If you’re working hard to achieve your New Year’s resolution of losing weight, you may want to proceed with caution.
Researchers have discovered that chemicals and pollutants may be stored in our body fat, and when significant amounts of body fat are broken down, as they are during weight loss, these harmful substances could be released into the bloodstream and may cause disease.
Dr. Duk-Hee Lee, study researcher and professor at the Kyungpook National University in Daegu, South Korea, and his team analyzed data collected between 1999 and 2002 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
During the analysis, researchers selected seven pollutants that held the highest detection rate in blood samples and concentrated on 1,099 people ages 40 or older who had measurable levels of these chemicals in their blood and who had recently lost or gained weight.
The study concluded that those who had lost weight had a higher amount of pollutants in their bloodstream, while those who gained weight had a lower concentration.
Researchers also noted that because the study was conducted using self-reported information gathered from the study individuals, there is a possibility for error.
“A lot of studies have shown that losing weight is helpful,” Lee told MyHealthNewsDaily. But there may also be underlying negative results, such as the release of pollutants into the bloodstream.
Hypertension, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease and rheumatoid arthritis have been associated with organic pollutants, according to Lee.
Even though many of the pollutants examined in the study were banned by developed countries many decades ago, they are still often found in the environment and in people because of their slow tendency to break down, says Lee.
“Common pollutants in body fat include petroleum-based pollutants, pesticides, PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), chemicals from plastics, industrial solvents and heavy mercury,” says Dr. Myron Wentz, founder of USANA Health Sciences in Salt Lake City and author of the forthcoming book “The Healthy Home.”
“Pollutants are rapidly increasing in our home and work environments, in the air, water and products we are exposed to every day,” he told AOL Health. “Another source of exposure is through our consumption of meat, dairy and seafood, as these same pollutants accumulate in livestock and fatty fish.”
There are some steps that can be taken to decrease exposure to these pollutants, particularly if people are looking to lose weight without harmful effects.
“You can do this by cutting down on processed foods, non-organic fruits and vegetables, and meats raised using hormones and antibiotics,” says Wentz. “You should also drink plenty of purified water to help flush toxins from your bloodstream.”
He also advises people to be aware of their indoor air quality, which may be even more polluted that the outdoor air. Wentz suggests being choosy about personal-care products like lotions and deodorants. Look for products that are free of chemical preservatives, and try to cut down on the total number you use each day.