Topics: Symptoms & Root Cause of Toxicity, Long-Term Exposure & Consequences, Testing & Treatment for Heavy Metals.
Our health issues are closely related to exposure to Heavy Metals which exists due to pollution (air quality), contaminated water, genetically modified foods, toxic ingredients in products and medications we use.
A lot of health issues and concerns go undiagnosed but are still treated for symptoms instead of addressing the root cause of the problem.
Are you or your loved ones suffering from or treated for the following issues but have not seen any results or improvement?
In some cases, there is a deeper underlying cause for your symptoms and the ineffectiveness of treatments. Our body has a natural ability to heal and detoxify itself but if we are consistently suffering from the same issue, that means our body is not working properly and therefore does not have the capability to heal itself.
Today we will discuss the effect of Heavy Metals on your body, health, and your options to start your journey to better health and wellbeing.
We all heard of heavy metals before. Some heavy metals are natural and part of our ecosystem and environment which means we are exposed to them on daily basis.
Some metals, in small amounts, are essential for survival and carry out a proper bodily function but constant exposure in large doses is extremely dangerous to our health.
Accumulation of them over time within our body can lead to chronic diseases such as cancers, neurological problems, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and other health issues.
Unfortunately, due to human activity and more presence of these metals in our environment has caused concerns for humans, animals, land, and the sea.
Risk level depends on factors such as age, health, diet and how effectively your body can detox itself.
Aluminum can be found in food, cosmetics, medicines, deodorants, foil wrap, soda cans, water purification facilities, hand & face creams.
Long- Term Consequences due to Exposure can cause issues such as:
Suspended particles of dust in the air contain aluminum, resulting in small amounts of it been found in lung tissue and lymph nodes. Aluminum interferes with neurotransmitters in our brain such as dopamine and norepinephrine, therefore, causing damage that can lead to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Those with pre-existing medical conditions are at greater risk. Aluminum is also present in Vaccines.
Mercury is found in fish, shellfish, and at the bottom of the ocean floor due to industrial pollution. It is used by dentists, hygienists, and chemical workers.
Long- Term Consequences due to Exposure can cause issues such as:
Mercury toxicity may be caused by exposure to large amounts of it during the manufacturing of thermometers, mirrors, incandescent lights, x-ray machines, and vacuum pumps.
This metal affects our lungs, liver, kidneys, brain, skin and causes damage to our neurological system. Mercury is also present in Vaccines.
Arsenic can be found in our drinking water, seafood, grains (rice), cigarette smoke, cosmetics, and air.
Long- Term Consequences due to Exposure can cause issues such as:
Arsenic toxicity can be caused by medications and some face and hand creams. Occupational exposure can occur through the manufacture of paints, enamels, glass, metals, and wood preserving materials.
Cadmium toxicity may be caused by ingestion of contaminated foods, exposure to old paint, cigarette smoke, vapor lamps, and can also be found in rechargeable batteries.
Long- Term Consequences due to Exposure can cause issues such as:
Chromium is used in the manufacture of cars, glass, pottery, and linoleum.
Long- Term Consequences due to Exposure can cause issues such as:
Chromium results from burning coal and oil. Paper, leather, and rubber manufacturers use chromium.
Lead toxicity can come from exposure to firearms, automotive repair, battery manufacturing, gasoline, glass, bridge, tunnel, and highway construction sites. Another cause of lead exposure can happen through hair dyes, fertilizers, and pesticide use.
Long- Term Consequences due to Exposure can cause issues such as:
Copper can be found in the water supply due to old copper pipes, contaminated food, rusted dishes including corroded copper cocktail shakers.
Long- Term Consequences due to Exposure can cause issues such as:
Some genetic conditions can also affect your liver’s ability to filter out copper properly such as:
Iron can be found in children’s and adult’s supplements/ vitamins. Taking too many Iron supplements can have dangerous effects such as:
Iron is an important mineral for our body to function properly and a lot of people suffer from iron deficiency but too much can lead to health issues. It is particularly important to read the label for proper pill intake. The child can simply swallow too many vitamins and the expectant mother can take too many.
Nickel can be found in our food, water, soil as well as cigarette smoke.
Long- Term Consequences due to Exposure can cause issues such as:
Nickel is combined with other metals, such as iron, zinc, copper, and chromium to form alloys. It is used to make stainless steel, jewelry, coins, heat exchangers, and valves.
Nickel enters our atmosphere through volcano eruptions, power plants, and trash incinerators. Once it’s airborne, it attaches to dust particles, rain, or snow, and over time it falls to the ground where it enters the soil.
As we mentioned before, some metals are important to our survival and critical for bodily function in small amounts, but in large doses, they accumulate in our body and cause damage to our heart, kidney, liver, brain, and bones which can lead to chronic disease.
Not all symptoms result from heavy metal toxicity, they can be the cause of other conditions and diseases. It is always best to have a medical professional help determine the cause and if it is the result of toxicity.
If you suspect heavy metal toxicity, a healthcare provider can order certain tests to confirm diagnostics, test can be done by taking samples of your blood, urine, and hair.
When you come to the Art of Life Health Centre, for an appointment to see our Naturopathic Doctor (click to read more about Naturopathy), the following steps will be taken in order to assess your situation and implement an appropriate treatment plan.
The treatment is a type of Chelation Therapy that assists in detoxifying your system.
You may want to consider doing this test in order to prevent future health concerns as well. If your body is working as it’s intended, it can effectively detoxify toxicity within your system while leaving essential nutrients, minerals, proteins, and other metals intact.
Heavy metals are everywhere, exposure can occur through our food, water, air, commercial products, and medications.
A great place to start is by evaluating your diet & everyday food choices, avoiding certain foods will help keep your body healthy. Heavy metals have been found in commercial foods in both organic and non-organic. Children are at a higher risk of metal toxicity because their smaller bodies are more susceptible to absorbing and retaining them.
Heavy metals enter our water through soil contamination. It might be a good idea to have your water tested and invest in a high-quality water filtration system for your home.
Heavy metals such as iron, mercury, arsenic, lead, chromium, aluminum, and zinc have been found in personal care products like makeup, toothpaste, hand & face creams, sunscreen, eye drops, and nail polish. Heavy metals in personal care products may result from contamination but sometimes they are added as ingredients.
Heavy metals also exist in the air. Arsenic is one of the most common metals in the atmosphere especially in and near cities. Other airborne heavy metals include cadmium, chromium, and nickel from activities such as driving cars, industrial pollution, and using aerosol products. The best advice is to get a home air purifier and consider removing shoes before walking inside.
When your body is working properly, it can protect you from heavy metal accumulation.
Certain foods contain micronutrients that can assist to remove unwanted toxins within your body:
These foods have the potential to remove cadmium and iron from your system and to reverse damage to various organs and tissues while improving kidney, liver, and brain function.
The modern world has increased our exposure to heavy metals beyond what our bodies were designed for. Even though we cannot avoid these heavy metals entirely, we can all take steps to reduce the exposure. Making informed choices when it comes to the products we use, foods we eat, the water we drink, and daily habits, will significantly reduce the number of toxins that enter our body.
TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF & YOUR BODY!