.

Vegetables

Being able to taste bitterness in food and drink is thought to be protective, as bitter substances are often poisonous and to be avoided.  But some vegetables such as Brussels sprouts often taste bitter but yet are not toxic, but good for us! Scientists now say that is because they contain low doses of substances identified as toxic. 

Fasting

You may have seen a previous article on the beneficial effect of fasting in helping to slow down the aging process.  It is thought that at least part of this may be due to fasting working as a stressor, stimulating repair mechanisms.

Exercise

It is well-known that when we exercise, damage in the form of tiny tears, is inflicted on muscle tissue.  The body repairs it by taking the muscle apart and rebuilding it, making it stronger. This is considered by some to be a form of hormesis, with exercise acting as a stressor, and might account for the benefits claimed for exercise in terms of preventing diseases and helping us live longer, healthier lives.

Another way in which exercise demonstrates the principle of hormesis is that it is thought to cause generation of free radicals which are now known as reactive oxygen species (ROS).  These are potentially harmful substances which are linked through a process called oxidative stress, with a number of diseases, including cancer, and with the ageing process.  So how is this beneficial?  Well the level of ROS produced is sufficient to stimulate natural mechanisms to combat them – such as natural antioxidants, DNA repair and protein degrading enzymes.  So exercise results in a reduction in diseases caused by oxidative stress and slowing down of the ageing process. 

So next time your children refuse to eat their sprouts because they taste bitter, tell them they have to taste nasty to do good!