What are heavy metals? Elements of relatively high density, or of high relative atomic weight. These elements can potentially be toxic and very dangerous, some even in low concentration. Researchers have identified that significant exposure to at least 23 different environmental metals can cause acute or chronic toxicity. However, the most commonly known are Mercury, Lead, Arsenic, Cadmium, Aluminium, Nickel, Uranium, and Thallium. These metals hang around in the body, especially hiding out in fat cells, and are similar to fat-soluble toxins in that they are difficult to get rid of. Body fat tries to protect the organs by trapping certain substances inside, including some metals, which causes them to linger.
How do you know if you’re suffering from heavy metal poisoning? Take it from someone who has been, the symptoms are persistent, chronic, and affect so many of the body systems! Referencing Mercola.com and DrAxe.com, heavy metal toxicity can result in damaged or reduced mental and central nervous system function, plus damage to the vital organs, such as the liver, heart, endocrine glands and kidneys.
Acute metal toxicity is a lot easier to diagnose, and symptoms include:
Sudden severe cramping and/or convulsions, nausea, vomiting, profuse sweating, headache, difficulty breathing, impaired cognitive, motor and language skills, and tremors. At times acute symptoms can mimic those of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Multiple Sclerosis.
Symptoms of chronic metal toxicity, however, are much more subtle, in large part because these symptoms are so common, such as:
Fatigue, insomnia, digestive distress, aching joints, depression and anxiety, brain fog, difficulty concentrating and learning, impaired blood sugar regulation, skin irritation, female reproductive problems such as menstrual difficulties, infertility, miscarriage, pre-eclampsia, pregnancy induced hypertension and premature birth.
Heavy metal toxicity can also cause chronic fatigue, autoimmune diseases, including Lyme’s, dementia, bi-polar disorder, anemia, and cardiovascular problems.
If you feel you might be suffering from toxicity, heavy metal testing is now widely available by via blood test or hair analysis (recommended).
So where are these heavy metals found in our environment? The answer is everywhere:
– In air pollution caused by traffic fumes, chem trails, cigarette smoke, radiation.
– In a low quality diet, from consuming processed, non-organic and GM foods, along with farmed fish or those wild fish that are high in mercury – King mackerel, tilefish, swordfish, marlin, shark, ahi and big eye tuna see here.
– In municipal drinking water: the water supply in many developed nations contain heavy metals, and use fluoride see here (dated at 2012), with added fluoride sourced from industrial waste by product.
– In utero, heavy metals can be passed down from mother to child in pregnancy.
– If you have received certain vaccinations see here,
– From having mercury amalgam dental fillings.
– From all manner of personal and household products, from cosmetics to antiperspirants, talcum powder, toothpastes, certain household cleaning products, pots and pans, paint, insecticides, baking powder, some canned foods, aluminium foil and plastic.
Note that glyphosate, the herbicide most commonly known as Monsanto’s RoundUp, heavily toxic in it’s own right, also works synergistically with aluminium, causing it to be more toxic.
I know this information might seem scary, but before jumping on the fear train let’s look at all the solutions that are available, if you’re ready to make the necessary changes to heal..
1. Detoxing: there are various methods of heavy metal detox available, it is recommended to be under the supervision of a holistic or functional medicine practitioner, particularly if undergoing a more extreme form of detox. Chelation Therapy in particular, is a medical procedure that involves the administration of chelating agents via intravenous to remove heavy metals from the body. This can produce some severe side effects. You can take DMSA orally as a binding agent, similarly zeolite, pharmaceutical grade bentonite clay, activated charcoal, or a spirulina/chlorella/barley grass combo. Compliment these with high dose vitamin C, and if you can access a pharmaceutical grade glutathione. Taking a good probiotic is also necessary. Sweating is very important in this process! Cardio exercise, saunas or steam room sessions, detox baths with bentonite clay, or using the power combination of sea salt, epsom salt, apple cider vinegar, baking soda and a few drops of your favourite essential oil, are all recommended.
2. Diet: Is one of the most imperative elements of both minimizing the intake of heavy metals, and in detoxifying them. The Weston A Price dietary recommendations see here, written in 1920 hold just as true today. Optimal nutrition is essential in this process, because if you’re deficient in essential minerals, your body will use toxic metals as stand-in’s instead. Leafy greens, cilantro/coriander, foods rich in vitamin C, garlic and onions, soaked chia and flax seeds, and bone broth are all wonderful detoxes and healers. While detoxing, avoid non-organic foods, farmed fish, food allergens, processed foods/foods with additives, and alcohol.
3. Hydration: drink plenty of good quality water! A simple guideline is to drink half your body weight (pounds) in ounces of water. For those on metrics, do a conversion. When detoxing, you will want to drink even more than the recommended amount. Find a good quality water filtration system. I also use a water structurer. See one of my past articles here.
In general, limit your exposure to heavy metals by:
1. Using glass, cast iron, titanium and enamel cookware. Replace all teflon and non-stick pots and pans as they leech toxins and heavy metals into the foods while you cook. Also remove or heavily limit the use of aluminium foil in your kitchen, and replace plastics with glass or enamel for food storage.
2. Avoiding cosmetics with aluminium bases, lead, and mineral powders that contain bismuth. In general, I recommend switching your traditional cosmetic products to mineral make up, due to the level of toxins contained within them.
3. Trading in anti-perspirants and traditional deodorants for their natural, heavy metal-free alternatives.
4. Using natural household cleaning products in place of chemically laden ones (also covered in this article).
5. Avoiding vaccinations that inject mercury or aluminium directly into your bloodstream!
6. Avoiding amalgam fillings, or if that’s too late for you, having them removed by a dentist that practices the SMART technique.
7. Avoiding stainless steel orthodontics.
8. Sleeping in a bed that doesn’t have a metal frame, and by having no metal furniture in the bedroom.
9. Avoiding smoking, and second hand smoke.
Follow these guidelines and you can heal from heavy metal poisoning. Even if your symptoms aren’t acute but you feel you may need a detox, listen to your inner wisdom and do it! Warning, the quality of your health and with it your life, may transform..
