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.