Common Pantry Item PURGES “Forever Chemicals” from Blood
Try as you might, there’s no avoiding “forever chemicals.”
PFAS (per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances) earned the nickname forever chemicals because once they enter the environment—or your body—they basically last forever.
And that’s a big problem for your health.
Research has tied these pervasive toxins to cancer, autoimmune disease, reproductive issues, liver damage, and more.
That’s the bad news.
The good news is that researchers have finally identified a way to flush these harmful chemicals out of your body.
Forever chemicals are found in everything from food packaging and cosmetics to household cleaning products and even your water supply.
Because these chemicals don’t break down in your body, they can build up over time, wreaking havoc on your health.
While you can’t avoid forever chemicals entirely you can flush them OUT.
In a recent study, 72 adults with detectable levels of PFAS in their blood took either a beta-glucan supplement or a placebo three times per day before meals.
After four weeks, blood tests showed that those taking the beta-glucan supplement had an eight percent decrease in two specific forever chemicals:
- perfluorooctanoate
- perfluorooctanesulfonic acid
These two creepy chemicals are already banned from being used for anything that comes in contact with food. It’s a good start, but it still hasn’t stopped them from showing up in our bodies, which shows just how pervasive they are.
Beta-glucan is a soluble fiber that forms a gel in your body. It’s likely able to trap the forever chemicals in the gel. Then, the next time you go to the bathroom, your body flushes the fiber gel and the forever chemicals out together.
Now, this was an early study with a small number of participants, and the reduction in forever chemicals was modest. But I’m still encouraged by the results.
It’s an excellent reminder that we need to include plenty of fiber-rich foods in our diet—not just for gut health, weight management, and blood sugar regulation…
But also, as a way to put a dent in the levels of those harmful forever chemicals. Every little bit helps.
Here are some of the top foods that contain beta-glucan:
- Oats
- Barley
- Rye
- Rice
- Wheat
- Mushrooms
- Seaweed
While we may not be able to completely eliminate our exposure to forever chemicals in today’s world, we’re not powerless against them. By incorporating beta-glucan-rich foods into your daily routine, you’re giving your body a natural tool to help reduce its toxic burden over time.
P.S. How your morning tea pulls DOUBLE DUTY as a heavy metal detox.
View Sources
Schlezinger, J.J., Bello, A., Mangano, K.M. et al. Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in circulation in a Canadian population: their association with serum-liver enzyme biomarkers and piloting a novel method to reduce serum-PFAS. Environ Health 24, 10 (2025).
