Heavy Metal Detoxing

You may not realize how many heavy metals your body accumulates on a daily basis. Be it food, air, water, or even assumed benign products like makeup or underarm deodorant the potential for heavy metals to permeate into the human body is a real concern. It can be small traces of such metals as cadmium, copper, lead, chromium or mercury that over time may wreak havoc on your system without even knowing it is the source.

There are approximately thirty-five metals you can potentially be exposed to at any given time yet twenty-three of these are considered “heavy” with four prominently found in human tissue. These are, lead, cadmium, mercury and inorganic arsenic. Presentations of heavy metal toxicity include chronic fatigue, organ damage and central nervous system impairment. Avoiding complete heavy metal exposure is difficult although re-adjusting your dietary choices could make a significant impact. Detoxing many of these metals from your system on the other hand is an easily preventative practice. Try these heavy metal detox tips to possibly feel the difference. Always check with your doctor before using any alternative health remedy.

Some Science

Various research is being done regarding heavy metal exposure and how it may be affecting human health. A study in the Journal of Zhejiang University Science B. titled, ‘Assessing potential dietary toxicity of heavy metals in selected vegetables and food crops’ published by the U.S. National Library of Medicine concluded that, “Agronomic practices such as fertilizer and water management and crop rotation system can affect bioavailability and crop accumulation of heavy metals, thus influencing the thresholds of assessing dietary toxicity of heavy metals in food chain.”

Research of heavy metal contaminants in various non-food product are also showing some startling results. Canada’s Campaign for Safe Cosmetics published a study for Environmental Defence Canada regarding popular cosmetic brands like Laura Mercier, MAC, L’Oreal, Mary Kay, and Sephora . It was reported that these products contained 100% nickel, 96% lead and 90% beryllium all of which make the list of the dangerous twenty-three.

Creating Your Heavy Metal Force Field and Detox Regiment

Foods and herbs offer an arsenal of heavy metal ammunition that could help you stay as metal- free as possible.

 Foods – True organic foods offer way less heavy metal toxicity than conventional choices. It can be pricey but when you weigh out the alternative it could be the best choice. Citrus fruits have been shown to help eliminate metal toxins due to their high antioxidant levels as well as pectin which is a natural detoxifier. This is especially true for grapefruit which contains naringenin, a flavonoid that assists the liver in fat burning which would otherwise be a perfect place for metals to harbor. Oysters are often safe from metal toxicity but fish are notorious for high levels of mercury so avoid eating too much of these “toxic magnets”. This also includes sea based supplements such as algae and even sea salt. Always check if your food has been produced in a “free-range” manner or advertises “metal-free” manufacturing.

 Herbal De-Toxifiers – Some herbs are capable of “grabbing” embedded heavy metals and removing them from the body. Always check with your doctor before taking any herbal supplements.

• Burdock – This root-based supplement has the ability to remove mercury and other toxins from the blood.

• Cilantro – Often wasted as an aesthetic garnish, cilantro is a powerful herb shown to excrete mercury and other metals that easily bind to it.

• Garlic – Garlic contains components of sulphur which is able to oxidize damaging metals such as mercury, cadmium and lead. This oxidation renders these metals water soluble enabling easy secretion from the body.

• Chlorella – This is a fresh water algae which should not contain any metal residue. Chlorella has an interesting finding following the 1945 atomic bomb fallout in Japan. The General Meeting of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan in 1973 found that chlorella use significantly improved the decrease of cadmium, a major toxic component absorbed by surrounding citizens.

• Milk Thistle – Silymarin is the compound found in Milk Thistle that enables it to shed heavy metal residue from the liver and gall bladder. Gene Bruno of Natural Health Research Institute reports, “Milk thistle strengthens the liver cell walls, buffering them from invading toxins, and supports liver regeneration.”

These are a few heavy metal detox tips. Talk to your doctor or naturopathic practitioner for more ideas on how to avoid this quietly, dangerous interloper.