HEAVY METAL DETOX

Heavy Metals are highly toxic, and can be a threat to the health of people and wildlife even in environments that are not obviously polluted. Once in the body, they act as free radicals, damage cells and impair enzymes. Due to their long half-life, they can persist for years, even decades. They potentially affect every organy and stand in the way of optimally health. Some heavy metals occur naturally in the environment, but most are a result of industrial pollution.

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Where do Heavy Metals come from?

• Mercury

  is highly toxic and is l, is found in fish, shellfish, amalgam fillings, and can be airborne through the burning of coal and oil.

• Lead

   is in old, lead based paint and in ceramic products. It gets into the environment through the burning of fossil fuels, mining, and the production of batteries, and ammunition.

• Arsenic

   is in wood preservatives (and gets into the body through inhaling saw dust), pesticides, semiconductors, car batteries, well water and fish.

 

What are Symptoms of Heavy Metal Toxicity? 

As they cause a bewildering array of symptoms, Heavy Metal toxicity can be hard to diagnose:

• Nervous System

  irritability, low concentration, memory loss, insomnia, depression, anxiety, tingling or burning of extremities, tremors, tinnitus, metallic taste, numbness, brain fog, headaches, fatigue.

• Immune System

  recurrent viral, bacterial or fungal infections, autoimmune disorders, allergies. The EPA has classified methyl-mercury as a possible carcinogen.

• Cardiovascular

  extra beats, hypertension, and cardiomyopathy.

• Skin

  Eczema, allergies.

• Endocrine System

  Hypothyroidism,  infertility.

• Gastrointestinal: 

  Food sensitivities, IBS, dysbiosis, leaky gut, susceptibility to parasitic infections. 

• Systemic

  fatigue and fibromyalgia.

 

Mercury and Neurodegenerative Disease

Mercury is a neurotoxin and has been recognized as a possible co-factor in the promotion of Alzheimer’s and MS. People with the Apolipoprotein E4 Genotype have an impaired detox capacity for mercury and are therefore at higher risk.

 

Allergies to Heavy Metals

Beyond being toxic, Heavy metals can induce allergies and promote generalized inflammation.

 

Mercury and Pregnancy

Mercury passes from the mother to the fetus where it can cause developmental problems. As most fish is contaminated with mercury, pregnant women should reduce their fish consumption and especially avoid high-mercury containing fish. Avoid tilefish, shark, swordfish, king mackerel and limit white albacore tuna to 6 ounces per week. Best low  mercury choices are wild caught Alaskan salmon, sardines, pollock, catfish, and cod.  Also be aware that the placement or removal of silver amalgam fillings during pregnancy and breastfeeding is outlawed in many European countries.

 

How is Heavy Metal Toxicity diagnosed?

• Blood, Urine and Hair analysis 

  reveal recent exposure but can be misleading when the exposure dates further back.  

• A challenge or provocation test correlates best with the body burden of heavy metals. It is done by collecting urine for 6 hours after taking a chelating agent like DMSA.

 

Heavy Metal Detoxification is done through

• Supplementation 

  with Glutathione, Minerals and Chlorella.

• Medical Chelators 

  like DMSA or EDTA that bind and excrete heavy metals through liver, gut and kidneys.

• Sweating through exercise or regular saunas are supportive as are a 

  diet rich in protein and Omega 3 fatty acids. 

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If done right - slower is better - Heavy Metal Detoxification is safe and well tolerated.