Learn how to recognize if you are toxic and what to do about it
Heavy metal toxins have become increasingly abundant in the past 50 years. They are found in the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. In some cases, exposure can outpace the body’s natural detoxification processes, leading to a buildup of heavy metals in the system and a condition called heavy metal toxicity.
Acute vs Chronic Heavy Metal Toxicity
Poisoning from sudden exposure to large amounts of heavy metals creates acute heavy metal toxicity. Because symptoms like cramping, nausea, vomiting, pain, and convulsions will appear quickly, acute heavy metal toxicity is typically fairly obvious to doctors. However, chronic heavy metal toxicity, which comes from frequent exposure to smaller amounts of heavy metals, is often misdiagnosed. If you have been diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome, MS, depression, or autism, it’s possible heavy metal toxicity is the true cause of your suffering.
Signs of Chronic Heavy Metal Toxicity
- Chronic pain in soft tissues
- Chronic malaise, meaning feelings of discomfort, fatigue, and illness
- Brain fog
- Chronic infections such as Candida
- Gastrointestinal problems like diarrhea, constipation, gas, bloating, heartburn, and indigestion
- Food allergies
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Visual disturbances
- Mood swings
- Nervous system malfunctions, including sensations of burning, numbness, tingling, or paralysis
It’s important to bear in mind that heavy metals can keep your body from absorbing and using other minerals—the ones your body needs to function properly. This means that your symptoms will likely gradually worsen over time.
How to Protect Your Health
Avoiding exposure to heavy metal toxins is very important. The most common and most dangerous toxins to look out for are arsenic, lead, and mercury.
Arsenic is the most common cause of heavy metal toxicity. Arsenic can be found throughout the environment due to smelting and chemical manufacturing activities. It has found its way into the water supply as well as the food chain though contaminated shellfish and fish. Non-organic chicken also often contains mercury due to chickens in commercial farms being fed an arsenic-based additive for pest control.
Lead exposure is also common due to the weathering and aging of lead pipes, drains, and soldering materials in older buildings. New sources of lead contamination include batteries, ammunition, fuel additives, and pesticides.
Mercury is found in the environment from both natural and man-made sources. Mercury can become concentrated in aquatic food chains, making many types of fish unsafe to eat in large quantities. Mercury is also found in old dental fillings.
In addition to avoiding sources of arsenic, lead, and mercury as much as possible, you can take the following steps to help protect your health:
Eat a high fiber diet—fiber can bind with heavy metals to help remove them from your system
Eat foods high in sulfur like eggs, onions, garlic, and beans—sulfur helps remove arsenic
Add more antioxidants to your diet—foods rich in antioxidants like vitamin C, E, and beta carotene help protect against heavy metal toxicity
Make sure you’re getting enough zinc and magnesium—these minerals are helpful for detoxification and can be found in foods like beans, dairy, broccoli, and spinach, or in a quality nutritional supplement.
Want to Learn More?
If you’d like to learn more heavy metal toxicity, contact Renew Youth today. We can provide testing for heavy metals as well as strategies to protect your health against environmental contaminants and stressors.