Just about all of us have toxic heavy metals in our bodies to greater or lesser degrees. Toxic heavy metals have polluted our water systems and are found in a variety of industrial products such as paints and piping. It is very hard to avoid them! Of all the toxic heavy metals, there are 5 that are most commonly found inside our cells causing either mild or stronger symptoms.
Arsenic has been classified as the #1 toxic substance according to the Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry. Arsenic is present in water supplies worldwide and we are exposed to it when we shower, bathe, brush our teeth or drink unfiltered tap water. Because water is polluted by arsenic, sea life is also exposed, so eating fish and shell fish is another way we can become contaminated. Arsenic is created as a byproduct of some industrial process such as the smelting of iron and zinc and is also used in pesticides as part of non-organic farming methods. Arsenic in our cells has a detrimental effect upon our skin, nervous system, kidneys and blood. High exposure can lead to death.
Lead takes second place to arsenic as the second most toxic substance. The most common use for lead today is in the manufacturing of PVC plastics, batteries and pesticides. Paints and pipes used for housing in the USA up until the 1940’s are also a strong source of lead pollution. The effects of too much lead in the body is especially harmful to babies and children and can seriously effect the development of their brain and central nervous system. A strong exposure to lead in adults can also result in brain and central nervous system damage. Anemia, constipation, abdominal pain, fatigue and irritability are also signs of lead toxicity.
Mercury has received a lot of attention as a toxic heavy metal because it has been (and still is in many cases) used in amalgam dental fillings. Now banned in some countries, such as Denmark and Norway, amalgam fillings are stilled used in the USA. There is a lot of heated debate about this but one thing is clear, mercury has a detrimental effect upon the health. Mercury heavy metal toxicity is associated with cancer and definitely has a harmful effect on the nervous system and can also lead to mental disorders.
Cadmium takes the #7 slot on the toxic substances hot list. Avoiding exposure to cadmium is practically impossible. Cadmium is emitted in the fumes of gas engines, is used commercially in fertilizers for mass farming as well as being used in paints and PVC products. It is believed that half of the cadmium in our cells is a result of breathing in gas emissions. Cadmium can weaken our bones by displacing minerals that hold them firm and in extreme exposure can weaken the bones enough that they can break under ones own body weight. Damage to the kidneys and the liver are also common side effects of heightened amounts of cadmium in the body.
Aluminum is found in many kitchen products such as aluminum based pots, pans and utensils and aluminum foil. Antiperspirants, astringents, food additives and especially drinking water are also sources of aluminum exposure. Aluminum has an adverse effect upon the digestive tract, the kidneys and the nervous system. Alzheimer’s disease is also strongly correlated with aluminum deposits in the brain.
Oral Chelation Therapy
A chelator is a substance or method that can help us remove toxic heavy metals from our body. Cilantro, for example, has been found to be very effective at removing mercury out of our bodies according to results of several studies undertaken in S.Korea.