Here’s the truth – practically all of us could use a heavy metal detox.
We know that probably sounds a bit dramatic, but it’s also true. If you’ve ever eaten seafood, had a metal filling in your tooth, breathed the exhaust from a diesel engine, drunk water from a lead pipe or had a vaccine (to name just a few sources), you’ve already been exposed to heavy metals.
Because if you live in the United States and somehow managed to avoid the first four of those in the list above, mandatory vaccinations will still have exposed you to these harmful metals.
In other words, there’s almost zero chance that you haven’t been exposed.
Do any of these following symptoms ring a bell?
- Severe, constant fatigue
- Depression or moodiness
- Brain fog
- Sleeplessness, in spite of the fatigue
- Aching joints
- Impaired blood sugar regulation
- Female reproductive issues
- Digestion issues
If you or a loved one have been dealing with any of these troubling symptoms, but haven’t been able to pinpoint a cause, heavy metal could very well be the culprit. Because those aren’t just the symptoms of a bad day (or week, or month), they’re also common symptoms of heavy metal exposure.
What EXACTLY is a heavy metal detox?
Without getting too complicated let’s take a closer look at what heavy metal exposure means, and what a heavy metal detox could do for you.
Most of us are being exposed to heavy metals every day, from vaccines to car fumes.
These harmful toxins include…
- Mercury
- Aluminum
- Cadmium
- Arsenic
- Lead
- Nickel
Heavy metals can hide in your system, building up in your tissues faster than your body can possibly process them, until they make you sick.
That list of symptoms up there is just the beginning. Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and other neurological diseases have all been associated with heavy metals.
But instead of letting them build up to toxic levels, you can do a heavy metal detox, or what’s known as chelation. Chelation is when you bind the metals to another agent in your system that your body is able to process faster and better. When your body processes that agent, it processes the heavy metal as well, cleansing it from your system.
The best news is that you can do a simple heavy metal detox, or chelation, naturally with the right foods, drinks and supplements!
Start with detox-friendly foods
Just like you use your diet as the first line of defense against illness and aging, it can be your first step in a heavy metal detox.
Start your heavy metal detox by switching to a “clean” diet. Cut out the caffeine and alcohol, eat plenty of fresh organic fruits and vegetables and if you have access to a sauna spend some time in it every day to help support a more complete detox.
And eat plenty of these detoxifying foods…
Cilantro with chlorella:
Cilantro, the fresh delicious herb you love in Mexican foods can be the cornerstone of your heavy metal detox, especially if you pair it with the algae superfood chlorella.
They’re both great at detoxifying your system, but together they’re a powerhouse team. Cilantro attracts the heavy metals and then chlorella swoops in to help your body move them out of your system more quickly so they can’t do even more damage.
Eggs:
Have some eggs for breakfast and you’ll be detoxing your body at the same time.
It’s the amino acids in eggs that are they key. They help detoxify your body, keep your liver healthy and promote the production of important enzymes.
Just make sure you eggs are organic and free-range eggs or you may trade one set of health problems for another.
Beets:
Beets don’t make it onto a lot of folks shopping lists, but they should. Beets aren’t just packed with nutrition, they’re also a powerful tool for a heavy metal detox.
Beets hit heavy metals with a one two punch. First they are brimming with detoxing minerals. Second they support two of the organs that are critical to your body’s natural detoxification system… your liver and gallbladder.
Citrus fruits:
Vitamin C rich citrus fruits naturally help shepherd heavy metals from the body. But they manage to do this without removing the vital trace minerals we all need to survive.
The antioxidants in citrus fruits can help halt the damage heavy metals are doing to your body. Plus they may even help reverse the damage caused by the metals in the first place!
Brazil nuts:
Brazil nuts contain a compound that’s known for naturally purifying the body, but they made it onto the “eat these” list for a different reason.
A heavy metal detox can reduce your levels of selenium and zinc, two important minerals your body needs. Brazil nuts are rich in both of these trace elements and can naturally help restore their levels in your body.
Avoid detox destroying foods
Just as there are foods that can help you detox, there are others that can stand in the way of a successful detox.
Nonorganic meat and dairy products:
Too often the animals these come from are fed questionable diets themselves. If you don’t know what they’re eating, you shouldn’t be eating them.
Farmed fish:
A lot of seafood has mercury to begin with. But fish grown on farms typically have high levels of metals and other substances you don’t want in your body.
Alcohol:
Now, we love our nightly glass of wine as much as anybody. It even helps keep our hearts healthy!
But alcohol can put additional stress on the liver. So, while you’re doing your heavy metal detox, stay away from alcohol.
What you drink is important, too
Make sure you don’t undo all the work you’ve done choosing the right foods for a detox. Choose the right beverages to support your efforts.
Water:
Water can turbo charge your heavy metal detox. After all, it’s one of the best ways to help cleanse your system under normal circumstances. When you’re in the middle of a detox be sure to drink 6-8 ounces of purified water every two hours or so to help your body flush the toxins out of your system.
Vegetable juice:
Squeeze, blend, or buy 100% organic vegetable juice to get the antioxidants, vitamin C and sulfur you need to help support your detox efforts.
When you blend your own veggies, you get the benefits of detox-friendly fiber, too. Try blending a variety of fresh organic vegetables together to make your own vegetable-juice mixes. Beets, kale, cilantro, celery and cucumber are all great choices.
Sarsaparilla tea:
If this one sounds old fashioned, that’s because it is. In fact, Native Americans have been making tea from sarsaparilla to help them detox for generations.
Nutrient-rich sarsaparilla contains saponin compounds that like fiber aren’t easily digested by your body. These compounds bind with toxins, which can then be flushed out of your system.
7 supplements to round out your heavy metal detox
The right supplements can turbo charge an ordinary heavy metal detox making it far more effective.
Following are five supplements no detox should be without:
1. Activated charcoal:
During your detox mix 20-30g of food-grade, activated charcoal a day with purified water and drink it down. Toxins such as heavy metals are attracted to the charcoal and since your body doesn’t absorb charcoal, it—and the toxins attached to it—exits your body through bowel movements. (Don’t be surprised by dark stool when using charcoal.)
But keep in mind charcoal is such an effective detoxifier that it’s possible to lose some good metals and minerals in the process so to be safe you should follow up with molasses or Brazil nuts.
2. Pantethine:
Pantethine is a particularly active form of vitamin B5. It helps clear blockages caused by exposure to pesticides so that your heavy metal detox is more effective.
3. Milk thistle:
Your liver’s number one job is detoxification. Milk thistle supports your liver so it can do it’s job effectively. Take 150 mg, twice a day while detoxing.
4. Chia seeds:
Chia seeds could very well have been on the “eat these” food list, but their so packed with nutrients it seemed more appropriate to include them here with the supplements. Chia seeds are naturally rich in detoxifying fiber and detox-friendly omega-3s.
5. Probiotics:
Not only will probiotics make your heavy metal detox more efficient, they also boost gut health and immune function so they can help you rebuild your health once the junk is out of your system.
6. N-acetyl cysteine (NAC):
The amino acid NAC is very effective at chelating heavy metals such as lead and mercury. The toxins are pulled out of your body’s tissues and become bound to the amino acid. Your body then eliminates them through your bowels.
In addition, NAC help cleanse the liver and supports the manufacturing of the important detox enzyme glutathione.
7. Vitamin E and selenium:
This antioxidant pair combats mercury overload. Your body uses them to help produce the enzyme glutathione peroxidase, an important player when it comes to combatting heavy metals.
From vaccines to car fumes, whether you realize it or not you’re being exposed to heavy metals daily. But by following this simple heavy metal detox plan you can reset your body and your health!
Healthier Talk
We believe that everyone has good ideas about how best to care for our loved ones and ourselves. Many of our contributors are doctors that have spent their life’s work invested in the health and well being of the human body and mind. Some have spent their lives tirelessly researching health and the human body, developing new vitamins and products dedicated to making people healthier.
Others are ordinary people that have natural family cures passed down from generations, or discovered an inexpensive home remedy out of necessity or even by accident.
So Healthier Talk not only offers professional advice and solutions, but also provides much sought after natural family cures and at-home remedies, right at your fingertips!
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