The Chemical In Your Water That’s Making You Fat

September 24, 2015
Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS

Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS

Award-winning nutritionist and New York Times bestselling author.

Learn to Eat, Drink, and Bathe Yourself SLIM.

Many years ago I was featured on 20/20 for one of my  latest books, “The Fast Track Detox Diet.”  The interview turned out to be a typical 20/20 ambush. My contention that chemicals in our water, air, personal care products and food supply were contributing to unexplained weight gain (think Bisphenol A, plastics, parabens, and pesticides) was basically debunked and ridiculed. Well, the last laugh is on 20/20!

Today, many fat-promoting chemicals in the environment are actually known as obesogens and are well documented to have an estrogen-like impact on the body resulting in unexpected weight gain.

In my view, there is one chemical—above all the other “obesogens”—that is most responsible for packing on the pounds.  While many of us may be drinking filtered or bottled water without it, this chemical crippler is still prevalent in the water we may be swimming, bathing, or showering in day after day.

How this chemical in your water causes weight gain

Consuming this chemical in the water you drink can even displace iodine in your thyroid—that crucial trace mineral which rules metabolic rate.  If you don’t get enough iodine from your diet or supplements,  it can be disastrous for your thyroid.

Steroids, aspirin, and blood thinning medications can all trigger iodine deficits, making the displacement of iodine even more severe.

I’m sure by now you know I am talking about the chlorine in your water.

It seems that there is no way to truly escape this ubiquitous chemical, one of our top modern day pollutants linked to heart disease, bladder cancer, and immune insufficiency. The irony is that while chlorine may be toxic for many sensitive individuals—especially the majority of us with thyroid dysfunction, it is a highly effective anti-bacterial agent in water, which is why it was introduced in our water supply in the first place.

The truth is, however, that unless you remove chlorine from the water in your bath or shower,  you will be exposing yourself to the toxic byproducts that are formed when chlorine reacts with other chemicals in water—like radon, for instance.

So, unless you have a documented iodine sensitivity then I would highly suggest to fortify your system with high iodine containing foods like gomasio and Maine harvested seaweeds.  I also would recommend an iodine product like Iodoral which can be taken up to 4 times per day at 12.5 mg each dose.

Removing chlorine from your water

Fortunately, there are products on the market that can effectively and speedily remove chlorine from the water in your shower or bath.  The one I personally use in my own home is CWR’s multi-spray shower filter. You can remove chlorine from bath water with their bathtub filter as well. My home contains the whole house water filter which not only removes chlorine and other contaminants from tap water, but protects against microscopic parasites as well. (Both giardia and cryptosporidium can be prevalent in certain mountainous regions of the country).

Armed with the right strategy, you can easily fortify your body against chemicals in your water that are making you fat and tired and weakening your immune system—in no time at all. What are you waiting for?

Related Articles and Podcasts

Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS, is an award-winning New York Times bestselling author of more than thirty books including The Fat Flush Plan series and her latest book, Radical Metabolism. She’s been rewriting the rules of nutrition for more than 40 years and is internationally recognized as a pioneer in the field of diet, detox and women’s health issues. 

For a FREE daily dose of tips and strategies for maintaining healthy weight, conquering insomnia, and much more…check out my Radical Health Tips.

I’d like to meet and greet you on my Facebook groups, so won’t you check us out at the Radical Metabolism RevolutionFat Flush Nation, or my Inner Circle!

8 Comments

  1. Ernest Glick

    Thank you for the interesting info! I’m especially interested in the part about thyroid dysfunction. I’m using Magnascent Iodine on my skin to help that. Do you recommend that?
    Thank you for your comments.
    Ernest

    Reply
    • Liz

      I have read that very little iodine is absorbed through the skin and that taking nascent iodine internally is much better.

      Reply
  2. Betty

    I have both the shower filter and the under counter sink filter. I would not live in a house without them!!!

    Reply
  3. Judy

    If I’m taking Armour for my thyroid, do I still need to take Iodine with it? The filter system you have in your home…does it take out the fluoride also? Isn’t that chemical just as harmful?

    Reply
    • Team ALG

      Yes, Judy- you can take iodine as well. We like Iodoral, which is a high potency potassium iodide that’s incredibly bio-available. The house filtration system can be arranged to eliminate fluoride. Your local water report is evaluated to see exactly what filtration you would most benefit from. In our area here, fluoride is not an issue like in so many other places.

      Reply
  4. Jane

    This is really an amazing information. I am currently trying to lose weight and I will take note of this to prevent wrong moves. Thanks Ann for this educative article!

    Reply
  5. Susan

    Which whole house filter are you referring to in this article?

    Reply
    • Team ALG

      Susan, please call UNIKEY Health 800 888-4353 to get the details of the whole house filter system. Each one is a custom design.

      Reply

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

  1. The Chemical In Your Water That’s Making You Fat (And It’s NOT Fluoride!) - […] This article was republished with permission from annlouise.com. […]
  2. Why the Chlorine in Your Water is Causing MASSIVE Weight Gain (and how to remove it ASAP) : The Hearty Soul - […] Republished with permission from annlouise.com. […]

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