Regarding Tylenol…and Critical Thinking in Matters of Health.
This may be one of the most important blogs I ever write. Over the past multiple years, my beliefs have shifted away from mainstream and toward realistic as I dug into the science myself, rather than to just continue to regurgitate the talking points that were drilled into me in conventional health care education.
Let me preface this by saying that my intent is never to tell anyone what to think, but rather to encourage a non-biased method of how to critically think regarding health matters. Telling someone what to think is indoctrination. Teaching someone HOW to critically think is empowering.
Tylenol. Politics aside, tradition aside… What gives?!
Those who say that Tylenol is a long-standing and effective pain reliever are correct. Those who urge patient-focused consideration of neurological risk with Tylenol are also correct.
“Tylenol has been around a lot longer than autism” is the nature of the pushback that I see to the administration’s recent announcement of caution with Tylenol’s use in certain patient populations, namely young children and pregnant women.
True, BUT you have to realize that it’s not Tylenol by itself that has led to the neurodevelopmental crisis we find ourselves in. It’s the use of Tylenol now combined with the astronomical amount of exposure to toxins in modern life. Tylenol can and should be considered for pain relief in relevant situations, BUT patient-specific risks and benefits need also be considered.
Rather than continuing to isolate each of the variables in order to claim “it’s not this one thing, nothing to see here”, we need to look at the big picture. You will never find a person in the wild exposed to just one isolated variable. Until we consider the cumulative effects of all of the contributory factors in systemic and neurological inflammation, we will just continue to chase our tails.
Let’s lay out the facts:
Modern life has a high toxin exposure. Pesticide contamination of our food, soil, air, and water. Aluminum adjuvants (and previously mercury) in a childhood vaccine schedule that has had a greater than 5 fold increase since I was a child. Industrial waste formulations of fluoride added to drinking water. PFAS in cookware/cosmetics/clothing/furniture. Synthetic chemical food additives. Inhaled pollutants in the air. Etc, etc, etc.
A robust detoxification system is necessary to reduce the oxidative stress of this toxic burden. Glutathione, the master detoxifier of our body, cleans house all day every day to protect our body from the effects of toxic compounds. In instances of greater cumulative toxin exposure, glutathione is rapidly depleted. When the body cannot manage the toxic burden, oxidative stress results. The great news is that the human body is programmed to replenish glutathione rapidly, as long as a working infrastructure and the necessary amino acids are available.
Glutathione (GSH) is a crucial antioxidant in the brain. GSH deficiency is associated with a range of neurological disorders and symptoms. This is well documented. Low GSH levels are a common and early finding in patients with Parkinson’s disease, and depletion is linked to degeneration of dopamine-producing neurons. Decreased GSH levels in the brain are often found in Alzheimer’s disease and are associated with increased oxidative stress contributory to neurodegeneration. Increased oxidative stress in the brain has a strong association with neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism (ASD), motor tics, Tourette’s syndrome (TS), and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This is also well documented.
Tylenol metabolism competes for the same sulfur resources that replenish glutathione. The rate-limiting step in glutathione synthesis requires the sulfur containing amino acid cysteine. Metabolism of normal doses of Tylenol requires sulfation, in which the sulfate is generated from breakdown of cysteine, making less cysteine available for glutathione synthesis. When the normal sulfation pathway of clearing Tylenol is saturated, the toxic metabolite NAPQI is formed. NAPQI detoxification requires glutathione (GSH). GSH requires cysteine for replenishment, but the cysteine reserves have already been depleted in the sulfation of Tylenol metabolism. Until the liver can replenish our GSH levels, our body has less ability to detoxify the environmental toxin exposures listed in Fact #1.
Metabolism of Tylenol is more taxing in those with certain predispositions. Infants and fetuses have limited sulfate reserves, so sulfation of Tylenol reduces this group’s ability to synthesize glutathione for detoxification of modern life exposures. In addition, there are genetic predispositions that cause variations in genes (GSS, GCLC, GCLM) encoding enzymes critical for the glutathione synthesis pathway. GSS mutations lead to Glutathione synthetase enzyme deficiency, which is essential for the final step in glutathione production. GCLC and GCLM together form the rate-limiting enzyme in glutathione synthesis, glutamate cysteine ligase. Genetic limitations of these genes lead to less efficient enzymes, thus lower glutathione levels and a greater susceptibility to oxidative stress and related disease and divergence of development.
Now let’s implement critical thinking, with these facts in mind. Risk vs benefit analysis.
The breakdown of Tylenol in the body is taxing on the pathways that are necessary for systemic and neurological protection from all of our exposures to modern day toxins. Some people genetically are more susceptible to the reduction of these necessary detoxification pathways. Knowing those two things alone, it is sensible to be more prudent with the use of this drug, with consideration of coincident toxin exposures and of susceptibility.
In times requiring relief from pain so intense that it is affecting sleep, nutrition, and functionality…pain relief must be prioritized. In these instances, absolutely consider Tylenol, as it is longstanding and effective in pain management. Surgeries, injuries, etc. The benefit outweighs the risk here. But, only do it for as long as necessary, ideally no more than a few days.
Don’t pop Tylenol for every minor ache and pain. Treat it like the drug that it is and only take it if necessary. The risk outweighs the benefit in minor issues. Consider more natural solutions for minor aches and pains, such as parasympathetic breathing exercises.
Try to avoid Tylenol during times of higher exposure to elements and chemicals that are toxic to the body and brain. Pesticide exposures, vaccines, mercury exposure with amalgam filling placement or removal, ultraprocessed foods, inhalation of smoke or aerosols, etc.
Eat foods rich in sulfur to support glutathione replenishment: Garlic, onions, ginger, eggs, kale, broccoli, and other cruciferous vegetables. Pasture raised eggs. Grassfed raw dairy products with high cream content (pasteurization destroys GSH), including whole milk, cream, butter. Grassfed meats, particularly organs like beef liver. Whey protein.
Minimize foods with ingredients that rapidly deplete glutathione stores: NO ultra-processed foods, no refined sugar, no toxins such as preservatives, dyes, additives.
In times requiring more detoxification, consider supplementation with Milk Thistle, n-acetylcysteine, lipoic acid, selenium, zinc to boost glutathione and detoxification.
Finally, more than anything, evaluate your own known risks. I recommend more caution if…
If you have a family history of any oxidative stress induced neurodegenerative or neurodevelopmental issues (Parkinson’s, autism, tics, etc), this is a possible indicator of genetic predisposition to poor detoxification. Now, if you introduce Tylenol during a time that the body really needs to detoxify (multi-vaccine administration, pesticide exposure, heavy metal exposure, etc), you are setting the stage for a neurodevelopmental issue. If we are ever going to get anywhere in reduction of chronic health conditions, we have to get out of the silo mentality and look at the whole farm. We can’t look at all of these things separately, we have to look at their effects on the body as a whole and in combination. This is what the MAHA movement is doing and I pray that it will be able to help society see through all the noise and open minds.
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And, with that, let me help to sort through the noise surrounding the other recommendation in the administration’s recent announcement, which is moving to eliminate the aluminum from vaccines. Aluminum is added to vaccines as an adjuvant, to create inflammation in the body and thus increase the body’s immune response. Keeping with the theme of this blog, let’s not look only shallowly at the one desired effect, and let’s also look at the whole picture of effects of this.
Ingested vs Injected aluminum. Aluminum crosses the blood brain barrier. The absorption of ingested aluminum is very low, with the GI tract only absorbing 0.1% to 1.0% – the rest is excreted. On the contrary, injected aluminum bypasses the intestinal absorption barrier, and therefore is readily absorbed into the bloodstream at 100% efficiency. Aluminum enhances the permeability of the blood-brain barrier, the protective goalie that generally keeps toxins and inflammatory elements from entering the brain, including aluminum itself. Aluminum is a known neurotoxin. Aluminum accumulates in the brain. Aluminum detoxification from the brain is a very slow process that is difficult for the body to manage on its own.
The talking points supporting safety of vaccines are that the aluminum exposure from vaccines in the first 6 months of life is about 4.4 mg, while aluminum exposure in the first 6 months of life in breast-fed infants is about 7 mg, formula-fed is about 38 mg, and soy formula-fed about 117 mg. This data is readily available in the vaccine safety articles of a prominent children’s hospital. Comparing exposure from ingested amounts of an element to injected amounts of an element is scientific manipulation. Remember….InJected (vaccines) aluminum has 100% absorption. InGested (food sources) aluminum has only 0.1% to 1.0% absorption- the rest is excreted. Rather than an apples to raisins comparison, let’s do the math to compare apples to apples.
Absorbed aluminum exposure in the first 6 months of life:
- Vaccine injection aluminum exposure: 4.4 mg
- Breast-fed infant aluminum exposure: 0.007 to 0.07 mg
- Formula-fed infant aluminum exposure: 0.038 to 0.38 mg
- Soy based formula-fed infant aluminum exposure: 0.117 to 1.17 mg
Facts again.
-Aluminum is a neurotoxin.
-Symptoms of aluminum toxicity include encephalitis (brain inflammation).
-In the first 6 months of life, breast-fed infants have a 62.86 times greater aluminum exposure from vaccines than from ingestion, formula-fed have an 11.58 times greater aluminum exposure, and soy formula-fed have a 3.76 times greater aluminum exposure. This is not a one-or-the-other exposure. This is an injected exposure in addition to the ingested exposure.
-Aluminum accumulates in the brain and is only very slowly removed from the brain. Human donor brains with Alzheimer’s, Autism, and Multiple Sclerosis show “significantly higher brain aluminum content regardless of the method of statistical analysis” than those of donors without neurological conditions.
-The childhood vaccine schedule today in 2025 is more than 5 times the number of vaccinations on the schedule when I was a kid in the ‘80s.
-We have a modern epidemic of neurodevelopmental issues in our children.
-We should never say that vaccines are THE cause of autism and neurodevelopmental issues, but with any consideration of all available facts, it cannot be denied that they are a contributory element in the cumulative toxic exposure behind neurodevelopmental issues.
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I am going to share a real life story that played a central role in my awakening with a passion for truth in science and health care.
This story is over a decade old and about a mother and child very close to me. This is not a statement of cause, but an account of a mother’s intuition after-the-fact. The characters are a mother and father who never had any reason to question the mainstream and traditional recommendations, and a beautiful first born child. They followed the vaccine schedule as advised. The infant was a little fussy following early rounds of vaccines, but nothing that seemed out of the ordinary. Before the 6 months of age round of injections, the mother was told by an acquaintance to give the infant Tylenol before the vaccines to reduce the pain of the injections. The mother didn’t question this due to the safety of Tylenol and the desire of what is best for her baby. The father was out of town for the week. The mother gave infant Tylenol and went in for the round of 6 month vaccines. That evening, the infant cried and whaled like the mother had never seen before, seemingly in an immense amount of discomfort and malaise. This was very out of character, as this was not a generally fussy infant, and she had been perfectly healthy and happy until this moment. The father was not home to witness the malaise, but it was a defining moment that always stuck in the mother’s mind. The mother and father continued with the vaccine schedule as dictated. Fast forward 5 years to the months before the routine kindergarten check-up. Without any notable events in health or life, the beautiful young girl developed some very dramatic motor tics out of nowhere. Surprised and scared by this development, the mother recalled the defining moment of the Tylenol combined with the round of six-month-old vaccines 5 years prior, but then dismissed it because “all of the science says that these are safe and effective”.She shared her concern of the onset of these uncontrolled motor tics with the pediatrician at that kindergarten routine well child visit. With no consideration, the quick and only response she was given was, “don’t worry about it, she’ll grow out of it”. When the mother inquired about what may be causing this, the next quick and only response was, “it can be normal for some kids”. As she gained more knowledge of the ingredients in vaccines (namely the adjuvants) and their effects on the body’s detoxification, of the effects of Tylenol on the body’s detoxification ability, the mother wondered if this could be contributory. She understood that associating causation with this one experience in her memory is not reasonable, but she also considered the continued vaccinations over the next 5 years, the toxin exposures in modern life, and a strong family history on one side of the family with neurodegenerative conditions including Parkinson’s and motor tics. Over the many years since then, the family has been very intentional about limiting toxin exposures, controlling stress, quality sleep, and a nutrient dense diet. With the optimization of the things that they can control, their daughter quickly developed much better control of the motor tics, making them barely noticeable in most instances. While this is a happy outcome, the early parts of this story were one of the very big drivers in my shift from regurgitation of learned talking points to research for a full understanding of my own with everything related to health.
Let me close by saying that I am a nerd with a passion for researching all evidence and listening to all sides of an argument in forming my beliefs. If I can’t support my stance when speaking to someone with different beliefs, then I need to challenge my own beliefs as new information becomes available in order to assure that they are still valid or to revise my stance to align with current data. We all need to take a page from this, particularly healthcare professionals. Science is never settled. As new research, observations, and ideas are presented, this information MUST be used to challenge previously held beliefs to assure that they are still sound. That is the definition of science. If existing beliefs and protocols hold their weight against the new information, we continue with the same best practices. If the previous beliefs and protocols cannot be proven safe or effective with the new information available, then we MUST re-evaluate and reconfigure our beliefs and protocols to maximize safety and efficacy.
As a dentist, I was taught in school and initially wholeheartedly believed that water fluoridation was “one of the top 10 public health measures”… but it always bothered me that all I had to support that claim was the claim itself when patients asked about it. So I did my own research and my findings were alarming regarding the absence of reliable science supporting this, the presence of reliable science and accounts to the contrary, and the surprising truth that the fluoride being added to the water is not pharmaceutical grade but rather an industrial waste product. Armed now with the truth of the practice of water fluoridation, I readily and confidently revised my position. I encourage you to read my blog on water fluoridation for more information.
As a mother previously with no reason not to trust the recommendations of conventional healthcare, I allowed my children to be vaccinated up until 2019 according to the general recommendations and I went along with the tradition of “safe and effective”… and then a couple of things happened after I was already well into my truth in health journey on other fronts.One was the story shared above. The other was my inability to provide any degree of evidence outside of the “safe and effective” talking point to a friend who chose not to vaccinate her children and defended her stance with actual science. Not only did I realize that I should be able to defend the stance that had been imprinted into me from mainstream healthcare, but I also needed to prove to myself that what I was doing for my own children was truly safe and effective. I had been doing my own research on so many things in health for almost a decade at that point, but I had not yet thought to consider the firm stance of conventional medicine on the childhood vaccine schedule. I set out to find the science that the mainstream healthcare system used to assure safety and efficacy, rather than just continuing to repeat the talking points that “all of the science supports that they are safe and effective” and “in order for vaccines to work, everyone must take them”. I couldn’t find it. Science did not exist that tested the childhood vaccines vs placebos, that showed sufficient time monitoring the patients post-vaccine, or that gave any indication of safety of multiple vaccine doses of the various vaccines in one day. I could no longer defend my regurgitated talking point that “all of the science supports safety and efficacy of the childhood vaccine schedule”. Most of the vaccine studies that were provided to support those claims were not studies of the childhood vaccine formulations in the US, were underpowered, were way too short in nature to see safety signals, etc. I changed my stance. Vaccination must be a patient-based care decision, not a blanket protocol-based decision. The current multishot schedule in one day of a tiny infant and young children is not a risk that anyone should feel forced to take. That decision should be based on individual self-determination with risk/benefit analysis and informed consent. While I have a lot more knowledge than I have the time or desire to post here, I will leave it at this and encourage everyone to not just align with my thoughts or with those of anyone else. Do your own research and determine what is best for you and your family.
While there are many great resources available, I would recommend starting with these in a journey to understand health, the effects of things on our health, and some of the psychology behind the mainstream cling to treatments and protocols that are now known to harm health.
- Ultraprocessed People by Chris van Tulleken
- Good Energy by Dr. Casey Means, MD
- The Indoctrinated Brain by Michael Nells
- Dissolving Illusions by Dr. Suzanne Humphries, MD
Again, not here to tell you what to think. Just here to share some ideas to help in forming your own convictions and beliefs.
Now is a great time to #liveyourbestlife
✌️
~Dr. Mindy
