Concerned about the potential dangers of fluoride exposure? You should be!
If so you’d be interested in using a water filter to remove fluoride from your drinking water. In this blog post, we'll explore the potential benefits of using a water filter to remove fluoride, as well as the potential dangers of excessive fluoride exposure.
I. What is Fluoride and Where is it Found?
Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that is often added to drinking water and oral care products to help prevent tooth decay. It’s found in soil, rocks, and water sources around the world.
The addition of fluoride to public water supplies began in the 1940s and has since become a widespread practice in the United States and many other countries.
Other sources of fluoride include certain foods, beverages, and medications. Foods and beverages that contain high levels of fluoride include tea, fish, and processed foods. Certain medications, such as antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs, may also contain fluoride.
Despite its widespread use, research suggests that fluoride can have harmful effects on human health.
II. Potential Dangers of Fluoride Exposure
Exposure to high levels of fluoride can cause a range of adverse health effects. Dental fluorosis is a condition that occurs when the teeth are overexposed to fluoride during development, resulting in discoloration, pitting, and other cosmetic defects. Skeletal fluorosis is a similar condition that affects the bones, causing stiffness, pain, and fractures.
In addition to these conditions, excessive fluoride exposure has been linked to neurological damage, endocrine disruption, and decreased IQ in children. Some studies suggest that fluoride may interfere with thyroid function and contribute to increased risk of bone fractures in adults.
Infants, young children, pregnant women, and individuals with kidney disease may be particularly susceptible to fluoride toxicity. These populations are advised to limit fluoride intake and take precautions to minimize exposure.
III. The Benefits of Using a Water Filter to Remove Fluoride
One of the most effective ways to reduce fluoride exposure is to use a water filter that removes fluoride from drinking water. There are a number of different types of water filters on the market, each with its own pros and cons.
Reverse osmosis filters are one choice for removing fluoride from drinking water. These filters use a semi-permeable membrane to remove impurities from water, including fluoride. While reverse osmosis filters are effective at removing fluoride, they can be expensive and may also remove beneficial minerals from water. And because they remove everything from water, you end up drinking a quite unnatural form of water. Natural water, to which our bodies are accustomed, has dissolved alkaline minerals.
Activated alumina filters are another option for removing fluoride from water. These filters use a special material made from aluminum oxide to trap fluoride molecules. Activated alumina filters are less expensive than reverse osmosis filters, but they may require more frequent replacement.
Note: Alaminium oxide is not the same as aluminium. Some detractors of this method have asserted that becasue ‘aluminium’ is used, and because aluminium has been associated with Alzheimers’, we should not use aluminium oxide. A well designed water filter uses NSF and FDA approved activated alumina along with other filter media that works synergistically to improve AA’s performance. In the AlkaWay UltraStream water filter, for instance we also use catalytic carbon, KDF85 and zeolite to support AA.
Carbon filters are a third option for removing fluoride from water. While these filters are not specifically designed to remove fluoride, they can be effective at reducing fluoride levels in water. Carbon filters are also relatively inexpensive and easy to use. Again, the UltraStream uses catalytic carbon which is far more effective than basic granular carbon.
IV. How to Minimize Fluoride Exposure
In addition to using a water filter to remove fluoride, there are a number of other steps individuals can take to minimize fluoride exposure. These include:
- Avoiding fluoridated oral care products
- Limiting consumption of foods and beverages that contain fluoride
- Supporting policies that prioritize safe and healthy drinking water
By taking these steps, individuals can help protect themselves and their families from the potential dangers of excessive fluoride exposure.
Fluoride is a controversial mineral that is added to drinking water and oral care products in an effort to prevent tooth decay. While some studies suggest that fluoride is safe and effective, others suggest that it may be associated with a range of adverse health effects