Hi there,
Is Eric Thompson here, still writing from the breathtaking vistas of Torres del Paine.
I’m surrounded by the majestic beauty that only Patagonia can offer…
And I can’t help but share a nice conversation I just had with Ana and Luis.
Remember the friends I mentioned in my last newsletter, the ones in the Argentinian Patagonia?
Well, their newborn is growing beautifully…
I remembered that it took them a while to conceive.
This got me thinking…
It seems like I’m hearing more about fertility issues these days than ever before.
So, I dove headfirst into some research…
And stumbled upon something that really caught my eye:
The controversy surrounding fluoride and its impact on fertility and development.
Fluoride and IQ Levels
If you are a new subscriber, let me briefly explain the fluoride controversy.
For decades, fluoride has been added to public water supplies to prevent tooth decay.
It’s hailed as one of the greatest public health achievements of the 20th century.
But, as with all good tales, there’s a twist.
A recent study from Canada has thrown a wrench into that subject.
Researchers looked into whether maternal fluoride exposure during pregnancy affects the IQ of children.
What they found was startling:
Exposure to fluoride during pregnancy was linked to lower IQ scores in children aged 3 to 4 years.
This suggests that the fluoride intake during pregnancy might need to be reconsidered.
Now, let’s get something straight.
The controversy around fluoride isn’t new.
For as long as fluoride has been added to water, there have been voices of dissent.
But, much of the disagreement has been brushed aside…
With health authorities standing firm on the safety of fluoridation.
After all, it’s reached over 400 million people worldwide.
Yet, despite its widespread acceptance…
The question of its potential neurotoxicity has lingered like a shadow.
Why the resistance to reevaluating fluoride's safety?
The Canadian study was part of a larger effort to fill a gap in our understanding.
Despite over 75 years of fluoridation…
There had been no North American studies examining its safety during pregnancy.
When this study reported that higher fluoride exposure in pregnant women was associated with lower IQ scores in children…
It wasn’t just a drop in the bucket.
It was a cannonball.
Critics were quick to challenge the methodology, but the fact remains:
This isn’t an isolated finding.
Four well-conducted studies over the last three years…
Have consistently linked fluoride exposure in pregnancy with adverse outcomes for children.
This raises an important question:
Why has there been such resistance to reevaluating fluoride’s safety?
The answer, as with many things in life, isn’t straightforward.
There’s a tendency to dismiss new evidence if it doesn’t align with established beliefs.
This cognitive bias is a hurdle for science and public health.
It delays the response to early warnings that fluoride might not be as benign as we thought…
Especially for the most vulnerable among us – fetuses and infants.
Yes, fluoride has been instrumental in reducing dental decay…
But if evolving evidence suggests a need for caution, especially during critical periods like pregnancy…
Shouldn’t we listen?
Fluoride and Fertility
I stumbled upon a detail that added another layer to the fluoride controversy.
There’s growing evidence pointing to fluoride’s impact on our hormonal balance…
Particularly concerning our reproductive system.
Fluoride seems to affect our sex hormone levels in ways that could hinder fertility…
And throw a wrench into the delicate machinery of puberty.
Here’s the science in layman’s terms:
Many studies have found that sodium fluoride can lead to an increase in TSH levels…
(Thyroid-stimulating hormone, for those not versed in endocrinology)…
This, in turn, can decrease the concentrations of T3 and T4…
Two crucial hormones produced by the thyroid that play a pivotal role in everything from our metabolism…
To our growth and development.
What’s the big deal, you ask?
Well, these hormonal imbalances can have profound implications for fertility.
For couples dreaming of starting a family, like Ana and Luis…
The quality of the water they drink might be more important than they realized.
But the ripple effects don’t stop there.
During puberty, a time of significant physical and hormonal change…
The impact of decreased T3 and T4 levels can be particularly disruptive.
This phase in life is crucial for the development of our sexual organs and the onset of menstruation in women…
As well as the deepening of the voice and growth of facial hair in men.
Fluoride interference in this process, which can have long-lasting effects on our health and well-being.
This information adds an important dimension to the fluoride debate.
The majority of studies supporting these findings emphasize the need for a cautious reevaluation of our current fluoride policies…
Especially considering the potential for wide-ranging effects on public health.
The Takeaway
These findings are just a reminder of the importance of staying curious and open-minded…
Of being willing to question and reevaluate in light of new evidence.
So, what’s the takeaway from all this?
First, it’s a call to action for further research.
We need more studies, more data, to fully understand the impact of fluoride exposure during pregnancy.
But it’s also a personal reminder.
Let’s stay informed, ask questions…
And make choices that reflect not just the best science of yesterday…
But of today and tomorrow.
So I urge us all to remain curious, open, and engaged.
The world is full of wonders and mysteries…
And it’s only by questioning that we can hope to uncover the truth.
Until next time,
Eric Thompson