“Internal Broom” Sweeps Out Cancer-Causing Chemicals

You’ve heard us sound the alarm before about PFAS—the “forever chemicals” that sneak into our water, food, and even household goods.

We’ve talked about how these toxic compounds build up in your body, are linked to cancer, immune problems, and hormone disruption.

And the scariest part?

They don’t just go away. Once PFAS get inside you, they linger for years.

But now, researchers may have found a surprisingly simple way to help your body fight back—by turning to its own “internal broom.”

A new study suggests that eating more dietary fiber—yes, the very nutrient Dr. Denis Burkitt once nicknamed “nature’s broom”—may also help sweep PFAS out of the body.

How? Fiber is the part of plant foods your body can’t digest. Instead, it travels through the gut, where it acts like an internal broom—trapping waste, cholesterol, and now, it seems, toxic chemicals—before they can seep into your bloodstream.

In this study, people who ate higher-fiber diets had significantly lower PFAS concentrations, and animal models showed the same protective effect.

This is huge news. Because until now, mainstream medicine has insisted there’s “no way” to rid your body of PFAS once they’re inside. But this new evidence suggests your dinner plate could be part of the solution.

For decades, chemical companies have made billions selling products with PFAS—nonstick pans, waterproof clothes, food packaging, even dental floss.

These substances don’t break down in the environment, and they don’t break down in your body. Over time, they accumulate—like microscopic barnacles clinging to your insides.

Studies have tied PFAS exposure to:

• Kidney and testicular cancer
• Thyroid disease
• Immune suppression
• Increased cholesterol and blood pressure

And older adults are at even greater risk. Seniors often have higher cumulative exposure and more vulnerable immune and cardiovascular systems—making PFAS a hidden threat that could tip the scales on already fragile health.

While this research is still early, the results line up with what we already know about fiber’s detox powers.

Soluble fiber (found in oats, beans, apples, citrus) forms a gel that traps toxins and cholesterol.

Insoluble fiber (in whole grains, nuts, veggies) adds bulk and speeds transit, pushing waste out.

Researchers believe fiber works in two main ways. First, soluble fiber forms a sticky gel that binds PFAS in the gut so they can’t slip into your bloodstream. Second, fiber helps break the cycle known as enterohepatic circulation—where PFAS and bile salts are normally recycled by your liver.

Instead of looping back, fiber sends them out the back door, in your stool. In short, nature’s broom doesn’t just sweep—it traps, binds, and escorts toxins out.

Together, they sweep away harmful compounds your body can’t handle on its own.

In fact, researchers found that even a modest increase in fiber intake was linked to noticeably lower PFAS levels!

If you want to protect yourself and your loved ones:

• Aim for at least 25–30 grams of fiber daily. That’s about double what the average American gets.
• Choose whole foods. Beans, lentils, berries, apples, oats, brown rice, and leafy greens are excellent sources.
• Diversify your fiber. Soluble and insoluble both play a role in binding toxins.
• Limit PFAS exposure. Avoid nonstick cookware, fast-food packaging, and stain-resistant sprays whenever possible.

Fiber won’t erase decades of PFAS exposure overnight. But it may give your body the helping hand it needs to push back against these toxic invaders—something the chemical industry would never admit.

Here’s to sweeping the “forever” out of forever chemicals,

Rachel Mace
Managing Editorial Director, e-Alert
with contributions from the research team

Sources:

• Burkitt, D. P. (1971). Epidemiology of cancer of the colon and rectum. Cancer, 28(1), 3–13. https://doi.org/10.1002/1097-0142(197107)28:1<3::AID-CNCR2820280103>3.0.CO;2-1
• National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2023). Guidance on PFAS exposure, testing, and clinical follow-up. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/26156
• Tian, Y., Tauriainen, M., Ruuskanen, A., Ruokojärvi, P., Vartiainen, T., & Kiviranta, H. (2019). Diet and serum perfluorinated compound concentrations in children and adults. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 123, 316–322. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2018.11.017
• Domingo, J. L., & Nadal, M. (2019). Human dietary exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS): A review of the recent scientific literature. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 125, 326–335. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2019.01.032
• Rashid, A., & Kris-Etherton, P. (2016). Dietary fiber and bile acid metabolism: An updated review. Current Nutrition Reports, 5, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13668-016-0152-5
• Rowland, I., Gibson, G., Heinken, A., Scott, K., Swann, J., Thiele, I., & Tuohy, K. M. (2018). Gut microbiota functions: Metabolism of nutrients and other food components. European Journal of Nutrition, 57(1), 1–24. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-017-1445-8