How To Remove Heavy Metals From Your Body?

We are exposed to heavy metals every day of our lives. This exposure occurs primarily through food, water, air, commercial products, and medications. These metals accumulate in our bodies and can affect our health.

Why are they dangerous? How can we avoid them? Can we heal our bodies and do a heavy metal detox? Here we answer these questions and will explain How To Remove Heavy Metals From Your Body.

What Are Heavy Metals?

Heavy metals are just that, metals heavier than other metals. And many of them are abundant in the environment, which means that we are exposed to them very frequently.

Much is said today about some heavy metals, such as lead, aluminum, mercury, fluorine, cadmium, and arsenic. Some metals, in small quantities, are essential for life. But frequent or large-dose exposure to heavy metals can be very dangerous to our health.

Because heavy metals are inorganic compounds that the body cannot metabolize, they accumulate in organs and tissues, and may not be eliminated with a simple purification of toxins.

If you care about this, the most immediate step we must take is to reduce your exposure to these metals. To do this, we must know where the most harmful ones are and thus find a way to avoid them.

Heavy metals are everywhere

Heavy metals are found naturally in the environment. They are a natural part of all the components that surround us, and like all-natural products, they are distributed in nature in different locations and concentrations.

However, industrial activity in recent decades has caused an increase in heavy metals in the environment, mainly in populated areas. As a result of this, heavy metal exposure has increased for humans, as well as for plants, and animals including marine animals.

Exposure to heavy metals can occur through the food we eat, the water we drink, and the air we breathe, as well as medications and many commercial products.

Unfortunately, we are constantly exposed to heavy metals, through our daily diet, the surface of our skin, and the mucous membranes of our body. Substances such as lead, arsenic, cadmium, or mercury can also reach our bodies through high concentrations in water or air derived from industrial processes and environmental pollution.

7 of the most common Heavy Metals we face every day

Aluminum

Aluminum is present in the air, water, and soil. The extraction and processing of aluminum increase its concentration in the environment. We use aluminum to wrap food scraps, or in soda cans.

Although aluminum is rare in air, water, and soil, exposure is primarily from food and consumer products contaminated or with food additives. It can also enter our bodies through medications, cosmetics, and deodorants.

Aluminum in the body accumulates in the brain and bones and can cause lung problems if inhaled. It blocks the absorption of magnesium, and some evidence suggests that it can lead to neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease. As Magnesium is an essential nutrient that is involved in more than 300 metabolic processes in our body, blocking its proper functioning may cause additional health problems.

Arsenic

Widely known as a lethal substance, as it was used in past centuries as a poison, mainly by royalty.

Arsenic is found in certain crops, including rice and other whole grains, as well as in drinking water, cigarettes, cosmetics, and even the air we breathe.

Arsenic accumulates in the brain, heart, liver, kidneys, and skin, and can cause fatigue and cancer of the lung, bladder, and skin, among other ailments.

Cadmium

Cadmium came into use during World War I in the preparation of paints and as a substitute for tin, and today it is used in the manufacture of rechargeable batteries.

Cadmium has no known use for our bodies and may be the most toxic element on this list. It is mainly found in tap water, freshwater fish, crustaceans, vegetables, mushrooms, and non-organic dried algae.

It can accumulate in our bodies for life and is a known carcinogen.

Chrome

Chromium enters the environment through fertilizers and sewage, as well as from the burning of oil and coal. Some widespread industrial processes such as paper and rubber manufacturing, and leather processing, also use chromium.

Chromium accumulates mainly in the liver and kidneys and is a threat to the neurological and immune systems.

Fluorine

Fluorine is found naturally in soil, water, and food. It is also produced synthetically for use in drinking water, toothpaste, mouthwashes, and various chemicals.

Its use has been widespread in the belief that it protects against the development of cavities. However, various investigations have reported that it causes alterations in brain morphology and biochemistry, affecting individuals’ neurological development and, therefore, functions related to cognitive processes, such as learning and memory.

Mercury

Mercury is a component used in pesticides from intensive agriculture, vaccines, dental amalgams, and thermometers.

It accumulates in the ocean as a product of industrial pollution, making it a common contaminant found in fish and shellfish.

Mercury exposure can cause neurological damage, kidney damage, and even blindness, as well as immune problems.

Lead

Lead is a metal that is not necessary for any human body function. We find it in our bodies due to frequent exposure to polluted environments.

Lead is used in many industrial processes and products such as batteries and accumulators, fertilizers, pesticides, automobile exhaust emissions, gasoline additives and old paint, water pipes, and packaged products, among others.

Although its use has been banned in many industrial processes, its polluting effect remains for years. Lead exposure is extremely toxic to humans, especially young children and the unborn.

It accumulates in the brain, nervous system, and bones. It can also damage the blood system, the reproductive organs, the kidneys, and the gastrointestinal tract.

How can we reduce the risk of exposure to these heavy metals?

Given this panorama that shows us how heavy metals are everywhere and we can hardly escape from them in our daily lives, we will mention some ways to avoid or significantly reduce exposure to these harmful substances, which we can implement immediately:

Select organic foods when available

In organic agriculture, the use of chemical and synthetic pesticides is prohibited, therefore, organic foods contain more antioxidants and fewer heavy metals than conventional foods.

As an example, organic foods have 68% less cadmium than traditional foods. For this reason, a healthy diet based on organic foods positively affects long-term health.

It is always necessary to wash fruits and vegetables, even if they are organic, as contaminating substances present in the air, such as lead, can be deposited on them.

Avoid consuming beverages packaged in aluminum cans

Aluminum containers containing beverages for consumption are lined on the inside to prevent their contents from coming into contact with aluminum. However, this coating contains the industrial chemical BPA, which can be released into food under certain circumstances and is harmful to health.

It has been shown that people who consume beverages in aluminum cans experience a rise in blood pressure within a few hours. It is advisable to consume beverages contained in glass containers.

Avoid excessive consumption of shellfish and large fish

Large fish and shellfish contain higher levels of mercury than small ones. This is because they tend to live longer than small organisms, and therefore have a greater accumulation of mercury throughout their lives.

The fish with the highest risk of mercury contamination that is part of our regular diet are tuna, marlin, and shark.

Use tap water filters

As a result of industrial processing, environmental contamination, ground, and stored water contamination, and additives that are added to drinking water, heavy metals accumulate in the water we use daily for drinking and personal hygiene, and from there they pass into the human body.

Water pipes, especially in older buildings, are also often made of lead or copper. Filter tap water before drinking in all cases to prevent excessive intake of these harmful substances into your body.

Avoid the use of cosmetics and other commercial products that contain aluminum, such as deodorants

Heavy metals like lead, cadmium, mercury, aluminum, etc. They can be easily found in makeup products, skin care products, nail polishes, and deodorants. These products can daily expose women and men to heavy metals.

Avoid the use of mercury amalgam for caries treatment

Dental treatments made with heavy metal amalgam have serious drawbacks in the long run, as the amalgam will slowly dissolve over time. It means that the mercury contained in them will slowly pass into our bodies, progressively intoxicating them.

If you already have dental treatments based on heavy metals, consult your doctor before removing them, since the process of removing the amalgam can cause the release of large amounts of the metal.

Removing heavy metals from your body

Earlier we mentioned that heavy metals are inorganic compounds that our body cannot metabolize. For this reason, they accumulate in our tissues and cells, and sometimes the normal detoxification process cannot remove them.

However, there is a process known as “chelation.” This is a biochemical phenomenon carried out by substances capable of trapping inorganic molecules of heavy metals and creating compounds that the body can eliminate through urine.

For a substance to be a chelator, it must be soluble in water, able to penetrate cells, form non-toxic complexes by binding with metal ions and be rapidly eliminated.

There are some products in our diet that are natural chelators and that, if we consume them regularly, we are already contributing to the process of eliminating heavy metals. Other more powerful chelators can be taken as supplements. We will talk about these later.

For now, let’s explore some of these natural chelators that we may already be consuming. These are powerful detoxifiers and provide basic chelation. We must remember to select organic products to avoid or reduce the risk of contamination.

Broccoli

It acts directly on heavy metals in general but also clears their elimination pathways. In addition, it is rich in calcium, magnesium, potassium, and zinc.

Onions, garlic, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, and cabbage

Due to their high sulfur content, they purify the body. 50 grams of any of the above daily is enough.

Cilantro

It is very effective and is credited with the power to eliminate all heavy metals in general, but mainly aluminum, mercury, and lead.

A special diet with cilantro can eliminate excess mercury in two to three weeks, barring excessive levels of poisoning.

Apple cider vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is a powerful chelator due to its acetic acid content. In addition, the pectin present in the skin of the apple is a very effective detoxifier that promotes the expulsion of metals.

Brazil nuts

Its effect is not chelating, but its properties help restore minerals such as selenium and zinc, which are lost in chelation.

Parsley

Parsley is ideal for cleansing the kidneys, which is very important during any detoxification and heavy metal removal process as the kidneys must complete the cleansing process.

More powerful chelating substances that we can take as a supplement

The products that we are going to mention below are not usually part of our regular daily diet, and their availability may be more limited than the products that we regularly buy in the market.

If you have doubts regarding the use of any of them, you can consult your doctor or preferred nutritionist.

Alpha lipoic acid

Alpha Lipoic Acid is one of the few antioxidants that can very easily cross the blood-brain barrier. Thanks to the heavy metal chelating effect of alpha lipoic acid, it may also be that it also removes a toxic stressor for the nerves.

Chlorella

This green alga is very rich in chlorophyll, which acts as a natural chelator of heavy metals, especially mercury and lead. But it can also help remove toxic chemicals like phthalates, insecticides, and plastic substances.

Spirulina

Spirulina is a blue-green alga that has many health benefits, apart from helping to eliminate heavy metals, and strengthening the nervous system and the liver. It is also a complete protein, containing all 8 essential amino acids.

Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM)

Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is a chemical found naturally in humans, as well as in some green animals and plants. It is a powerful antioxidant that helps expel lead, cadmium, mercury, and arsenic.

In addition, it supplies sulfur to produce other chemical substances in the body such as methionine and cysteine, which are sulfur-containing amino acids that dissolve heavy metals and facilitate their expulsion.

Selenium

Selenium is considered “the anti-cancer mineral”. It is an antioxidant that protects our hearts and strengthens our immune system; regulates the immune response, reduces inflammation, and destroys free radicals responsible for oxidative damage to our cells. This antioxidant mineral protects us against aluminum, cadmium, and mercury.

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Curcumin

Curcumin is one of several substances present in Turmeric, which is a yellow root widely used in alternative medicine as an effective aid to deal with some ailments.

Curcumin is a powerful antioxidant that protects against several of the most damaging pound radicals including singlet oxygen (highly damaging oxygen free radical).

In addition, curcumin favors the increase in the endogenous production of glutathione in the brain, an important antioxidant defense system, and it is a chelator for the fluorine accumulated mainly in the brain.

Zeolite

Zeolite is a mineral of volcanic origin that is consumed as a dietary supplement. Helps the body to detoxify by collaborating to expel heavy metals from the body. It strengthens the immune system, purifies the blood, and balances the pH of the body. If you want to know more about the benefits of zeolite for health, we invite you to read our article about it.

Zeolite is also very effective in cation exchange, which makes it doubly effective when properly prepared, as it allows it to deliver a good ion (such as Calcium) and remove a bad ion (such as Lead).

Finally, unlike other minerals, zeolite does not accumulate or remain in the body and is eliminated within 4-6 hours, taking the collected minerals with it.

Due to the recent popularity of Zeolite, a large number of unproven, guaranteed, or unnatural products have appeared on the market that do not necessarily have the effectiveness or benefits of natural zeolite, so make sure you make a selection. correct.

Conclusions

Heavy metals represent a major risk to our health. We tend to ignore this because they have been with us daily for decades. And although they are present in most of the foods we eat, and in the environment that surrounds us, there are simple actions we can take to reduce our exposure to them and eliminate large amounts that we have accumulated in our bodies. during years.

Three simple steps that help us a lot: reduce the exposure or consumption of contaminated products, improve our detoxification system by promoting the cleansing of the liver, kidneys, and intestines, and incorporate chelating products in our diet, which eliminate accumulated heavy metals.

In more extreme cases of excessive exposure to polluting elements, chelation therapies can be used, which are controlled by medical specialists.

Whatever your choice, consult your doctor or nutritionist preferably. This will know how to indicate the optimal combination by diet, age, and possible pathologies. And you can indicate necessary supplements in case the chelation diet may have side effects due to the loss of some essential minerals.

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