Toxic Metals: The Reason You Still Feel Sick

[Guest guest]

Toxic Metals: The Reason You Still Feel Sick

_http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/07/22/toxic-metals-th

e-reason-you-still-feel-sick.aspx?source=nl_

(http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/07/22/toxic-metals-the-\

reason-you-still-feel-sick.aspx

?source=nl)

 

Dr, Kaayla Daniel and Dr. Galen Knight have observed that even when people

follow healthy dietary guidelines, they can still have serious health

problems. They may digest their food poorly, experience digestive distress, or

be

generally sickly.

One reason may be toxic metals like:

 

* Mercury

* Aluminum

* Cadmium

* Arsenic

* Lead

* Nickel, and other metal poisons that flood the environment and

invade your body.

 

These toxic metals can cause or contribute to a long list of diseases

including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and other brain and

neurological disorders. While the medical establishment recognizes the acute

toxicity

that comes from high levels of metals in your body, far more people suffer the

adverse effects of low-level, chronic exposure.

Sources:

* _Mad as a Hatter -- How to Avoid Toxic Metals and Clear Them From

the Body (PDF)_ (http://mercola.fileburst.com/PDF/ToxicMetals.pdf)

* _http://mercola.fileburst.com/PDF/ToxicMetals.pdf_

(http://mercola.fileburst.com/PDF/ToxicMetals.pdf)

 

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

 

Most people are absolutely clueless about just how toxic mercury is. It is

toxic at one in one billion-part quantities. That is about the same

concentration of one grain of salt in one swimming pool. That is why having

mercury

fillings is such a major challenge to your health.

Heavy metal toxicity, just like chemical toxicity, has become one of the

most pressing health hazards of our day. Your body is assailed by chemicals and

heavy metals on a daily basis, oftentimes from the most _innocent-looking

sources_

(http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2007/12/29/many-toys-contain\

-dangerous-chemicals.aspx) , from your everyday _cookware_

(http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/03/06/non-stick-cookwar\

e-continu

es-to-prove-its-toxicity.aspx) to your child’s rubber ducky.

It has now gotten to the point where babies are being BORN toxic due to the

toxic load of their mothers. A _2004 study by the Environmental Working

Group_ (http://archive.ewg.org/reports/bodyburden2/testresults.php) (EWG) found

that blood samples from newborns contained an average of 287 toxins, including

mercury, fire retardants, pesticides and Teflon chemicals.

Despite these dire warning signs, giant corporations and industry advocates

like DuPont and The American Chemistry Council are fighting tooth and nail to

block any and all proposed bans on toxic agents that happen to be part of

their profit-making schemes. According to _EnviroBlog_

(http://www.enviroblog.org/2008/07/the-chemical-industrys-campaig.htm) , the

latest army of lobbyists

is trying to crush U.S. _Senate Bill 1313_

(http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/sen/sb_1301-1350/sb_1313_bill_20080220_in\

troduced.pdf) , which calls for

a ban of perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) in concentrations exceeding 0.1

percent from food packaging, for example.

And _California State Senate Bill 1713_

(http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/sen/sb_1701-1750/sb_1713_bill_20080701_am\

ended_asm_v96.pdf) , which would

ban BPA from baby bottles and toys, is also under attack by hired guns who are

trying to scare everyone into believing this bill will put an end to all

canned and jarred goods.

If there ever was a time to get more involved in the political process – as

these are serious survival issues -- now might be a good time.

How Do You Know if You’re Suffering from Heavy Metal Toxicity?

Acute heavy metal toxicity is a lot easier to diagnose than that of chronic

exposure. Indications of acute toxicity include:

* Sudden, severe cramping and/or convulsions

* Nausea

* Vomiting

* Sweating

* Headache

* Difficulty breathing

* Impaired cognitive, motor and language skills

Symptoms of toxic build-up due to chronic heavy metal exposure, however, are

much more subtle, in large part because these symptoms are so “common,â€

such as:

* Fatigue

* Digestive distress, and reduced ability to properly assimilate and

utilize fats

* Aching joints

* Depression

* Impaired blood sugar regulation

* Female reproductive problems such as menstrual difficulties,

infertility, miscarriage, pre-eclampsia, pregnancy-induced hypertension and

premature birth

Sound like anyone you know?

Add to that your exposure to _toxic fluoride in your municipal drinking

water_

(http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2007/11/22/fluoride-damages-\

your-brain.aspx) , which actually increases your body’s uptake of

aluminum, in addition to all the other health damaging effects it has in and of

itself, and it’s no wonder you’re feeling less than great.

Why is Your Diet so Important When it Comes to Heavy Metal Detox?

In addition to limiting your exposure to toxic metals, which I will go over

shortly, you need to focus on eating a healthy diet, preferably based on

_your nutritional type_ (http://www.mercola.com/nutritionplan/index.aspx) to

reap the maximum overall health benefits.

The Weston A. Price diet recommendations, which were written in 1920 and

still, like all truths, hold true today, includes these timeless guidelines:

* Eat foods that are natural, unprocessed, and organic (and contain no

sugar except for the occasional bit of honey or maple syrup).

* Eat foods that grow in your native environment. In other words, eat

_locally grown, seasonal foods_

(http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/06/10/the-rise-of-the-e\

at-locally-locavore.aspx) .

* Eat unpasteurized dairy products (such as raw milk) and fermented

foods.

* _Eat at least one-third of your food raw_

(http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2007/08/20/how-to-eat-more-r\

aw-food.aspx) .

* Make sure you eat enough _healthy fats_

(http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2004/09/08/saturated-fat.asp\

x) , including those from

animal sources like _omega-3 fat_

(http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2001/09/08/omega-3-part-one.\

aspx) , and reduce your intake of omega-6

from vegetable oils.

As Dr. Daniel et.al. explain in this article, optimal nutrition is essential

when dealing with heavy metal toxicity because if you are deficient in

essential metals, your body will use toxic heavy metals as “stand-insâ€

instead.

For example:

* Calcium is replaced by lead, which deposits primarily in bone, and

disrupts the formation of red blood cells. Lead contributes to poor bone

health such as osteopenia and osteoporosis.

* Zinc is replaced by cadmium, which tends to accumulate heavily in

your kidneys. Cadmium overload is associated with peripheral neuropathy.

* Magnesium is replaced by aluminum, which, among other things,

induces neurochemical changes and has been identified as a contributing factor

to

developing Alzheimer’s.

* Manganese is replaced by nickel, which is carcinogenic.

Secondly, you also need vital nutrients to aid your natural detoxification

process.

A lot more information about this subject will be discussed in my upcoming

_Inner Circle interview_ (http://products.mercola.com/inner-circle/) with Dr.

Kaayla Daniel, co-author of the article above and the book, _The Whole Soy

Story_

(http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/07/17/the-whole-soy-sto\

ry-the-dark-side-of-america-s-favorite-health-food.aspx) , which I

recently reviewed in my brand new _Book Reviews_

(http://articles.mercola.com/sites/Article-directory.aspx?Category=Book%20Review\

s) column.

I also highly recommend subscribing to the Weston A. Price Foundation’s

journal, _Wise Traditions_ (http://www.westonaprice.org/journal/index.html) .

This quarterly journal is dedicated to exploring the scientific validation of

dietary, agricultural and medical traditions throughout the world. It features

informative and thought-provoking articles on current scientific research;

human diets; non-toxic agriculture; and holistic therapies. It also offers

sources for organic foods that have been conscientiously grown and processed.

You can find their membership form at this _link_

(http://www.westonaprice.org/journal/index.html) .

Guidelines for Reducing Your Heavy Metal Exposure

It may seem like a fight you’re destined to lose, however I firmly believe

you can reduce you exposure to heavy metals quite dramatically, thereby giving

your body a fighting chance to eliminate accumulated toxins and restore

health.

These guidelines can help limit your exposure:

* Use glass, cast iron, carbon steel, titanium, and enamel cookware.

Both aluminum and _Teflon_

(http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/03/06/non-stick-cookwar\

e-continues-to-prove-its-toxicity.aspx) are well

known for their toxic dangers, and stainless steel can expose you to

carcinogenic nickel.

* Minimize consumption of restaurant food as restaurants are required

to use stainless steel pots and vats.

* Avoid stainless steel thermoses; the glass lined kinds are best.

Later this year I will be offering glass water bottles that can also be used in

lieu of a thermos, with neoprene sleeves to protect them from breaking.

 

* Avoid cosmetics with aluminum bases, mineral powders that contain

bismuth, and _aluminum-laden antiperspirants_

(http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2003/09/03/antiperspirants-p\

art-one.aspx) , which have

been shown to _increase your Alzheimer’s risk by as much as 300 percent_

(http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/01/02/aluminum-and-alzh\

eimer-

prevention.aspx) !

* Avoid _vaccinations_

(http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/03/15/tamiflu-s-effects\

-on-your-brain.aspx) that inject mercury or

aluminum directly into your bloodstream.

* Avoid and remove _dental amalgam fillings_

(http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/06/26/a-victory-for-hea\

lth-fda-forced-to-admit-

that-mercury-fillings-are-hazardous.aspx) .

 

* Avoid stainless steel orthodontics such as braces and palate

wideners.

 

* Avoid costume jewelry if you are sensitive to metals.

 

* Avoid smoking and second hand smoke as it causes cadmium poisoning.

 

* Make sure you purchase your natural herbal remedies from a reputable

source with strict quality testing. Some colloidal silvers can lead to

silver poisoning, and some _folk remedies can be high in mercury, lead_

(http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/02/09/some-folk-medicin\

es-contai

n-lead.aspx) and arsenic, either due to alleged medicinal properties or

through unintentional contamination.

 

* Avoid conventional _household cleaning products_

(http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/05/24/how-safe-are-gree\

n-cleaning-product

s.aspx) .

 

* Avoid conventional insecticides and herbicides. Also be VERY

cautious when using the “natural alternative†Borax (boric acid), which can

also

cause serious health problems, including death.

 

Related Articles:

 

_No One is Safe From Chemical Overload_

(http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/07/10/no-one-is-safe-fr\

om-chemical-overload.aspx)

 

_How to Avoid the Top 10 Most Common Toxins_

(http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2005/02/19/common-toxins.asp\

x)

 

_Non-Stick Cookware Continues to Prove Its Toxicity_

(http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/03/06/non-stick-cookwar\

e-continues-to-prove-i

ts-toxicity.aspx)