Philosophical Vegan Forum

The water in Australia is fluoridated, and many people have told me to avoid it, or use a filtration system to eliminate it. I did some brief research on it, but I failed to find any decent evidence supporting their claims.

Perhaps I'm missing something, is fluoridated water detrimental to one's health?

Your research was good: there's no reason to avoid it.

Fluoridated water is fine, you pee the fluoride right out, and it occurs naturally in many water sources. It helps prevent tooth decay (although fluoride containing toothpaste is fine too: in the water it's more useful for children and the lower class who don't brush well or reliably).
If the natural fluoride levels are too high, the water will be defluoridated for drinking water; if it's too low, fluoride will be added (unless the local population is made up of crazy conspiracy theorists and votes against it).

Tea actually contains a lot more fluoride than water:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_ef ... e_exposure

It's fine.

I debunk the major claims in this thread: https://theveganatheist.com/forum/viewt ... ?f=7&t=179

No. I recall Michael Greger describing fluoridated water as one of the best public service decisions ever made.

Jebus wrote:No. I recall Michael Greger describing fluoridated water as one of the best public service decisions ever made.

It's a no-brainer. Apparently costs about $1 per person per year, prevents a significant number of dental carries (which is helpful to overall health; oral health is a good predictor), and most helps children and the disadvantaged.

In terms of effective altruism, it's pretty amazing. You'd be harder pressed to do more good with less money by fighting AIDS and Malaria in Africa.

brimstoneSalad wrote:Your research was good: there's no reason to avoid it.

Good to know.

brimstoneSalad wrote:I debunk the major claims in this thread: https://theveganatheist.com/forum/viewt ... ?f=7&t=179

I'll give it a read.

Jebus wrote:No. I recall Michael Greger describing fluoridated water as one of the best public service decisions ever made.

Can you remember where you saw this? Wouldn't mind giving that a read/listen as well.

All knowledge shared will be contributing to me schooling these people (below), next time I see them.

brimstoneSalad wrote:It's a no-brainer. Apparently costs about $1 per person per year, prevents a significant number of dental carries (which is helpful to overall health; oral health is a good predictor), and most helps children and the disadvantaged.

I just assumed fluoride was okay, until I attended this vegan picnic the other day and a few people were telling me it can cause cancer, so it definitely rattled my concern bell.

ThinkAboutThis wrote:

Jebus wrote:No. I recall Michael Greger describing fluoridated water as one of the best public service decisions ever made.

Can you remember where you saw this? Wouldn't mind giving that a read/listen as well.

Here you go: http://nutritionfacts.org/questions/the ... -fluoride/

Cheers mate.

Jebus wrote:How to become vegan in 4.5 hours:
1.Watch Forks over Knives (Health)
2.Watch Cowspiracy (Environment)
3. Watch Earthlings (Ethics)
Congratulations, unless you are a complete idiot you are now a vegan.

Forks Over Knives is quite ill-founded, so a reasonably intelligent person would simply dismiss it as bullshit, and would then discard the following two films on the basis of the initial film being flawed.

I'd be happy to reverse the statement, and claim that one would have to be an idiot to go vegan from watching Forks Over Knives.

ThinkAboutThis wrote:Forks Over Knives is quite ill-founded

What makes you think that?

A lot of the documentaries unfortunately are riddled with issues; although they make good points too, it's easy for people to dismiss them on the grounds of the fallacy fallacy.

It would be great if we could cut together a new documentary, using pieces of various others, and a mix of other available information. Cut out all of the problems and give people no excuse to dismiss them.

Fluoridated water may be all well and good, but what about the recent lead water crisis in Michigan? Is that good for you?