I was stunned to learn recently that there are pediatricians who prescribe fluoride pills to kids. The rationale in this case was that the homes are supplied by well water rather than a municipal source. I had thought — incorrectly — that the dangers of fluoride were common knowledge. Fluoride lowers IQ in children, inhibits absorption of magnesium and calcium, and interferes with the production of thyroid hormones. Fluoride also fails to fight cavities. In fact, health-minded individuals spend thousands of dollars on whole home water filtration systems just to eliminate fluoride from their families’ drinking water.
After digging into this medical intervention, I was not surprised to learn that the history of fluoridated water is, per usual, a tale of regulatory capture.
In the late 1800s, an American chemist discovered how to extract aluminum from aluminum ore. He opened the first large scale aluminum production plant in 1888, which became ALCOA in 1907. One waste product generated by the aluminum extraction process is a chemical ion called fluoride. Fluoride is an environmental hazard that is costly to dispose of. (You can see where this is going.) In 1947, President Truman appointed a long-time ALCOA lawyer to lead the federal agency that later became the Department of Health and Human Services. This new department chief initiated a national water fluoridation movement that included a PR campaign to persuade doctors and dentists of the benefits of fluoride. ALCOA kindly agreed to supply its toxic waste to municipalities at low or no cost.
Fluoride as a Cold War-era medical intervention is similar to the other obsolete movements that are ruining modern health: anti-cholesterol, anti-sunlight, anti-salt, pro vaccine, pro vegetable (seed) oils. Commonly accepted but mistaken beliefs are even sabotaging the fitness experience, at all ages and levels.
I take my six-year-old son to his afterschool sports several days a week, where he is exposed constantly to zombie wellness.
At his combat sports class, the coach always starts the session by leading the students in a round of static stretching. We now know that holding a muscle in a lengthened position decreases strength and power, without reducing the risk of injury. A much better starting point would be a dynamic warm-up, with active movements like bodyweight squats. Warming up should mean working your muscles through a full range of motion to increase blood flow, elevate body temperature, and improve flexibility.
At t-ball practice, the coaches respond to every bump and bruise by rushing to apply ice. Not only is ice contraindicated for sports injuries, but also the entire genre of inflammation interference — including anti-inflammatory medication — just slows healing. From a 2020 article in The Sports Journal:
It is important to note that the use of NSAIDs [Ibuprofen, Motrin, Advil] will not accelerate, and may actually delay, the recovery process. NSAIDs inhibit the synthesis of prostaglandins, which initiate inflammation.
My wife recently cancelled my effort to move our six-year-old to fluoride-free toothpaste. I tried to explain that cavities are not in fact caused by a fluoride deficiency. She insisted that the reason fluoride is in toothpaste is because dentists know best.
I’m not so sure.