What Is Heavy Metal Toxicity?

Over time, heavy metals will accumulate in your body for a variety of reasons. These metals can trigger a host of symptoms and diseases if left unchecked. Fortunately, we are able to detox these metals with some natural remedies and specialty supplements. While I have covered natural remedies in a previous article, this article will explore a mixture of natural and synthetic supplements that can help the body detox from heavy metals.

Where Are Heavy Metals Found?

Heavy metals are naturally occurring elements within the earth’s crust. Furthermore, heavy metals are often made as a product of various industries as waste. Just a few examples of industries that produce heavy metals in some form are:

• Automotive
• Technology
• Mining
• Chemical Plants

How Does Exposure Happen?

Exposure occurs from multiple methods. A few of these methods include:

• Air inhalation
• Workplace hazards
• Poorly maintained infrastructure
• Contaminated water
• Contaminated food

For most of us, the most common methods of exposure are contaminated food and water. In regards to food, this will occur mostly due to fish and certain crops. In regards to water, it will be from faulty or poorly maintained plumbing.

Symptoms Of Heavy Metal Exposure

Depending on how much exposure has occurred, you may notice some acute symptoms. Several of these acute symptoms of metal poisoning are:

• headaches
• nausea
• stomach pains
• memory and focus problems
• dizzy spells
• sleep problems
• mood swings

If exposure occurs frequently over a long period of time without detoxing, some long-term effects include the development of diseases such as:

• Cancer
• Alzheimer’s disease
• fibromyalgia
• liver failure
• Crohn’s disease

Because of the effects heavy metals have on us long-term, it is in our best interest to find supplements to help us detox these metals. Before we look at some of these supplements, let’s look at a few specifics of heavy metals.

The Big Four

There are roughly 23 heavy metals. Four are most toxic to us. These metals are mercury, arsenic, lead, and cadmium.

Mercury

Exposure to this metal occurs primarily through our diet. Primarily, this occurs through eating contaminated seafood such as tuna, salmon, shellfish, and swordfish. Other means of mercury exposure can be from:

• certain vaccines
• air inhalation from industrial plants
• dental fillings

Lead

Exposure to lead occurs in many ways. The primary method of exposure to lead is through our drinking water. A prime example of this is the fiasco in Flint, Michigan. Poorly kept infrastructure or old pipes can easily leak lead into our water supply. Because of this, it is best to filter your home water in some way. A couple of other methods of lead exposure are:

• old buildings with lead paint
• air inhalation from chemical plants
• canned foods

Arsenic

Arsenic exposure occurs primarily from contaminated soil. This can be from natural events such as volcanic eruptions that push arsenic out from the earth’s crust. It can also be from industrial waste that has contaminated nearby soil with arsenic. The industrial waste can contaminate water supplies with arsenic as well.

Cadmium

Most human exposure to cadmium comes from contaminated soil and water via close proximity to mining ores. Similar to arsenic, it can leak into food and water supplies as well as contaminate the air via vapors.

Treating Heavy Metal Exposure

The easiest way to remove heavy metals is to eat well and make smart lifestyle choices. You want to avoid highly-processed foods, drinking excess alcohol, using tobacco products, and spending too much time in industrial areas if possible. The only way to know if you have any heavy metal accumulation is to visit a doctor. There are some hair mineral testing kits online, but a test at the doctor’s office will likely be more accurate.

Once you know for sure if heavy metals are to blame for any symptoms you are experiencing, you can decide how you want to detox. Eating specific foods and herbs is a great start. If you wish to go the medical route, you can engage in chelation therapy. Chelation therapy is consuming a chelating solution that will bind the metals in your bloodstream and mobilize them to be removed by your body’s natural detox pathways (bowel movements, sweating, urination, etc).

The 10 Must-Haves’ For A Detox

As I said before, there are plenty of natural means and foods you can use to detox from heavy metals. However, I wanted this article to also touch on some synthetic supplements and other metal-binding agents that might not come to mind when searching for natural means. I will list a combination of natural means and man-made means that serve as supplements for a metal detox.

Metal Detox Supplement #1: Chlorella

This green alga is a natural metal binder. This means it will bind to and move metals throughout the blood to get rid of them naturally. This makes chlorella a powerful supplement to detox metals. Mercury in particular is removed well by this little green alga.

Metal Detox Supplement #2: Ethylene-diamine-tetra-acetic acid (EDTA)

EDTA is a medication widely used in chelation therapy to treat heavy metal toxicity. As a bonus, EDTA is also adept at removing calcium from clotting up arteries and leaving deposits in places they do not belong. While we do need calcium to keep our bones healthy, calcium can deposit with blood clots and cholesterol to create clogs. EDTA helps reduce this possibility.

Metal Detox Supplement #3: Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA)

ALA is an antioxidant that helps the body break down carbohydrates for energy. Furthermore, ALA helps is a chelator that helps to remove all four of the most toxic metals. This makes ALA a valuable supplement for detoxing metals. There is also research that shows ALA as a liver support supplement, protecting the liver from arsenic exposure.

Metal Detox Supplement #4: Milk Thistle

Milk thistle is commonly cited as a supplement that protects the liver. Since it promotes liver function, it is a must-have supplement for a metal detox. Furthermore, milk thistle promotes resistance to several other problems such as diabetes and cirrhosis.

Metal Detox Supplement #5: Modified Citrus Pectin

This metal detox supplement is able to get rid of heavy metals without getting rid of the good metals we do need. Since we need trace amounts of some metals, we have to be careful with chelation. Chelation therapy can sometimes remove the helpful metals as well as the toxic metals. With modified citrus pectin, this risk is reduced.

Metal Detox Supplement #6: Zinc

Zinc is a trace element that we need for optimal health. While it is a metal, it is only harmful to us in excess amounts. Zinc has a number of uses, some of which include:

• immune support
• faster wound healing
• helps the body make proteins
• reduces inflammation

Since zinc reduces inflammation, it helps destroy free radicals resulting from metal exposure. Zinc works best when taken with selenium.

Metal Detox Supplement #7: Iodine

Two well-known effects of a lack of iodine are cognitive and learning disabilities. A common symptom of heavy metal poisoning is cognitive impairment. Aside from brain development, iodine is needed for hormonal balance. Another side effect of metal toxicity is mood swings. Supplementing with iodine can help reduce symptoms of metal poisoning, making it a valuable metal detox supplement. Similar to zinc, iodine is best taken with selenium.

Metal Detox Supplement #8: Selenium

Since zinc and iodine pair well with selenium, selenium needed to be included. Selenium is a trace element that is essential in trace amounts and toxic in excess. We use selenium as an antioxidant for cellular function.

Metal Detox Supplement #9: Cilantro

This herb is one of nature’s best chelating agents. Furthermore, since cilantro is so versatile as an herb, it can be added to plenty of meals.

Metal Detox Supplement #10: Carnosine

Carnosine is a compound produced in the liver. It is created from the amino acid beta-alanine. The benefit of this metal detox supplement is that it is both naturally occurring and available in synthetic form. For meat-eaters, just eat a steak. For those who cannot eat meat, carnosine is available as a capsule. This compound protects the kidneys. This makes it valuable for detoxing from heavy metals.

Final Thoughts

It is best to remember that heavy metal exposure is going to happen to us all at some point. Therefore, your focus should always be to reduce exposure rather than avoiding any exposure at all. . To learn more about heavy metals and general healthy living tips, check out the rest of our blog here.

Heavy metals are an unfortunate part of modern life. However, we don’t have to just sit back and let them cause damage unchecked. While we cannot avoid them completely, we can take steps to ensure we minimize the exposure and damage. One of the best ways to do this is with food. Most of you have probably heard the saying, “you are what you eat.” This is certainly true. Taking steps to clean up your diet is a big contributing factor to the amount of heavy metal exposure and damage you will deal with. Finding specific foods that support your detoxification system as well as help cleanse the body of heavy metals and other toxins is essential.

When it comes to overall health, your diet is a big factor. However, lifestyle choices also play a role. Your daily habits can make or break the hard work put in the kitchen eating right. Examples of lifestyle choices include:

• tobacco use
• alcohol consumption
• eating excess processed/fast food
• lack of exercise

These choices in particular have a drastic influence on the frequency and duration of heavy metal exposure/damage. In this article, we will explore the damage these lifestyle choices can cause. Furthermore, we will look at foods you can eat to cleanse your body of heavy metals and other toxins introduced by poor lifestyle choices.

The Basics Of Heavy Metals

While there are other health implications for poor food and lifestyle choices, we are focusing on heavy metal exposure primarily. Therefore, let’s look at some of the basic info needed to understand why heavy metals are considerably more problematic than many realize.

Where Do They Come From?

Heavy metals are naturally occurring trace elements that are denser than water. They are found all throughout the environment as well as in the earth’s crust. They are also a by-product of several man-made industries. Some examples of business sectors that create heavy metal pollution as a by-product are:

• Automotive
• Chemical plants
• Technology
• Dentistry
• Healthcare
• Mining
• Steelwork
• Agriculture
• Irrigation

Basically, any industry that has made life more convenient has contributed to the rise of heavy metal pollution in the environment.

What Environments Are Polluted?

To be frank, all of them. To be a little more specific, the following are environments with substantial heavy metal pollution:

• Soil near mining or chemical plants
• Water sources near factories
• Irrigation pipes with poor infrastructure/maintenance
• Air via vapors from chemical plants and factories
• Crop fields due to contaminated soil or pesticides containing heavy metals

How Does Exposure Occur?

Humans get exposed to heavy metals through a variety of means. The most common methods of exposure are:

• Air inhalation
• Contaminated Foods
• Contaminated drinking water

Although, individuals who live near or work in factories, mining facilities, or chemical plants experience even greater exposure due to their work conditions and the time they spend there each day. For these people, a heavy metal cleanse would be much more necessary.

For the rest of us, exposure is mostly through breathing contaminated air, eating contaminated foods, and drinking contaminated water. In regard to air, this is more so for those living in urban and industrial areas a little more so. However, food and water can occur anywhere. Examples of contaminated foods are:

• crops that are grown in treated fields or in close proximity to industrial facilities
• seafood from contaminated waters or fish farms
• canned foods

Examples of contaminated drinking water are:

• water sources contaminated with industrial waste
• water from unkept irrigation pipes
• unfiltered natural water

What Do The Symptoms Look Like?

Symptoms can range from mild and acute to chronic depending on the exposure level, frequency of exposure, and duration of exposure. As I’ve already said, exposure is inevitable, so minimizing exposure frequency and duration is the goal. Symptoms of acute metal toxicity include:

• headaches
• dizzy spells
• fainting spells
• stomach problems
• difficulty remembering things
• difficulty focusing on tasks
• fatigue
• insomnia episodes
• mood swings

Over time if left unchecked, these heavy metals can lead to diseases such as:

• Heart disease
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Crohn’s disease
• Cancer

With this in mind, we can now look at some foods to help cleanse the body of these metals.

Effective Foods That Cleanse The Body Of Heavy Metals

There are four heavy metals considered to be the most toxic to humans. These are mercury, lead, arsenic, and cadmium. The foods we will look at will either be able to help the body eliminate a heavy metal by binding to it or mobilizing it or will be able to support an organ that detoxes the body.

Metal Cleansing Food #1: Artichoke

Artichokes are a great choice for supporting liver function and aiding digestion. While this food is more adept at helping the body flush toxins from excess alcohol consumption and excess fast food eating, they are still great for overall liver support. Since the liver is the body’s main detoxification organ, any food that supports liver function should be on a metal cleansing list.

Metal Cleansing Food #2: Blueberries

While other berries such as blackberries, strawberries, and elderberries are also high in antioxidants and essential vitamins that support the body’s detox system, the blueberry is the ideal number one pick. Not only do blueberries reduce inflammation making the detox system function better, but they also:

• have 4 grams of fiber per cup
• contain around 24% of your daily vitamin C needs
• have up to 36% of your vitamin K needs
• contain about 25% of your daily manganese needs

Blueberries also contain trace amounts of other essential vitamins and minerals needed to stay healthy. Furthermore, blueberries also help lower blood pressure, regulate bowel movements (method of toxin flushing), lower cholesterol, and improve digestion. Make sure you get wild/organic blueberries that are free of pesticides to avoid heavy metal contamination.

Metal Cleansing Food #3: Lemons

Another great choice to have on the heavy metal cleansing list is the lemon. For many of you, lemons may already be on the detox list. Makes sense, given that many “detox juices” contain lemon. While some of those marketed drinks are garbage, the ingredients have merit. Lemons are full of vitamin C, an antioxidant that supports organ function and reduces inflammation that heavy metals can cause. Like any other fruit/vegetable on this list, go organic when possible.

Metal Cleansing Food #4: Flaxseeds

Like lemons, flaxseeds are a commonly cited food for detoxing. These seeds are rich in fiber. Furthermore, flaxseeds bind to metal molecules in the GI tract and help flush them faster thanks to the fiber content via bowel movements. As a bonus, flaxseeds provide the intestinal walls with omega-3 fatty acids, which are good for you. Make sure you add some flaxseeds to your next breakfast in order to cleanse your body of metals.

Metal Cleansing Food #5: Garlic

While this is not the first article I’ve done talking about garlic, it is one of those foods that deserve repeated recognition. Garlic contains sulfur and antioxidants that fight free radicals and mobilize metals in the body to be flushed quicker. Furthermore, garlic is incredibly versatile as a vegetable so it is super easy to add to many meals.

Metal Cleansing Food #6: Pineapple

This one is a personal favorite of mine. Pineapples contain antioxidants and a hefty heap of vitamin C to reduce inflammation just like lemons and berries. Furthermore, pineapples are adept at flushing toxins from the intestinal tract, supporting the Gi tract in eliminating metals. If you choose to consume pineapples as part of your metal cleansing diet, make sure to go for the organic fresh fruit and avoid the canned pineapples. While canned pineapple is cheaper, it is at risk of being contaminated with heavy metals from the can lining leaking. Also, canned pineapples are often sweetened with high fructose corn syrup. Since pineapples are sweet enough on their own, you don’t need the added sugars from canned pineapples.

A Few Tips To Avoid Metal Exposure

A few ways you can further minimize your exposure to heavy metals include:

1. FILTER YOUR WATER. Avoid drinking your tap water at home without a filter. Get a filter for your faucet or a container you can place in your fridge.
2. EAT ORGANIC. Organic fruits and vegetables are a little more expensive, but they are far less likely to be contaminated with heavy metals from soil and pesticides.
3. CHECK YOUR FISH. Since most mercury exposure comes from contaminated fish, be mindful of where your tuna, salmon, and swordfish are coming from. Check your labels at the store, and spend that little extra if need be to avoid canned fish.
4. INVEST IN A QUALITY METAL CLEANSING SUPPLEMENT. Even if you are eating well, heavy metal exposure is going to occur. One more thing you can do is invest in a quality metal cleansing supplement.

Final Thoughts

While it is impossible to avoid any contamination, you can take steps to stay healthy and cleanse your body of heavy metals before they can do damage. Use the tips above to avoid excess contamination. Use the foods above to help your body detox and cleanse itself of heavy metals naturally. 

The word “detox” is incredibly popular in many wellness circles. When you hear the word “detox” what do you think of? I conjure up thoughts of green juice cleanses, special teas, mixing apple cider vinegar into my water every morning, and loads of supplements. If you really go down the detox rabbit hole, you will find salt baths, detox foot soaks, needling techniques, and more. I have tried a few of these as a general detox because I got caught up in the hype. However, I had not attempted to detox from heavy metals.

If you’re like me, maybe you haven’t considered a heavy metal detox before now. However, just because you don’t live next to a coal mine or a chemical plant does not mean you are safe. In this article, we will touch on the facts you need to know about heavy metals and how to detox from heavy metals safely to minimize side effects.

What Are Heavy Metals Anyway?

If you’ve read some of my other articles, you should already know. However, I will assume this is the first time you being exposed to all of this. The definition changes a bit from source to source since atomic weight and density compared to water affect the definition. For the purpose of this article, the definition of a heavy metal is any metallic element that occurs within the earth’s crust and is denser than water. Since many heavy metals reside within the earth’s crust, they can easily leech into water sources and topsoil.

Heavy metals are not all bad. In fact, we need some of them in small doses to stay alive. Metals such as iron, copper, and zinc are particularly necessary for proper body function. However, there are other metals such as lead and mercury that are of no use to our bodies. In fact, these metals accumulate and cause trouble rapidly.

Where Do Heavy Metals Come From?

While they naturally occur in the ground, they are everywhere thanks to man-made industries. Examples of common places heavy metals reside in the environment include:

• Air Pollution (vehicle exhaust, mining ores, steel factories, chemical plants)
• Diet (GMO fruits/veggies treated with pesticides and/or grown in contaminated soil)
• Water (contaminated water sources due to industrial waste, poorly kept irrigation infrastructure)
• Daily Life (vaccine ingredients, dental procedures, tobacco products, deodorant, cookware, teas, coffees)

As you can see, avoiding ANY contamination is impossible. So the next best thing is minimizing exposure and learning how to detox from heavy metals safely.

When Do We Need To Detox From Heavy Metals?

Your body has a built-in filtration and detoxing system that flushes out heavy metal toxins. Your liver, kidneys, lymphatic system, and GI tract all work together to detox your body from heavy metals. There are numerous studies that show heavy metal toxicity is a driver behind many diseases. They may not be the only cause of a disease, but they certainly contribute to the development of many modern health problems.

Symptoms To Be Aware Of:

Signs that are common for acute heavy metal poisoning include:

• muscle cramps
• stomach pain
• nausea
• vomiting
• dizziness
• difficulty breathing
• impaired movement
• impaired concentration

However, there are other signs that can be easily mistaken for something else. Other less common signs of heavy metal toxicity include:

• chronic fatigue
• low energy
• frequent headaches
• bloating
• acne
• heavy sweating
• insomnia
• frequent mood swings

And yes, the list is longer than this. If not dealt with, heavy metal toxicity can level up and cause diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. If you already live ahealthy lifestyle but suffer from several of these symptoms listed above, it might be time to detox from heavy metals built up in your body. With that being said, how do you know for sure if you have heavy metal accumulation issues?

Getting Tested For Heavy Metal Accumulation

The only way to truly know if heavy metal toxicity is to blame for your symptoms, you have to get tested. If you go to a doctor and request testing, the most common methods are hair mineral testing, bloodwork analysis, and saliva analysis. Once you have a definitive answer about heavy metal buildup, then you can look into detoxing from heavy metals.

Is There Any Danger Involved?

As with anything in life, there is always some risk involved; a heavy metal detox is no different. Yes, there is a little danger in detoxing from heavy metals, but there are ways to make it safe. Ideally, your detoxing method would include natural remedies that detox your body by supporitng the organs that naturally detox your body. Essentially, you want to do two things to detox from heavy metals: get the heavy metals moving and bind the molecules to something your body can flush out via sweat, urine, and feces. Let’s look more at that.

Step 1: Get The Metals Moving

Heavy metals like to accumulate in organs and other areas of the body and buildup over time. Heavy metals do have a natural half-life in your body, but most of us expose ourselves to these metals faster than we can get rid of them so a buildup occurs. Through the use of several naturl supplements and remedies, we can break up the heavy metals and get them moving through the bloodstream. Once they are moving, we can move on to the next step.

Step 2: Bind Them To Flush Them

Once they are moving in the bloodstream, it is time to get them bound to soemthing so they can be flushed. This is usually done via antioxidants and chelating agents. uckily for us, nature provides plenty of natural options for chelation we can do at home that are safe. Let’s look at a few options now for safely detoxing from heavy metals at home.

Natural Methods For Detoxing From Heavy Metals

While methods like chelation therapy mostly require a doctor present, nature provides us with several methods of detoxing from heavy metals you can perform safely from the comfort of your home. Below is a list of natural and safe methods for detoxing from heavy metals.

1. Drinking filtered water.
2. Exercise regularly.
3. Use a natural chelating supplement. 
4. Eat foods that promote liver health
5. Keep your nitric oxide production high to promote strong blood flow.
6. Sauna therapy to promote sweating

Another Safe Method For Detoxing From Heavy Metals

The method listed above are the most effective, but food is another area to look at. Even if your diet is good, you can add some foods that will help your body detox from heavy metals. Below are a list of common foods used to detox from heavy metals.

1. Cilantro

Cilantro is well known for having chelating properties, meaning it helps pull heavy metals out of the blood and flushes them out of the body. Since cilantro is a popula flavor enghancer for hispanic and mediterranean dishes, it is versatile and easily added to most meals. Cilantro can also be added to soups, stews, and various spreads.

2. Blueberries

This food is a great choice because blueberries are packed full of antioxidants. Furthermore, blueberries help reduce inflammation created from oxidative stress and free radicals. So blueberries act as a clean-up crew, cleaning up the mess heavy metals make in your body. Make sure you get the wild/organic blueberries though. You want to avoid the GMO blueberries, as they could have lingering presticides that are contaminated with heavy metals.

3. Garlic & Onion

I’ve lumped these two together becuase they help the body detox from heavy metals using the same mechanism: sulfur compounds. Not only that, both of these often go together in most recipes and flavorings. So add some garlic and onion to your next meal. The sulfur compounds in these vegetables will help reduce inflammation and flush the body of toxins.

Honorable Mentions

Other foods that are helpful to the body for detoxing from heavy metals include:

• Citrus Fruits
• Green Tea
• Leafy Greens
• Beetroot Juice
• Responsibly-sourced Salmon

There are many others, but these are the most common foods that detox the body from heavy metals via organ support, primarily the liver.

The Takeaway

While the dangers of heavy metals are very real, you should also remember that exposure is unavoidable. Therefore, spending all your time hyper-fixated on avoiding them for the sake of health is futile. Instead, remember that health is a marathon, not a sprint. Educating yourself on where heavy metals come from, how expsore occurs, and what the symptoms look like should be your first step. Once you have educated yourself on what to look for, then you can take the necesary measure to avoid long-term damage.

If you have never been tested for heavy metal accumulation, it could be worthwhile to go get tested. If you do not want to visit a doctor, there are some hair tests that can be ordered online, but it is still recommended to go visit a doctor and order testing.

Even if you do not believe you are suffering from heavy metal accumulation, these natural steps can be done at home and are safe, even if you are not suffering from heavy metal toxicity. Use these steps above, add these foods to your diet. Lastly.  To learn more about detoxing from heavy metals and general health, check out the rest of our blog here.

An underrated health hack most people don’t consider is a heavy metal detox. Cleansing your body by detoxing heavy metals that have accumulated can lead to a boost in energy as well as other health benefits. If you have noticed a lack of energy, frequent headaches, and some other ailments and decided it was time to dig deeper, you’re in the right place. Bionox encourages everyone to embrace the idea of “motivating wellness” and to take charge of their own health with natural remedies that are backed by science.

In this article, you will find out what you need to know about heavy metals and how to detox them from your body. I will go over how they enter your body, symptoms of exposure and accumulation, and which natural remedies you can use to remove these heavy metals from your body.

The Basics Of Heavy Metals

Cleansing your body from heavy metals takes time and consistency. Each heavy metal has a different half-life. Half-life means the time it takes for half of a substance to undergo a process. In terms of removing toxic metals, the half-life is the time it takes for half the atoms that make up the metal to break down. The longer the half-life, the longer it takes your body to get rid of the metal. For the most toxic of heavy metals, you are looking at several months to a couple of years. This will depend on the level of contamination and your overall health.

How Do You Get Heavy Metals In Your Body?

Heavy metals are naturally occurring elements. These metals reside within the earth’s crust. Furthermore, heavy metals are also found in the environment. This is due to man-made industries and pollution. Because of factories and mining waste, heavy metals are found in the soil, water, and air. Also, heavy metals are found in many of our food sources. These sources include fish, vegetables, fruits, and dairy products. The most common ways heavy metals get into your body are through drinking water and diet. However, other methods of exposure include:

• Skin Contact
• Air Pollution
• Workplace Hazards
• Fertilizers
• Pesticides
• Landfills

How Do You Remove Heavy Metals From Your Body?

Your body has a natural detox system consisting of several organs working together to remove harmful toxins. These organs are the liver, kidneys, lymph nodes, and intestines (GI tract). So any effort to cleanse your body should take organ support for these organs into consideration.

What Are The Symptoms To Look Out For?

If you are dealing with any of these symptoms listed below, it might be an indication of heavy metal exposure and/or accumulation.

• High Blood Pressure
• Sleeping Problems
• Digestion Problems
• Chronic Fatigue
• Lack of Energy
• Frequent Headaches
• Skin Problems
• Memory Loss
• Difficulty Concentrating
• Muscle Pain
• Joint Pain

This list is not exhaustive, but these are several common symptoms to look for.

What Are The Long-Term Effects Of Exposure?

Once heavy metals enter your body, they cause damage to the liver, kidneys, brain, nervous system, and many other areas. They also allow for various diseases to take hold. The worst-case scenario is cancer, and heavy metals contribute to the development of many forms of cancer. Listed below are several diseases that heavy metals trigger.

• Liver Cancer
• Intestinal Cancer
• Alzheimer’s Disease
• Chronic Inflammation
• Adrenal Fatigue
• Skin Cancer
• Fibromyalgia

Gauging The Toxicity Of Heavy Metals

There are between 30-40 heavy metals, depending on the source of information. However, there are 23 that are of concern to us. Out of those 23 heavy metals, we need a few in small concentrations for various body functions. Examples of heavy metals that benefit us in small doses are copper, cobalt, nickel, and iron. The metals that are most toxic to humans are arsenic, lead, mercury, and cadmium. So now that we know the basics of heavy metals, it’s time to look at the natural remedies for detoxing from heavy metals.

Natural Remedies For Detoxing From Heavy Metals

As a starting point, it is important to realize complete avoidance is impossible in the modern world, so the focus is to minimize exposure and promote cleansing for the inevitable exposure. Adding the following natural remedies to your detox regimen will help your body flush heavy metals and other harmful toxins.

1. Garlic

This vegetable is not only a great flavor addition to most meals but contains sulfur. Sulfur is a great way to help the body detox from heavy metals such as arsenic. Garlic also contains antioxidants that help reduce inflammation issues brought on by heavy metal accumulation. An easy way to incorporate more garlic into your diet is to add it to your meals as a flavor enhancer. You can dice garlic and add it to various types of meat, soups, stews, and spreads. Furthermore, you can use organic garlic powder as a spice for various recipes.

2. Onion

Onion works the same way as garlic, containing various sulfur compounds that research shows help the body detoxify from heavy metals. Furthermore, onion is useful like garlic in many ways as a flavor enhancer. Onions are great to chop and dice. They are great eaten fried or sauteéd. Also, you can add diced onions to soups and stews, or skillet fry onions with garlic and different types of meat. Pairing onions with garlic is common, and both will work to help the body flush out toxins thanks to the sulfur compounds they both contain.

3. Spirulina

This algae is a common ingredient in most green powder supplements on the market today, and for good reason. Spirulina contains chlorophyll and other chelating agents that pull heavy metals out of the blood and help the body detoxify from them. Spirulina also acts as organ support, helping the liver, brain, and nervous system get rid of heavy metals that have accumulated there.

4. Probiotics

If you’re looking for something that will detoxify your body from heavy metals via improving gut health, this is what you need. Probiotics help the good bacteria in your gut do their job, which can reduce inflammation and alleviate symptoms such as bloating, indigestion, and upset stomach. These also help the gut detoxify from heavy metals that may have accumulated there. Since the GI tract helps us get rid of toxins, keeping it healthy should be a priority. You can get probiotics from foods such as yogurt and kefir.

5. Wild Blueberries

Like with any food option, you want to go for wild and/or organic when possible. This will help you limit exposure to pesticides that can contain heavy metals. Blueberries contain a plethora of antioxidants that reduce inflammation. Furthermore, blueberries help your lymph nodes and brain remove heavy metals. Blueberries are a delicious food you can add to any smoothie or fruit bowl. You can also add blueberries to cereal, oatmeal, and salads as a side.

6. Milk Thistle

This herb is incredibly popular as a liver detoxifier. Milk thistle contains silymarin, a compound with antioxidant properties that is very bioavailable. Silybin can inhibit toxins from binding to cell membrane receptors. A healthy daily dose is up to 300mg daily. It can be found as a capsule supplement or as a tea. (PRO TIP: Add honey to give it a sweeter flavor if you go for the tea option).

7. Grapefruit

Grapefruit, as well as any fruit/vegetable high in vitamin C, works wonders as an antioxidant. A daily dosage of approximately 3000mg will help reduce inflammation and destroy free radicals created by heavy metal accumulation and oxidative stress. You can eat grapefruit as it is or add it to salads for a citrus flavor (PRO TIP: a light sprinkle of sugar tastes amazing on grapefruit).

8. Dandelion

This edible plant can aid blood circulation as well as help the body detoxify from heavy metals. The root of the dandelion is particularly helpful to the liver and the brain. Dandelion is also known to be beneficial for the spleen and prostate. The leaves of a dandelion can be added to salads as they have a bitter taste, but are somewhat peppery like Arugula. The blossoms can be eaten on salads as well or simply used as a garnish if you do not want to eat them. Dandelion root can be boiled and drank as a tea or consumed in capsule form.

9. Cilantro

This herb is well known as a natural chelating agent, binding to heavy metals to make them easier to be flushed out in urine and feces. It is a common herb that can be added to plenty of types of meat and types of pasta as a flavor enhancer. Cilantro is particularly common in Hispanic and Mediterranean dishes, so there is no shortage of recipes you can add cilantro to.

10. Dulse Seaweed

This seaweed can bind to heavy metals such as mercury and lead. Similar to some heavy metals, this seaweed can cross the blood-brain barrier. This seaweed is super helpful for removing mercury from the body. If you need to detoxify from heavy metals that do not like to leave, dulse seaweed is a great natural remedy to have. You can find supplements in powder and capsule form online.

Final Thoughts On Detoxing From Heavy Metals

There are numerous natural remedies available online and in stores. However, if you want to know for sure if you need to detox from heavy metals, you have to get tested. Doctors can test your hair, saliva, and blood for traces of heavy metal accumulation. Once you know for sure, you can implement these natural remedies into your routine and start detoxing from heavy metals.

Heavy metal exposure is something we all deal with. While our modern lives give us a host of benefits over our ancestors, it has their drawbacks. The downside of all our innovations in various industries that make life more convenient is pollution. This pollution creates various toxins that invade our air, soil, water, and food. some of these toxins include heavy metals. Heavy metals can create all sorts of problems once inside our bodies. Detoxing from these heavy metals should be a priority. However, we want to make sure we detox from these metals the right way. This article will help provide some practical know-how to make sure you detox from heavy metals safely.

First Things First…What Are Heavy Metals?

Heavy metals are naturally occurring compounds found in the earth’s crust that are denser than water. However, their pervasive nature has been exacerbated thanks to human intervention due to various industries creating a widespread excessive distribution. Some industries that use heavy metals include:

• Medical industry
• Agriculture
• Technology
• Automotive
• Engineering

Now that heavy metal exposure is inevitable, a detox from these heavy metals may be needed by more and more people every day.

Are All Heavy Metals Bad?

The toxicity of many heavy metals depends on the concentrations we are exposed to. Not all heavy metals are harmful to us in trace amounts. In fact, we need a few of these metals just to stay alive. Heavy metals such as Manganese, Zinc, Copper, and Iron have an array of health benefits such as:

• Immune support
• bone health
• red blood cell health
• oxygen delivery throughout the body
• brain function

With this in mind, it is helpful to get tested to see which heavy metals you have accumulated to make sure you are stripping away the harmful heavy metals when you detox from heavy metals.

How Do Heavy Metals End Up In Our Bodies?

Unfortunately, there are many ways heavy metals can invade the body. If you live near any metal factories or industrial areas, you could be inhaling vapors that contain toxic metals such as mercury, cadmium, or arsenic. Also, you can be exposed to heavy metals through the water you drink. A commonly cited example of this would be the water disaster in Flint, Michigan. These people experienced excessive lead levels in their water due to a poorly kept infrastructure.

Another route for exposure can be skin contact. Skin is semi-permeable, meaning some things can seep into the body through skin absorption. Furthermore, another route of exposure can be the foods we eat. Specific crops could be contaminated with arsenic through soil contamination. Specific fish can be contaminated with mercury and lead through water pollution.

With all these routes of exposure, it is easy to see why a detox from these heavy metals may be necessary for many of us.

How Do We Reduce Exposure?

COMPLETELY eliminating heavy metal exposure is simply impossible in our modern world. However, we can reduce exposure to toxic heavy metals. Some steps you can take today that will reduce heavy metal exposure include:

• Invest in a quality water filter for your home.
• Spend that little extra money on organic fruits and veggies free of pesticides.
• Increase your nitric oxide production naturally or through supplements.
• Check the source for your seafood, especially for fish such as salmon, tuna, swordfish, and sardines.
• Look into supplements that will improve natural drainage pathways such as bowel movements, urination, and sweating.

Being preventative and responsive will limit the damage that heavy metal exposure can do and limit the need to detox from heavy metals often.

How Do I Know If I Have Heavy Metals In My System?

Simply put, the only way to be 100% sure is to go visit your doctor and order testing to be done on your blood, hair follicles, and/or saliva. These tests can tell you what heavy metals have accumulated in your body and to what extent. If you have excess levels of toxic metals, your doctor can then set you on a plan to detox from these metals.

If you have not been tested for heavy metal toxicity but you think you might be suffering from heavy metal exposure, there are symptoms to look for. Some of these symptoms are:

• frequent headaches
• nausea
• dizziness
• fainting
• muscle and joint pains
• high blood pressure
• anemia
• cognitive issues such as memory loss and difficulty focusing
• cardiovascular problems

Obviously, these symptoms can also be related to other health problems, which is why you need to get tested to know for sure. However, if you are experiencing many of these symptoms, heavy metal exposure could be a potential reason.

How Do I Detox From Heavy Metals?

Simply put, there are several ways you can detox from heavy metals. We will explore three of the most common detox methods that can be done with a doctor and at home.

#1: Detoxing From Heavy Metals Via Chelation Therapy

Chelation therapy is a medical procedure that can be done with a doctor or at home. This method involves introducing compounds called chelating agents into the body. These molecules bind to the metal molecules and help the body either dissolve or excrete them via feces or urine. While this method can be done at home, it is still recommended to be done with a practitioner or doctor present. This is because chelation can also remove the essential heavy metals you need to stay healthy as well. As I said earlier, certain heavy metals such as iron and zinc are needed in trace amounts. Chelation therapy can strip these essential minerals as well, so do your research and talk to your doctor before engaging in chelation therapy by yourself.

A solid option for those looking to engage in chelation therapy at home with minimal risk would be to look at supplements that contains multiple ingredients proven to detox the body from heavy metals. Some of these ingredients include EDTA, modified citrus pectin, and cilantro extract.

#2: Detoxing From Heavy Metals Via A Liver Cleanse

The liver is the body’s built-in detoxifier. Therefore, keeping the liver functioning optimally is in your best interest. One way to do that is with a liver cleanse. Some methods commonly used to help cleanse the liver are:

• Removing processed foods from your diet
• Eating more nitrate-rich veggies
• Consuming beets, spinach, and other potassium-rich foods
• Consuming Tumeric
• Eating Liver (like supports like)

Keeping your body’s detoxifier clean and functioning optimally is a great way to make sure your liver can detox your body from heavy metal exposure.

#3: Detoxing From Heavy Metals Via A Metal Detox Diet

There are plenty of foods that will help you detox from heavy metals. However, we will focus on just a few of the most common ones for this article. A diet that would help your body detox from heavy metals would include the following:

• Leafy greens. Organic leafy greens such as spinach, kale, swiss chard, celery, arugula, and beet greens are all powerful foods that help the body detox from metals. They are packed with antioxidants, nitrates, and essential nutrients your body needs to function optimally.
• Special herbs and spices. Some of these herbs include cilantro, cinnamon, parsley, and basil. These herbs contain anti-inflammatory properties and some like cilantro contain chelating agents which bind to the heavy metals in your blood to make removal easier. Cilantro is especially helpful in promoting the detox of metals such as mercury and lead.
• Water. Yes, this one is a given, but you would be surprised how dense some people are. Water is needed to stay alive, but also to detox from metals. Drinking adequate water will help your body flush toxins more effectively.
• Garlic and onion. Garlic contains sulfur, which helps the liver detoxify itself of heavy metals. Onion is also a sulfur-containing vegetable. Both are versatile and can be prepared and eaten in various recipes and styles. Add these to your daily diet so your liver can do its job effectively.

As I said, these are not the only foods you can use to create a diet to detox from heavy metals, but it covers most of the bases. Other honorable mentions include blueberries, flax seeds, and vitamin C-rich foods. Foods to avoid would include farmed fish, non-organic foods, tobacco products, and alcohol (especially beer).

What To Do After A Detox

Being vigilant should be your next step after detoxing from heavy metals. Since heavy metals are in our environment and diets, you can never avoid exposure to some degree. Therefore, keeping an eye on your daily life is the best course of action. Some steps to take after detoxing are:

• Make sure your body can remove daily exposure.
• Eat some of the detox foods listed above each day.
• Get tested on a scheduled basis (bi-annually or annually).
• Consider supplements such as milk thistle, Tumeric, and others that can promote chelation and organ function.
• Create a daily cleaning juice such as mixing spinach with citrus juice.

Use this article as a starting point and take the steps to detox from heavy metals safely. Remember, to be absolutely sure if heavy metal exposure is causing any of the symptoms in the article you are experiencing, you have to be tested. Go get tested if you are worried and go from there. If you are just being proactive, the steps to detox above will help tremendously. For more tips on dealing with heavy metal exposure and other healthy living tips, check out the rest of our blog here.

Though you may not realize it, you have been exposed to heavy metals nearly every day for your entire life. These metals are in the soil under your feet, the water you drink, the air you breathe, and even in the food that you eat. There is no escape. You have to accept that. Therefore, the focus should not be on trying to prevent ANY exposure, but rather focus on detoxing from inevitable exposure. This article will explore several reasons why a heavy metal detox is beneficial for you, even if you are unsure if you suffer from heavy metal exposure.

What Are Heavy Metals?

To understand why a metal detox is beneficial, you need to understand what heavy metals are. Heavy metals are naturally occurring metallic compounds. These compounds can be found in the earth’s crust. However, they are also the result of industrial pollution and can be found in the soil, water, and air. There are about 35-40 metals total that are naturally occurring, but only 23 are deemed heavy metals. These 23 heavy metals are:

• Antimony
• Arsenic
• Bismuth
• Cadmium
• Cerium
• Chromium
• Cobalt
• Copper
• Gallium
• Gold
• Iron
• Lead
• Manganese
• Mercury
• Nickel
• Platinum’
• Silver
• Tellurium
• Thallium
• Tin
• Uranium
• Vanadium
• Zinc

What makes these metals so complicated is that some of them we need in small concentrations for optimal health. Furthermore, most of the exposure to these heavy metals occurs in our environment and diet, which is why avoiding exposure altogether is just impossible. So before we look at heavy metal detox reasons, let’s look at that thin line between the good and bad heavy metals.

Heavy Metals: The “Good” Ones…

I use the term “good” loosely because these heavy metals are only good when consumed in small concentrations. Have you ever heard the phrase, “too much of a good thing can be bad for you?” If exposure to these metals occurs in excess, it will lead to the same outcome as the more toxic heavy metals. Here are a few examples of “good” heavy metals and what they do for us when consumed in the right amounts.

1. Copper. This metal helps with:
   • forming collagen
   • making red blood cells
   • promoting bone density
2. Iron. This metal helps with:
   • helps with hemoglobin production
   • helps with hormone production
   • helps create myoglobin
3. Zinc. This metal helps with:
   • helps reduce inflammation
   • supports immune function
   • promotes gut health

Other metals that promote overall health in trace amounts include cobalt, chromium, manganese, and nickel.

Heavy Metals: The Toxic Ones

While some heavy metals are beneficial to our health in trace amounts, others are generally toxic and do us no good. You would definitely want these metals detoxed. These include lead, mercury, arsenic, and cadmium to name a few. These will wreak havoc if exposure is prolonged and each carries a plethora of negative side effects for both acute exposure poisoning and long-term exposure. Some of these long-term effects include:

• neurological damage
• liver damage
• kidney damage
• GI tract damage
• lung damage
• cardiovascular problems
• increased risk of multiple cancers

Several acute symptoms include:

• fatigue
• muscle aches
• joint pain
• headaches
• nausea
• vomiting
• numbness
• dizziness
• fainting spells

Metals can create an array of cardiovascular, endocrine, and neurological issues. You could be suffering from heavy metal exposure without realizing it. If you have hormone problems, blood pressure problems, thyroid problems, or low energy, you could have excess heavy metal accumulation and not know it. The only way to deal with these issues would be to do a metal detox. Now, let’s look into some more reasons a metal detox might be right for you.

Six Reasons To Get Rid Of Heavy Metals

To be upfront, there are definitely more than six reasons to get a heavy metal detox, and I can cover more in another article. For now, read these six reasons and take them to heart.

Metal Detoxing Reason #1: To Boost Your Energy

One common sign of heavy metal exposure is fatigue. This negative effect can impact not just your health, but your quality of life. If you are experiencing a general chronic lack of energy, it might be time to get your blood tested for heavy metals such as lead and mercury. To be thorough, you can make sure your sleep and diet are optimal. If sleep, diet changes, and supplements aren’t cutting it, heavy metals might be the culprits. Taking the steps to detox from heavy metals, like adding specific foods to your diet can help you flush those toxins and boost your energy levels.

Metal Detoxing Reason #2: To Improve Cognitive Function

Memory and focus are two components of cognitive function that are in danger when heavy metal exposure occurs. We need these components to navigate our daily lives. Without these tools being sharp, we can experience difficulty:

• remembering workplace tasks
• focusing on work tasks
• remembering school assignments’
• keeping track of when things are due
• remembering names and faces
• remembering where you last put your phone/keys/wallet

Deteriorating cognitive function impacts every aspect of our daily lives. A heavy metal that is primarily responsible for these effects is mercury. Thankfully, if this metal is to blame, we can detox from mercury and regain some of that lost function. Herbs such as cilantro are especially helpful in helping the body detox thanks to their chelating capabilities.

Metal Detoxing Reason #3: To Improve Hormone Regulation

A common symptom of heavy metal accumulation is endocrine dysfunction. Essentially, this is a fancy way of saying hormonal problems. These hormonal issues affect men and women and can to issues such as:

• infertility
• insulin sensitivity and insensitivity
• increased risk of type 2 diabetes

A heavy metal detox can help alleviate these risks and help promote a stable endocrine system which can help with weight management, stress management, and other health issues associated with hormonal imbalances.

Metal Detoxing Reason #4: To Improve Lung Health

While there are other mechanisms that support lung health, a heavy metal detox can also be helpful. Heavy metals such as cadmium can create breathing issues. Cadmium is a heavy metal considered toxic to humans that are found in the air due to industrial pollution. Furthermore, cadmium can be found in tobacco products and certain pesticides. We all know smoking is bad for the lungs, but not many people are aware of the heavy metals that are contained in tobacco products due to soil and air contamination. The breathing issues from exposure to these products can easily be misdiagnosed as a general smoking side effect or mild asthma symptoms. Therefore, it would benefit you to get tested for cadmium accumulation if you use tobacco products or are around pesticides often. A heavy metal detox may improve your breathing and overall lung health if cadmium is to blame.

Metal Detoxing Reason #5: To Treat Anemia And Other Health Issues

A lack of iron can cause anemia, which is a lack of red blood cells to carry enough oxygen throughout the body. A couple of ways to deal with anemia would be to increase your iron intake as well as increase your nitric oxide production. Both methods help deal with a symptom of anemia. However, another helpful trick would be to check your blood for arsenic. Arsenic accumulation can lead to anemia. Therefore, eliminating arsenic exposure to the best of your ability may help deal with anemia. Some ways to detox from arsenic and arsenic-related health issues include:

• cut out arsenic-contaminated foods such as rice and beer
• eating herbs such as cilantro and parsley
• consuming nitric oxide-rich foods to promote optimal blood flow
• consuming iron-rich sources to promote hemoglobin and myoglobin production

Metal Detoxing Reason #6: To Lower Your Blood Pressure

Blood pressure is one of those health issues that can be caused by a multitude of factors. High Blood pressure could be due to factors such as:

• lack of nitric oxide
• a diet high in salt and fat
• high cholesterol
• being overweight or obese
• chronic liver and kidney issues
• excess smoking & alcohol consumption

While some of these are lifestyle choices that can be rectified with changes to diet and exercise, some of these could be due to heavy metal exposure and flying under the radar. Heavy metals such as cadmium and mercury in particular can contribute to high blood pressure by creating cardiovascular problems as well as liver and kidney problems. Since we need the liver to detox from heavy metals and the kidneys to flush out toxins, by detoxing from these metals, we can help lower our blood pressure. In doing so, we reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular problems, cardiometabolic problems, and other health problems associated with high blood pressure.

How Do You Know If Heavy Metals Are To Blame?

The only way to know for sure is to go get tested. Visit your doctor and request heavy metal testing. Blood testing is most common, but some testing can be done with hair follicles and even saliva. Once you know for sure if heavy metal accumulation is to blame for your health problems, your doctor can provide you with a course of action. This plan can include:

• Chelation Therapy
• Chelating supplements
• Nitric oxide supplements
• Specific foods to add to your diet

Final Thoughts

Even if you are not sure if heavy metals are to blame for health concerns, some of these steps can be implemented just to make you healthier. The reasons listed above are beneficial for your overall health even if you are not suffering from heavy metal exposure. Consider a heavy metal detox every several months just to be safe, as it can be done with little effort in most cases. For more info on heavy metal detoxes and other healthy living tips, check out the rest of our blog here.

The words heavy metal can bring up a few things: steel factories, chemistry lessons from school, or your favorite rock band. However, we will focus on the heavy metals you ingest and discuss why a heavy metal detox might be just what you need to achieve optimal health. Heavy metals are all around us and exposure to them is inevitable to some degree. This exposure happens through food, air, the environment, and more. Some of these metals are good for you. Examples of good metals include:

• Copper
• Zinc
• Iron

We need metals like these in small doses to stay healthy. Other heavy metals are detrimental to our health. In this article, we will go over what heavy metals are, what they do once in the body, a few symptoms of heavy metal exposure, the worst heavy metals, and how to reduce heavy metal exposure. This article will be the start of a few articles that cover heavy metal exposure and detox, so make sure you check back in for more info.

What Are Heavy Metals?

Heavy metals are naturally occurring elements found inside the earth. These metals are much denser than water. Therefore, they are considered to be highly toxic even in low concentrations. Now, this sounds bad, and it is. However, a few heavy metals are beneficial to us in low concentrations. As I stated in the last paragraph, some of these metals include iron, copper, and zinc. These metals help with various physiological functions. However, there are several more than do nothing but harm us when we are exposed to them. Because of heavy metal exposure health risks, we have to find ways to detox from heavy metals.

How Does Heavy Metal Exposure Occur?

There are many ways we get exposed to heavy metals. Predominantly, exposure occurs due to food, air, and water. To be more specific exposure can occur from:

• farmed fish that we eat
• contaminated water
• household products
• dental products
• air pollution
• certain medicines

As the list suggests, there is really no way to avoid exposure to some degree. We are unfortunately exposed to heavy metals in some way every day. It is because of this inevitable exposure that a heavy metal detox is a healthy choice.

What Do Heavy Metals Do Once They Are In The Body?

Once they get into your body, heavy metals can accumulate in various organs and bones for up to several years. This accumulation can lead to symptoms such as:

• behavioral changes
• low energy/fatigue
• mood changes
• thinking difficulty
• memory issues
• organ dysfunction
• development of certain cancers

We want to avoid these symptoms, so a heavy metal detox wouldn’t hurt most of us to try, especially if you like to eat fish frequently.

The Big Bad Wolves Of Heavy Metals

There are 23 heavy metals to be concerned about, but 4 are especially harmful to you. These are mercury, lead, arsenic, and chromium. We will go into a little more detail on each of these 4 metals and then explain a few tips on detoxing from these heavy metals.

#1: Mercury

Remember when I said if you like to eat fish you should be looking into a heavy metal detox? This is why. Mercury is a naturally occurring element that collects in marine life which we then consume. Mercury makes its way into our fish via contaminated waters thanks to industrial pollution. A small fish accumulates the mercury, then a bigger fish eats the smaller fish. That fish will accumulate the mercury, and then we eat that big fish. The fish we eat are typically fish such as tuna.

Mercury accumulation leads to a host of health problems such as:

• headaches
• memory issues
• sleep problems
• nervous system damage
• poor concentration

Mercury gets absorbed in the GI tract and is capable of breaching the blood-brain barrier. Once absorbed, mercury can stay in the body for several weeks up to several months. Within the brain, it stays for even longer since it is converted into an inorganic form. If you are pregnant, mercury can penetrate the placental barrier so the child is exposed as well. Besides the brain, mercury tends to accumulate in the kidneys and liver mostly. Because mercury can pass the blood-brain barrier easily, a heavy metal detox would be wise even if you are not showing symptoms of mercury accumulation.

#2: Lead

Similar to mercury, lead is a naturally occurring element. Lead can be found in water, soil, and air. Most human exposure to lead comes from water. While lead can accumulate in various organs such as the brain, liver, and kidneys, bones are the major area of lead accumulation. The side effects of acute lead accumulation include:

• joint pain
• nausea
• vomiting
• fatigue
• memory loss
• sleep problems

Some of the long-term effects of lead accumulation include:

• brain damage
• liver damage
• kidney damage
• chronic joint inflammation
• high blood pressure
• fertility issues

Since most lead exposure is due to contaminated water, consider getting a filter for your water at home and be wary of water sources when drinking water in new places or outdoors. To be safe, consider a heavy metal detox or getting tested for lead accumulation if you are experiencing any symptoms.

#3: Arsenic

This heavy metal is found within the earth’s crust. Human exposure to arsenic occurs via contaminated soil, water, and food. Some foods that are commonly associated with arsenic contamination are rice, beer, salmon, mushrooms, and poultry.

Several symptoms of acute arsenic accumulation include:

• nausea
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• abdominal pain
• muscle cramping
• numbness of extremities

Some of the long-term effects of arsenic accumulation include:

• cell wall damage
• cellular communication dysfunction
• skin problems (cancer, lesions, warts, etc.)
• lung cancer
• bladder cancer

Limiting at-risk foods and sourcing your food supply will help minimize the risk of arsenic exposure and accumulation. If you are experiencing any symptoms or feel like you might be at risk, it may be worth a heavy metal detox and/or getting a hair/blood test done to check for heavy metal accumulation.

#4: Cadmium

This heavy metal is found in other metal ores and is a product of environmental pollution. Primarily, cadmium is found in copper and zinc ores. Cadmium exposure is toxic to humans, as it is a heavy metal we have no use for, unlike zinc and copper in small concentrations. Cadmium ends up in the air, water, and soil as a by-product of mining and smelting pollution.

Most of the damage from cadmium occurs in the kidney, liver, and lungs. Therefore, being mindful of water sources, food sources, and pollution impact on your area are keys to avoiding cadmium exposure. A few symptoms of acute cadmium accumulation include:

• “flu-like” symptoms
• respiratory issues
• cardiovascular problems

If there is long-term exposure to cadmium, you may experience issues such as:

• lung cancer
• kidney failure
• pancreas cancer
• prostate cancer

If you think you might have some exposure to cadmium or just want to be safe, a heavy metal detox and being medically tested are smart decisions. It is better to be safe than sorry, especially if you live near any industrial area.

What Is A Heavy Metal Detox?

Heavy metal detox is exactly as it sounds. No, it isn’t quitting Slayer cold-turkey. Instead, it is the act of introducing lifestyle changes and specific detox agents that help the body’s detox system perform better. There are two primary ways to start a heavy metal detox.

First, you complete chelation therapy. Chelation therapy is a medical procedure that can be done with a doctor or at home. Essentially, you add compounds called chelating agents to your daily routine that bind to the heavy metals in your blood and then get filtered out of the body via feces and urine. Chelation therapy is a natural approach to a heavy metal detox because it involves adding key compounds that help your body’s organs such as the liver and kidney filter out toxins like they are supposed to.

Second, you can make changes to your diet and lifestyle to add naturally occurring chelating agents into your body. This can include specific foods, increasing activity, changing up your environment, using a chelation supplement, and other tips that will both minimize heavy metal exposure and prevent the accumulation of heavy metals in your body before they can create long-term damage.

Tips On Reducing Heavy Metal Exposure

To get you started on the right foot, here are some helpful tips for reducing your heavy metal exposure.

• Get the good metals in your body. Some metals such as copper, zinc, and iron are necessary for our health. Make sure you are eating the right foods that will provide adequate concentrations of these metals.
• Check out how fishy your fish are. Fish can be contaminated with arsenic, mercury, and lead. Check the sources for your fish. Be extra careful of tuna, swordfish, salmon, and sardines.
• Have a chat with your dentist. Some fillings have a mercury amalgam, so ask your dentist about resin fillings when possible.
• Check those jabs. I don’t mean boxing jabs, but vaccines. Some vaccines contain a controversial mercury-derived preservative. If you are at all nervous about that, ask your doctor for vaccines that are free of that specific alternative.
• Peep the paint jobs. Older buildings were painted with lead-based paints. With this in mind, be wary of chipped paint. Also, DON’T LICK THE PAINT.
• Use the spices. Herbs such as cilantro, parsley, and rosemary contain chelating agents which will help your body dissolve or flush out heavy metals.
• Hydrate with caution. Water can easily be contaminated with heavy metals, particularly lead. Therefore, you need to be mindful of your water source. Also, filter your water whenever possible to eliminate any potential contaminants.

These are just a few tips you can implement today to minimize heavy metal exposure.

Final Thoughts

Heavy metal detox is something everyone can do to some degree and should do since heavy metal exposure is inevitable. Use the steps suggested above to make some small changes today that can have a positive impact on your health. Also, if you feel like you need more answers, head to a doctor and get tested for heavy metal accumulation. For extra info on heavy metals and overall healthy living, check out the rest of our blog here.