The Shocking Chemical Lurking in Your Breakfast Bowl

By Dr. Scott Olson, ND Posted August 24, 2024

The next time you grab a bowl, a spoon, and reach for that box of your favorite cereal… well, you might want to think twice.

A startling new study found a dangerous chemical could be hiding in your morning meal, and chances are you’re already consuming it.

Let’s dive into the disturbing research shaking up breakfast tables across America…

A new study published in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology uncovered alarming. They estimate that 80 percent of Americans would test positive for the chemical chlormequat.

Even more troubling is one of the primary sources of this potential toxin…

Scientists say it’s lurking in popular oat-based breakfast cereals like Cheerios and Quaker Oats.

Even worse, this chemical isn’t sneaking into our food supply—it’s being ALLOWED in. The federal government permits using this highly toxic agricultural chemical (pesticide) on imported grains, including oats!

And that’s not all. The Environmental Working Group (EWG), which conducted the research, found that chlormequat levels are on the rise:

• In 2017, 69 percent of study participants tested positive
• From 2018 to 2022, that number crept up to 74 percent
• In 2023, it skyrocketed to a whopping 90 percent

Now, you’re probably wondering how bad chlormequat is.

The answer is troubling, especially for our most vulnerable populations. Babies and young children are particularly at risk, but adults aren’t off the hook.

Exposure to chlormequat can cause nausea and vomiting, slow or irregular heartbeat, tremors, seizures, and, in extreme cases, even coma.

Now, before you panic, it’s important to note that the most severe symptoms are typically associated with high-level exposure, like what might occur in manufacturing settings, not what you’d find in your breakfast bowl.

But here’s the real concern: We simply don’t know the long-term effects of small, consistent exposure over time.

So, what can you do to protect yourself and your family?

• Choose organic foods whenever possible, especially for oat-based products
• Read labels carefully and avoid products with imported oats
• Consider alternative breakfast options that don’t rely on oats

While this news is concerning, it’s not a reason to completely overhaul your diet overnight. Instead, use this information to make more informed choices about what you’re putting on your breakfast table.

Remember, sometimes the biggest threats to our health aren’t always hiding in some far-off place. Sometimes, they’re hanging out right there in our kitchen cabinets.

But by staying informed and making smart choices you can work on keeping these creepy OFF your breakfast table and OUT of your body.

P.S. Breakfast isn’t the ONLY meal you should be concerned about. Check out this “Produce Problem” that’s also putting you at risk.

Source:

Temkin, A.M., Evans, S., Spyropoulos, D.D. et al. A pilot study of chlormequat in food and urine from adults in the United States from 2017 to 2023. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 34, 317–321 (2024).

Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND

Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.

View More By Dr. Scott Olson, ND