As millions of people suffer from thyroid problems and related issues like depression, it is time to take a closer look at our drinking water. That’s because a study has pointed to an unexpected culprit in the form of fluoride in drinking water.

Researchers analyzed 98 percent of the GP practices in England, and they found that the rate of suffering from an underactive thyroid – also known as hypothyroidism – was a notable 30 percent higher in areas with fluoridated water. Among the population studied, this accounted for 15,000 people suffering from the illness unnecessarily. For example, in places like the West Midlands, which is a fully fluoridated area, the prevalence of hypothyroidism was double that of the non-fluoridated Greater Manchester.

Many people who have hypothyroidism don’t realize it, even though the symptoms are anything but subtle. The problem is that the signs are often chalked up to other issues. It can cause effects like fatigue, depression, weakness, weight gain, and aching muscles, to name a few.

The study only looked at fluoridation in water, but if you’re also getting fluoride from sources like food, drinks and toothpaste, your risk could be even higher. Most water contains a small amount of naturally-occurring fluoride, but greater amounts have been added to the water in many municipalities for decades on the pretense of preventing cavities and tooth decay.

Serious side effects caused by fluoride in water

It’s not just hypothyroidism that you have to worry about if you’re drinking fluoridated water; it has also been linked to several other serious health problems. Health experts have warned that fluoride in water can lower IQ, kill cells in the body, and even change gene expression. It has also been linked to bladder and bone cancers.

A study published in Environmental Health found that an increase in artificial fluoridation prevalence of just one percent in 1992 was associated with as many as 131,000 additional diagnoses of ADHD in the years from 2003 to 2011. They reached their conclusion after studying children aged 4 to 17 over several years as part of the National Survey of Children’s Health and comparing their health records to the prevalence of water fluoridation in each state as recorded by the CDC. In the states where a greater proportion of the population got fluoridated water from their local public water supplies, there were higher rates of medically-diagnosed ADHD. This illustrates how long it can take for toxins to affect human health

How can you avoid fluoridated water?

It’s well worth the effort to find out whether or not the drinking water in your area is fluoridated, and if it is, you should take steps to avoid it. Some communities have already stopped this practice because of health concerns, but other areas have been slow to change their ways. Nearly three-fourths of the cities in America have access to fluoridated water.

If you have fluoridated water where you live, consider investing in a water filtration system that is capable of taking fluoride out of the water. Reverse osmosis systems are a great choice if this is your goal; some have optional fluoride filters. It’s recommended that you add a little sea salt or apple cider vinegar to re-mineralize your water.

In addition, you can combat fluoride exposure using iodine, tamarind or selenium. Turmeric has also been found to help attenuate the neurotoxicity that is caused by fluoride, preventing and reversing any damage from exposure to the toxin.

Sources for this article include:

GlobalResearch.ca

NaturalNews.com

NaturalNews.com