86: The Effects of Toxins on Mental Health with Dr. Joe Pizzorno
Fri Jan 23 2026
In this important and timely presentation on "The Effects of Toxins on Mental Health," naturopathic physician and environmental medicine pioneer Dr Joe Pizzorno reveals how the global rise in mental health disorders parallels a dramatic increase in human exposure to toxic chemicals. He explains that toxins now permeate our food, water, air, household environments, and even medical care – while the nutrients that once protected us from these chemicals have simultaneously declined in the modern diet. This combination, he shows, has created ideal conditions for brain dysfunction, neurodegeneration and mood disorders worldwide.
Dr Pizzorno – founding president of Bastyr University, co-author of Clinical Environmental Medicine and The Toxin Solution, and one of the world's leading voices in science-based natural medicine – draws on decades of research, clinical practice and large-scale human data to demonstrate that environmental toxins are now major drivers of neurological and psychiatric illness. He outlines how specific contaminants, including arsenic, pesticides, industrial chemicals, persistent organic pollutants (POPs), mercury and commonly used medications, damage the brain through mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, glutathione depletion, microglial activation and impaired apoptosis.
In this deeply informative and practical session, Dr Pizzorno explains how clinicians and patients can meaningfully reduce toxic exposure and support detoxification through diet, lifestyle and environmental choices. By correcting nutritional deficiencies, decreasing total toxic load and improving the body's natural elimination pathways, he shows that biomarkers of oxidative and toxic burden can improve – and so can long-term brain health.
In this episode, you will learn:
Why the global epidemic of mental disorders aligns closely with rising exposure to neurotoxins and falling intake of protective nutrients.
Which environmental toxins are strongly associated with dementia, cognitive decline, depression, ADHD, autism and Parkinson's disease.
Why arsenic, particularly from contaminated water and food, is one of the most damaging neurotoxins linked to Alzheimer's disease, dementia and major cancers.
How pesticides, PCBs and contaminated fish contribute to neurodegeneration and psychiatric symptoms.
Why commonly used prescription and over-the-counter medications can act as neurotoxins and increase the risk of dementia.
How toxins harm the brain through mitochondrial damage, oxidative stress and glutathione depletion.
Why food is the single largest source of toxic exposure, followed by water, household chemicals, personal-care products and indoor air.
Practical ways to reduce exposure at home, including air filtration, choosing cleaner products and improving food quality.
How increasing dietary fibre and colourful plant foods supports toxin elimination and protects brain function.
Why supporting glutathione and detoxification pathways – and maintaining these habits over time – can lower oxidative burden and improve long-term mental health.
More
In this important and timely presentation on "The Effects of Toxins on Mental Health," naturopathic physician and environmental medicine pioneer Dr Joe Pizzorno reveals how the global rise in mental health disorders parallels a dramatic increase in human exposure to toxic chemicals. He explains that toxins now permeate our food, water, air, household environments, and even medical care – while the nutrients that once protected us from these chemicals have simultaneously declined in the modern diet. This combination, he shows, has created ideal conditions for brain dysfunction, neurodegeneration and mood disorders worldwide. Dr Pizzorno – founding president of Bastyr University, co-author of Clinical Environmental Medicine and The Toxin Solution, and one of the world's leading voices in science-based natural medicine – draws on decades of research, clinical practice and large-scale human data to demonstrate that environmental toxins are now major drivers of neurological and psychiatric illness. He outlines how specific contaminants, including arsenic, pesticides, industrial chemicals, persistent organic pollutants (POPs), mercury and commonly used medications, damage the brain through mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, glutathione depletion, microglial activation and impaired apoptosis. In this deeply informative and practical session, Dr Pizzorno explains how clinicians and patients can meaningfully reduce toxic exposure and support detoxification through diet, lifestyle and environmental choices. By correcting nutritional deficiencies, decreasing total toxic load and improving the body's natural elimination pathways, he shows that biomarkers of oxidative and toxic burden can improve – and so can long-term brain health. In this episode, you will learn: Why the global epidemic of mental disorders aligns closely with rising exposure to neurotoxins and falling intake of protective nutrients. Which environmental toxins are strongly associated with dementia, cognitive decline, depression, ADHD, autism and Parkinson's disease. Why arsenic, particularly from contaminated water and food, is one of the most damaging neurotoxins linked to Alzheimer's disease, dementia and major cancers. How pesticides, PCBs and contaminated fish contribute to neurodegeneration and psychiatric symptoms. Why commonly used prescription and over-the-counter medications can act as neurotoxins and increase the risk of dementia. How toxins harm the brain through mitochondrial damage, oxidative stress and glutathione depletion. Why food is the single largest source of toxic exposure, followed by water, household chemicals, personal-care products and indoor air. Practical ways to reduce exposure at home, including air filtration, choosing cleaner products and improving food quality. How increasing dietary fibre and colourful plant foods supports toxin elimination and protects brain function. Why supporting glutathione and detoxification pathways – and maintaining these habits over time – can lower oxidative burden and improve long-term mental health.