Heavy metals & Detox

 

For few hundred years now, we have been exposed to toxic chemical substances every day. Since the womb, since the birth, we are bombarded with heavy metals and chemical shit-storm!

From the pesticides, herbicides, air pollutants, to hundreds of toxins that lay around in our home.Like our keys, our cooking pots, in the food we eat, the water we drink, the count is beyond measure. 

The top 5 heavy metals that are found in our day to day life in thousands of ways are:

1. Lithium
2. Arsenic
3. Cadmium
4. Mercury
5. Lead

Since we’re exposed to heavy metals every day, they slowly build up in the body’s tissues. It’s one of the reasons why people struggle to feel healthy.

Even if you follow a healthy lifestyle, you simply won’t see the results you want if there’s something compromising your health every day. It’s like trying to set up a Jenga tower while someone keeps pulling out the bottom pieces.

Common signs of chronic heavy metal toxicity include:

• Chronic fatigue
• Digestive discomfort
• Brain fog
• Immune issues
• Headaches
• Achy joints & rashes
• Aging
• Insomnia/Sleepless nights 
• Hormonal issues
• Nervous system issues
• Mental isuues
• Physical issues
  

The list goes on and on. When heavy metals continue to accumulate in the body, the consequences can be even more severe.

Where Heavy metals are found:

1. Public Water

Lead in our water pipes. These high amounts of lead are primarily due to the fact that old lead pipes are still in use even though their installation is now banned. These old lead pipes are slowly rusting and corroding. As water passes through, lead particulates are released into the water.

How we get exposed to lithium

The general population may also be exposed to lithium through drinking water, including bottled water.

Exposure To Lithium Can Cause

✓ Loss of appetite,
✓ nausea,
✓ vomiting,
✓ diarrhea and
✓ abdominal pain.

If that wasn’t bad enough, Lithium can also cause the following:

✓ headache

✓ muscle weakness 

✓ twitching, blurred vision 

✓ loss of coordination

✓ tremors

✓ confusion

✓ seizures and 

✓ coma

Lithium Impacts Pregnancy & The Thyroid

An adverse effect of lithium on the thyroid maybe even more critical during pregnancy. The thyroid gland is in charge of producing hormones that are essential for pre-and postnatal growth and cognitive development. The fetal thyroid starts developing around the fourth week of pregnancy and becomes functional near mid-gestation, which is why an appropriate maternal thyroid function is crucial for fetal development. 

Hypothyroidism, a condition in which the thyroid gland is incapable of producing enough thyroid hormones, has been associated with increased risk of gestational hypertension, placental abruption, preterm delivery, and fetal loss, as well as lower birth weight, congenital hypothyroidism, and impaired neurological function. 

Researchers recently found inverse associations between maternal exposure to lithium during pregnancy and birth size and hypothesize that an impairment of the thyroid hormonal system might be an underlying mechanism. 

Therefore, elucidating the potential impact of lithium from drinking water on maternal thyroid function during pregnancy is important for proper development.

 

2. Beauty Products

Cosmetics or beauty products are also often contaminated with toxic heavy metals. This includes products like lipstick, eyeliner, eye shadow, blush, moisturizers, hair dye, and even sunscreens.

Whether it is lead in lipstick or aluminum in deodorant, these products are used daily and can be a significant source of heavy metal exposure.

But you don’t have to completely avoid beauty products to protect your health. Instead, take the time to read the ingredients list before using or buying any beauty products.

How Are We Exposed To Arsenic?

In food

For most people, food is the largest source of arsenic, although much of this is likely to be in the less dangerous, organic form. The highest levels of arsenic (in all forms) in foods can be found in seafood, rice, rice cereal (and other rice products), mushrooms, and poultry, although many other foods, including some fruit juices, can also contain arsenic.

 

Rice is of particular concern because it is a major part of the diet in many parts of the world. It is also a major component of many of the cereals eaten by infants and young children. (Nearly all rice products have been found to contain at least some arsenic, although the levels can vary widely.)

 

In drinking water

Drinking water is an important and potentially controllable source of arsenic exposure. In parts of China, Taiwan, Bangladesh, and western South America, high levels of arsenic occur naturally in drinking water, and can be a major source of arsenic exposure.

 

Water in some areas of the United States, especially in the West, also naturally contains arsenic. Most US areas with higher levels of arsenic in drinking water are rural communities. (As discussed further down, public drinking water systems in the US are required to test for arsenic and to keep it below a certain level.)

 

Natural arsenic levels tend to be higher in drinking water that comes from ground sources, such as wells, as opposed to water from surface sources, such as lakes or reservoirs.

 

At work

Arsenic has not been produced in the United States since 1985, although it is still imported from other countries. In the past, workers in smelters and in plants that manufactured, packaged, or distributed products that contained arsenic had high exposures from breathing in arsenic fumes and dust.

 

Arsenic was a common ingredient in many pesticides and herbicides in the past. People who made, transported, applied, or worked around these products may have been exposed to higher levels of arsenic. Inorganic arsenic compounds have not been used in pesticides in the US since 1993, and organic compounds have been phased out of pesticides (with one exception used on cotton plants) as of 2013.

Arsenic affects a broad range of organs and systems including:

✓Skin

✓Nervous system

✓Respiratory system

✓Cardiovascular system

✓Liver, kidney, bladder and prostate

✓Immune system

✓Endocrine system

✓Developmental processes

Symptoms Of Arsenic Poisoning May Include:

✓red or swollen skin

✓skin changes, such as new warts or lesions

✓abdominal pain

✓nausea and vomiting

✓diarrhea

✓abnormal heart rhythm

✓muscle cramps

✓tingling of fingers and toes

✓Long-term exposure to arsenic can cause more severe symptoms.

You should seek emergency help if you experience any of the following after a suspected arsenic exposure:

 

✓darkening skin

✓constant sore throat

✓persistent digestive issues

According to the World Health OrganizationTrusted Source, long-term symptoms tend to occur in the skin first, and can show up within five years of exposure. Cases of extreme poisoning may lead to death.

 

Arsenic Causes Cancer

 

3. Pesticides & Herbicides

Among their countless additional dangers, pesticides often contain heavy metals such as cadmium, lead, and arsenic.

Pesticides are heavily used on most foods that aren’t organic, and can be particularly high in breads and processed foods.

To avoid them, buy organic whenever possible.

4. Dental Fillings

Mercury is used in dentistry in dental amalgam, also known as “silver filling.” You know those silver-colored dental fillings? They’re called amalgam dental fillings. Dental amalgam is a direct filling material used in restoring teeth. It is made up of approximately 40-50% mercury, 25% silver, and 25-35% blend of copper, zinc and tin. Amalgam use is declining because the incidence of dental decay is decreasing, and because well-performing substitute materials are available for restoring teeth.

The problem is, amalgam dental fillings don’t just sit there in your teeth. They break down over time, slowly releasing mercury into your body. And if there’s any tooth decay near the fillings, even more mercury is released.

If you want to get rid of them, however, use extreme care because the extraction process can cause the mercury to vaporize and enter your body. Holistic dentists are trained in methods to safely remove these fillings.

Early Symptoms Of Mercury Poisoning

Mercury may affect the nervous system, leading to neurological symptoms such as:

 

✓nervousness or anxiety

✓irritability or mood changes

✓numbness

✓memory problems

✓depression

✓physical tremors

As the levels of mercury in the body rise, more symptoms will appear. These symptoms may vary depending on a person’s age and exposure levels. Adults with mercury poisoning may experience symptoms such as:

 

✓muscle weakness

✓metallic taste in the mouth

✓nausea and vomiting

✓lack of motor skills or feeling uncoordinated

✓inability to feel in the hands, face, or other areas

✓changes in vision, hearing, or speech

✓difficulty breathing

✓difficulty walking or standing straight

Mercury can also affect a child’s early development. Children with mercury poisoning may show symptoms such as:

 

✓impaired motor skills

✓problems thinking or problem-solving

✓difficulties learning to speak or understanding language

✓issues with hand-eye coordination

✓being physically unaware of their surroundings

 

Lead

Lead is found everywhere like many other heavy metals.

 

5. Furniture

Furniture is one of those things that nobody expects to be a common source of heavy metals. However furniture contains fire retardants, protective finishes, and fabrics that contain heavy metals such as antimony and cadmium.

This includes mattresses, automobile seat covers, couches, and much more. The best way to avoid exposure is to support brands that offer products free of flame retardants. Other than that, it’s difficult to avoid this one.

6. Some Pharmaceutical Drugs

Some prescription drugs contain heavy metals as binding agents. Over-the-counter antacids are also a significant source of aluminum.

Additionally, some vaccines also have heavy metals. The multi-dose flu vaccine still has the mercury-based preservative thimerosal in every dose.

While the FDA considers these agents to be “safe” because they are present in low amounts, it fails to account for the accumulated exposure people experience with heavy metals from so many other sources.

7. House and Car Keys

Many people are in the habit of fiddling with their keys. Some parents will even give their keys to their children to keep them occupied.

But if you do either of these things, you should immediately stop. That’s because lead is often used to make car and house keys. Manufacturers often use it so they can easily shape the keys. By some estimates, brass keys are up to 2.5% lead by weight.

While you can’t avoid using keys altogether, you can at least limit your exposure. To do this, place your keys in an easy-to-remember location and only touch them when they need to be used.

8. E-Cigarettes & old school smoking

Some people assume e-cigarettes are a healthier alternative to smoking. But they simply haven’t been out long enough to fully evaluate their effects.

What we do know is the flavoring chemicals used in E-cigarettes can contain some nasty chemicals. Among these chemicals is cadmium, a heavy metal that can cause neurological damage, kidney disease, and mental disorders.

CADMIUM:

Cadmium has many uses, including the manufacture of rechargeable batteries. Exposure to cadmium can affect the kidneys, lungs and bones. Cigarette smoke contains high levels of cadmium. Blood and urine tests can measure the amount of cadmium present in the body.

Breathing in cadmium can result in:

✓Flu-like symptoms, such as body aches, chills, and weakness.
✓Vomiting
✓Diarrhea

Eating food or drinking water contaminated with high levels of cadmium can result in:

✓Nausea and vomiting.

✓Stomach cramps.

✓Diarrhea.

✓Kidney damage.

✓Fragile bones.

✓Death.

Mercury

Mercury exists in various forms: elemental (or metallic) and inorganic (to which people may be exposed through their occupation); and organic (e.g., methylmercury, to which people may be exposed through their diet). 

Mercury is contained in many products, including:

✓batteries

✓measuring devices, such as thermometers and barometers

✓electric switches and relays in equipment

✓lamps (including some types of light bulbs)

✓dental amalgam (for dental fillings)

✓skin-lightening products and other cosmetics

✓pharmaceuticals.

 Metallic mercury mainly causes health effects when inhaled as a vapor where it can be absorbed through the lungs. Symptoms of prolonged and/or acute exposures include: Tremors; Emotional changes (such as mood swings, irritability, nervousness, excessive shyness) 

9. Air Pollution & Vehicle Exhaust

Between industrial pollution, mining, and our increasingly globalized world, our air is more polluted than ever.

A lot of these pollutants contain heavy metals like lead, cadmium, and mercury. As a result, heavy metals are getting into our body with every breath we take.

According to a publication in the NATO Science for Peace and Security book, “atmospheric heavy metals pollution is one of the most serious problems facing humanity and other life forms on our planet today.”

And the exposure is even worse for those who live in the city due to high levels of vehicle traffic. That’s because car exhaust contains small amounts of lead. Diesel exhaust is also a source of nickel exposure.

10. Jewelry

Many types of faux bijoux contains heavy metals. Other consumer products: Metallic mercury is often found in school laboratories. It is also in some thermometers, barometers, switches, thermostats, and electrical switches. View a list of products that contain mercury. 

Take Action to Protect Your Health

Heavy metals are hidden in plain sight. While it’s nearly impossible to completely avoid heavy metals, you can limit your exposure and seek out natural products to reduce your intake.

Since you likely already have accumulated heavy metals in the body, it’s also good to consider taking steps to reduce the levels in your body.

Zeolite:

The zeolite is a natural filter of heavy metals. It works by attracting and trapping heavy metals as it passes through the body.

While zeolite is used in many industries as a filter for toxins, make sure you pick a supplement formulated for optimal size and detox.

By detoxing heavy metals from the body, you can rid yourself of the toxins that can undermine your health. In the process you may discover newfound energy and vitality to live to your full potential.

 

Suggestions For Detox 

Zeolite, Spirulina, Chlorella, Matcha. Make sure you find good quality products!

1. Don’t just allow heavy metals to enter to your house. Be sure to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet. Increase your intake of nutrients and minerals. This leaves less space for toxic build-up!

2. A good water morning routine, like drinking lemon water every morning upon waking will give your liver a nice little jump start and prep it for a day of hard work.

3. Rest and reset to properly digest. Eating your last foods around 7 pm. This work is incredibly important especially in terms of detoxification.

4. Give your cells the best chance possible by increasing antioxidants. Vitamin C, eat lots of fruits and veggies high in fiber such as beats, Kale, spinach, raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, artichokes, pecans, and the list goes on.

5. Test your blood. Know your own risk. Find out your specific environmental exposures and take steps to eliminate or adapt to them. Such as vacuuming more often. Wearing a mask if you work in a high-risk environment. Avoiding certain foods or supplements until your body is detoxed and restored. 
6. Detox your body at least twice a year. Clean out, accumulated toxins so you can have space for health and help yourself feel better.                                                                                           Sources:  Essenital organics, lab me