Sooner or later we had to talk about heavy metal exposure. And, no I’m not talking about a type of music. We’re all constantly being bombarded with exposures to heavy metals. I’ve mentioned before that I was ill for many years due to chemical poisoning. I now know that heavy metal exposure and overload was more than likely the root cause for the chemical sensitivity.
Even when someone is following a healthy eating program and doing consistent exercise, exposure to heavy metals can still wreak havoc in the body. At the time that I became ill, I made much of our food from “scratch,” including yogurt, bread, and even our ketchup. I was also very fit and enjoyed a number of activities such as running, long distance cycling, cross-country and downhill skiing, aerobics classes, and racquetball. My body still succumbed to the bizarre symptoms that toxicity causes. If you or someone you know is doing a lot of things right with regard to their health, yet they still do not feel well, heavy metal toxicity could be an issue.
The main heavy metals causing problems are mercury, cadmium, aluminum, lead, arsenic, and nickel. These toxic metals can cause or contribute to a long list of diseases. Toxic build-up due to chronic heavy metal exposure cause common symptoms such as fatigue, digestive distress with reduced ability to assimilate fats, aching joints, sleep difficulties, depression, impaired blood sugar regulation, and female reproductive problems such as menstrual difficulties, infertility, miscarriage, and symptoms associated with menopause. I know these symptoms are common to many, however if someone is working toward optimal health, yet is still plagued with some of these, heavy metal toxicity could be at the root.
Dr. Kaayla Daniel explains that “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-ins” 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.”
from nutrition 777.com
