Having increased exposure to environmental chemicals, such as those found in pesticides, non-stick cookware, and fire retardants, is positively associated with increased incidence of Celiac Disease. Specifically, young individuals with high serum levels of dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) are twice as likely to have developed Celiac Disease. When looking at females only, the risk is even greater – nearly nine times as likely to have developed Celiac Disease. Other chemicals also showed a positive association including – perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, perfluorooctanoic acid, and perfluorohexanesulfonate.
Back when I was in the lab, my colleagues and I tested ourselves routinely and every one of us showed some positive level of DDE. It’s ubiquitous, unfortunately, but we can take steps to reduce our exposure. Here are some that relate to these chemicals:
– Use natural pesticide / avoid synthetic pesticides
– Use stainless steel, glass or ceramic cookware – see our blog on cookware choices here.
– Look for goods that are not treated with fire retardants (pyjamas, furniture, tents, etc.)
– Use a HEPA filter air filtration system and vacuum, and wipe down surfaces with wet cloths/mops to remove contaminated household dust
– Look for goods not treated with water-proofing chemicals
Kara Fitzgerald, ND, received her doctor of naturopathic medicine degree from the National University of Natural Medicine in Portland, Oregon. She completed the first Counsel on Naturopathic Medicine-accredited post-doctorate position in nutritional biochemistry and laboratory science at Metametrix Clinical Laboratory under the direction of Richard Lord, PhD. Her residency was completed at Progressive Medical Center, a large, integrative medical practice in Atlanta, Georgia.
Dr. Fitzgerald is the lead author and editor of Case Studies in Integrative and Functional Medicine and is a contributing author to Laboratory Evaluations for Integrative and Functional Medicine and the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM)’s Textbook for Functional Medicine. With the Helfgott Research Institute, Dr. Fitzgerald is actively engaged in clinical research on the DNA methylome using a diet and lifestyle intervention developed in her practice. The first publication from the study focuses on reversal of biological aging and was published 04-12-2021 in the journal Aging. She has published a consumer book titled Younger You as well as a companion cookbook, Better Broths and Healing Tonics and has an application-based Younger You Program, based on the study.
Dr. Fitzgerald is on the faculty at IFM, is an IFM Certified Practitioner and lectures globally on functional medicine. She runs a Functional Nutrition Residency program, and maintains a podcast series, New Frontiers in Functional Medicine and an active blog on her website, www.drkarafitzgerald.com. Her clinical practice is in Sandy Hook, Connecticut.
Additional publications
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