There is so much out there on the big www about what heavy metals and toxins can do to our bodies, and indeed minds.
So, let our main focus be on the Testing of these nasties and how to remove them safely from the body.
A quick recap on what Heavy Metals and Toxins are.
Exposure to toxic heavy metals and toxins is believed to be a contributing factor, if not a root cause, of symptoms like low energy, mood disturbances and cognitive changes.
They first enter your bloodstream from exposure to farmed fish, contaminated water, dental fillings and household products. These metals then travel throughout your body and penetrate the cells of various tissues and organs, where they can remain stored up for years!
Heavy metals are elements that can be toxic and very dangerous even in low concentrations.
Heavy metals that can lead to toxicity (or “poisoning”) include:
Mercury | Lead |
Arsenic | Cadmium |
Aluminium | Nickel |
Uranium | Thallium |
Other minerals and metals include manganese, iron, lithium, zinc and calcium. (Yes, high levels of even essential minerals can become dangerous, it's all about balance).
Heavy metal poisoning describes a number of health problems caused by exposure to environmental metals that accumulate inside the body and contribute to chronic dis-ease.
Researchers have identified that significant exposure to at least 23 different environmental metals (called “heavy metals”) can contribute to acute or chronic toxicity. These metals are described as being heavy because they stick around in the body, especially hiding out in adipose tissue (fat cells). They are difficult to get rid of, making them similar to fat-soluble toxins.
Body fat tries to protect the organs by trapping certain substances inside, including some metals, which causes them to linger. This is one reason weight loss can sometimes result in heavy metal detoxing, as fat cells shrink and release dormant toxins.
There is no way to entirely avoid heavy metal exposure, considering metals are natural elements found all over the world in the food supply, water and ground. Environmental metals become problematic because over time they can accumulate within bodily tissues, often without the person who is affected even realising this is happening. Heavy metal toxicity can result in damaged nervous system function, plus damage to the vital organs — such as the liver, heart, endocrine glands and kidneys.
Long-term exposure to heavy metals may lead to physical, muscular and neurological degenerative processes. When they become severe, heavy metal poisoning symptoms can even mimic symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis.
Because heavy metal poisoning symptoms mimic those related to aging (such as loss of memory and increased fatigue), many people blame getting older as the cause of their emerging symptoms, not realising that heavy metal exposure may be a major contributing factor.
In addition, heavy metals in foods like arsenic, lead and cadmium have been linked to several forms of cancer in multiple studies, including lung, kidney, bladder, stomach, brain, skin, liver, prostate, renal, breast, pancreatic and endometrial cancers.
They also were associated with risk factors for reproductive, neurological, renal, respiratory, hematopoietic, skin, cardiovascular, immunological and developmental issues.
Some of the most common warning signs with heavy metal toxicity include:
Chronic fatigue
Autoimmune diseases, including Lyme disease
Poor recovery from exercise
Weakness
Skin irritation
Neurological disorders
Brain fog, trouble concentrating, difficulty learning and poor memory
Depression, manic depression and/or anxiety
Dementia
Sleep issues
Digestive issues, such as bloating, pain, indigestion, poor digestion
Chronic aches and pains, such as those associated with fibromyalgia
Tremors
Impaired motor control, hearing, speech, vision and gait
Anaemia (malabsorption of Iron)
Higher risk for heart attacks
DOWNLOAD your free 'toxic element & nutrition' chart.
How do I test for Heavy Metals and Toxins?
There are several options to test for heavy metals and environmental toxins.
1 - HTMA Most heavy metals testing is done by HTMA (Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis). This type of testing has been used for decades by Naturopathic doctors, Clinical Nutritionists, Functional Medical Practitioners, Chiropractors, Herpetologists and Doctors of Internal Medicine (internist).
How does it work?
Heavy metals are stored in adipose (fat) tissue as well as float around in the blood stream.
Capillaries deposit many metabolites into the hair shaft. From nutrient, hormones, heavy metals, toxins, moulds, inflammatory markers among many others.
Just a small sample of hair from the head actually provides a reflection of the whole body’s mineral status, particularly intracellular (inside the cells) activity- which is difficult to measure via bloodwork.
There are several metals and minerals that can be measured by blood work such as Lead, Calcium, Potassium etc. Blood work is a snapshot of your current blood levels, on the day of testing. As we notes previously, metals are stored in adipose tissue, which often renders blood testing inaccurate.
What is Tested In HTMA?
HTMA analyses a comprehensive range of minerals and metals.
HTMA level 1:
8 Minerals
Calcium, Chromium, Copper, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Selenium, Zinc
8 Toxic Metals
Aluminium, Arsenic, Cadmium, Mercury, Nickel, Lead, Silver, Tin
For a full sample report click here.
HTMA Level 2:
17 minerals:
Boron, Calcium, Cobalt, Chromium, Copper, CuIron, Iron, Germanium, GeIodine, Lithium, Magnesium, Manganese, Molybdenum, Selenium, Strontium, Vanadium, Tungsten, Zinc
18 toxic metals:
Aluminum, Antimony, Arsenic, Barium, Beryllium, Bismuth, Cadmium, Mercur, Nickel, Lead, Palladium, Platinum, Silver, Thallium, Tin, Titanium, Uranium, Zirconium
For a full sample report click here.
2 - BIORESONANCE
Bioresonance testing works by measuring frequencies of the body vs the items tested to identify the source of imbalances or disturbances.
Heavy Metal & Environmental Toxin test:
26 Heavy Metals:
Aluminium, Antimony, Arsenic, Barium, Beryllium, Bismuth, Cadmium, Cesium, Cobalt, Fluorine, Gallium, Germanium, Gold, Lead, Mercury, Nickel, Palladium, Platinum, Rubidium, Scandium, Silver, Strontium, Thallium, Tin, Titanium, Uranium
16Chemical Compounds:
Acrylamide, Azo Compounds, Benzene, Bisphenol A, Formaldehyde, Malathion, Organic Solvents, Parabens, Perchlorate, Peroxides, Phthalates, Polyvinylchloride (PVC), Sodium Hypochlorite, Styrene, Xylene
10Environmental Toxins:
2,4 D; 2,4,5 T, DDT, Dioxins, Endosulfan, Hydrogen Cyanamide (Hi-CaneⓇ), Glyphosate (RoundupⓇ), Methyl Bromide, Organophosphates, Paraquat
9 Minerals:
Calcium, Copper, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Phosphorus, Potassium, Selenium, Zinc
For more information click here.
3 - MyDNA Comprehensive Health screen:
This test analyses 92 genes and 113 SNP's (Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms) in the following categories;
Digestion & Metabolism
Energy
Hormones
Stress & Cognitive Performance
Inflammation
Athletic Performance
DNA Protection & Repair
Detoxification
See a full sample report here.
To discuss which test would be most beneficial for you, contact Daisy, Functional Testing Specialist.
What Is a Heavy Metal Detox?
Even if you choose not to be tested for toxicity, many of the diet and lifestyle changes described below will still be beneficial for immune system function, gut health, liver functionand more.
The primary goal of a heavy metal detox is to remove accumulated heavy metals from your brain and nervous system. The kidneys, liver, heart, lymphatic system and respiratory system will also benefit from detoxification, such as a liver cleanse or brain detox.
ALL HEAVY METAL & TOXIN TREATMENT PROTOCOLS SHOULD BE DONE UNDER YOUR FUNCTIONAL HEALTH PRACTITIONER'S CARE.
A standard detox does not remove heavy metals and environmental chemicals, and can even make things worse by removing a metal (aluminium) from brain tissue and lodging it in the liver or other tissues due to incomplete detoxification.
How are toxins removed from the body?
The most common way is through binding the toxins and metals while removing these through the urine.
Other ways to detox the body of heavy metals include making dietary changes and using herbs and supplements, which help break down metals into smaller molecules so they can be removed from urine, feces, sweat and even the breath.
Benefits of doing a heavy metal detox include:
Reduced free radical damage/oxidative stress
Improvements in energy levels
Enhanced immunity and gut health
Better digestive function
Improvements in mental performance (attention, memory, learning, etc.)
Improved skin health
Better protection against cognitive disorders and autoimmune disease
Heavy Metal Detox Diet
Changing your diet should be the first step you take to improve your overall health. What foods can help remove heavy metals from the body?
Foods to eat while doing a heavy metal detox include:
Herbs and spices — Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant herbs and spices like basil, parsley, oregano, rosemary, thyme, ginger, turmeric, cinnamon and coriander can help remove heavy metals. Coriander (along with other green herbs and plants) is one of the best herbs for detoxifying and can help reduce the buildup of heavy metals like mercury and lead in the body. Try adding herbs like cilantro and parsley to fresh-squeezed green juices.
Foods rich in vitamin C – Fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin C can reduce the damage caused by heavy metal toxicity by acting as antioxidants, High-vitamin C foods include citrus fruits like oranges or grapefruit, leafy greens like spinach and kale, all types of berries, broccoli and cruciferous veggies, kiwi, papaya, guava, and bell pepper.
Garlic and onions – These vegetables contain sulfur, which helps your liver detoxify itself of heavy metals like lead and arsenic.
Water – Drink a minimum of 250ml of water or vegetable juice every two hours to stay hydrated and help flush out toxins.
Flax and chia seeds – These provide omega-3 fats and fiber that can help with detoxification of the colon and reduce inflammation.
Bone broth — Bone broth helps keep you hydrated, provides important mineral and supports liver health by providing glutathione. It also provides amino acids that help strengthen the organs. Consume bone broth by either making your own and sipping on several cups daily, or by using protein powder made from bone broth.
Foods to avoid while detoxing include:
Farmed fish – Farmed fish, especially those from foreign countries where the quality is not monitored, can contain heavy metals, dioxins and PCBs, which are highly toxic. The worst offenders are tilefish, swordfish, shark, king mackerel and bigeye tuna. You can continue to eat fish up to several times per week — just make better choices that are low in mercury, and purchase wild-caught fish.
Food allergens – If your body is fighting against common allergens and dealing with high levels of inflammation, it will not be able to detoxify from heavy metal poisoning as well.
Non-organic foods – These foods increase exposure to chemicals that make symptoms worse. For a list of foods that you should always try to buy organic, see this list of the Dirty Dozen, detailing the most pesticide-contaminated produce as tested by the Environmental Working Group.
Foods with additives – Additives may aggravate toxicity symptoms and decrease your body’s ability to detoxify.
Alcohol – Alcohol is toxic to the body and can make it more difficult for your liver to process other toxins.
Some of The Other Detoxification Protocols We Use:
PushCatch™ Liver Detox (Protocol)
Advanced Push Catch System (Protocol), Cellular Detox - full body
MerProtect™ Amalgam Dental Detox (Protocol)
How Do I Book?
Book here.
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Call 027 348 5361