I may have had some of my best times in the 80’s, but apparently I didn’t leave the heavy metal behind (no pun intended). Can you imagine my surprise recently when my holistic doctor told me I had too many heavy metal toxins? I was eating clean, buying organic as often as possible and doing my best to avoid toxic products (and people), yet my inability to concentrate and lack of focus were two indicators that heavy metal toxins still affected me.
It can sound strange if you’re not familiar with it, but we’re all carriers of heavy metal toxins. Heavy metals are in the air we breathe, water we drink, they’re found in our foods, our homes, and are unavoidable in our day to day. The body can’t filter all these toxins out – right now, you’re actually storing heavy metal toxins in your tissues and fat stores.
As heavy metal toxicity builds up slowly and over time, health issues arise. Heavy metal not only causes ear ringing and head banging 😉 the scope of heavy metal toxins in the body can affect your nervous system, cardiovascular system, gastrointestinal system, blood production, and reproductive system.
Symptoms include:
- Digestive issues including abdominal pain, diarrhea, and constipation
- Skin issues of redness, acne, uneven tone, and unexplained rashes
- Pain in joints and muscles
- Headaches
- Chronic fatigue
- Brain fog and difficulty concentrating
- Fertility issues and/or irregular or painful periods
- Higher risk for Alzheimer’s and heart disease
- New allergies and food intolerances
While there is no sure fire way to eliminate exposure from all heavy metals, there is a lot you can do to recognize exposure risk, identify sources, and limit it.
| Heavy Metal | Common Sources | How To Avoid |
|
Cadmium |
Cigarettes and E-cigarettes, chemical fertilizer, food contamination |
Give up smoking or seek treatment to quit, eat more organic food and choose organic products |
|
Lead |
Soil and water (particularly places with a history of industrial pollution). High levels have been found in some protein powders, paint in older homes |
Choose organic foods and products, make your home a shoe free zone, eat more protein containing foods like nuts, beans, eggs, spirulina, hemp, and organic meat |
|
Arsenic |
Pesticides used in agriculture, foods especially rice, some protein powders, underground water sources |
Choose organic produce. If your water comes from an underground source, have it tested for metals, Basmati rice grown in CA is low in arsenic |
|
Mercury |
Older dental fillings, vaccines, fish and seafood |
Have older amalgam dental work replaced, research vaccines thoroughly. Find out mercury levels in your seafood at: http://water.epa.gov/scitech/swguidance/fishshellfish/outreach/advice_index.cfm |
|
Fluoride |
Tap water and some bottles waters, toothpaste, processed foods, non-organic foods |
Drink filtered water (carbon filters filter flouride) or choose glass bottled water like Mountain Valley Spring Water. Brush with natural/organic toothpaste. Choose organic foods and avoid sodas, processed foods, and commercially produced juices |
|
Aluminium |
Medications, antiperspirants, cosmetic products, foil, cans |
Research medications, choose aluminum-free deodorants and organic cosmetics. Store food in glass and ceramic containers, avoid canned food products when possible |
If you feel that heavy metal toxicity could be an issue for you, having a blood test, hair test, or fecal test is an option and many integrative MD’s and holistic doctors will work with you on a regimen to cleanse heavy metals. For those simply looking to reduce and chelate the unavoidable heavy metals we are exposed to, next week, I will explore natural treatments, so stay tuned for more!
