For non-ideological minerals - calcium, iron, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, etc. - there are fairly well-accepted ranges of "healthy" blood levels. And lists of undesirable side-effects, which too-low and too-high levels could cause. And plenty of medical conditions where an individual might be advised to aim for a lower or higher level. And ...
Vs. fluoride always seems to be a raging culture war.
In the US (and some other places) it's actively added to the water supply. "XYZ is doing things to our drinking water!" has always been a flash point for strong feelings, justified or not, and wild rumors, because its so fundamental and unavoidable. Combine with general skepticism against health intervention being fanned, boom.
Comments
For non-ideological minerals - calcium, iron, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, etc. - there are fairly well-accepted ranges of "healthy" blood levels. And lists of undesirable side-effects, which too-low and too-high levels could cause. And plenty of medical conditions where an individual might be advised to aim for a lower or higher level. And ...
Vs. fluoride always seems to be a raging culture war.
Why?
In the US (and some other places) it's actively added to the water supply. "XYZ is doing things to our drinking water!" has always been a flash point for strong feelings, justified or not, and wild rumors, because its so fundamental and unavoidable. Combine with general skepticism against health intervention being fanned, boom.
Enriched flour, iodized salt, vitamin- & mineral-fortified children's breakfast cereals, pasteurized milk, etc., etc. seem to get vastly less angry push-back.
Even though (from a quick Google) there are loads of fluoride-removing water filters that anyone could purchase.
Vs. good luck if you want to de-enrich flour, or any product made from it.
Theory: Too many of the Well-Intended Scientists who were given the Fluoridate Public Water Supplies quest cards had used Charisma as their dump stat.
https://arstechnica.com/health/2025/01/controversial-fluorid...