An agriculture fungicide might increase type 2 diabetes risk

You can exercise. You can cut added sugars out of your diet. You can cut your intake of simple carbohydrates.

If you do all of that, you’ll significantly reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes.

But even if you do everything right, forces beyond your control might still work against you.

Those forces are environmental pollutants. Some scientists believe certain pollutants may contribute to type 2 risk.

For instance… Take tolyfluanid. This chemical is added to paint used on ships. It prevents organisms from attaching to hulls. Obviously, for most of us, that doesn’t pose a huge risk — unless you spend a lot of time at the docks.

But… It’s also sprayed on crops to prevent fungus.

Fantastic! Great plan, crop control scientists!

Especially now that a new study shows that tolyfluanid may promote insulin resistance.

The lead researcher hopes that public policy makers will take note. He wants them to “reassess…environmental pollution as a contributor to human disease.” And… “Encourage the development of strategies for reversing those effects.”

Unfortunately, this is another horse that’s out of the barn. I’ll be looking for information on which crops may pose the most danger. For now, this gives us just one more reason to buy organic. And one more reason to stay out of shipyards.

Sources:
“Fungicide Used on Farm Crops Linked to Insulin Resistance” Press Release from the Endocrine Society, 6/25/12, newswise.com