Toxic Metals Stored in the Body and How to Displace them Naturally

Our bodies will store toxic metals if they chemically resemble minerals that our bodies need, but only when we are deficient. When nutrition is adequate we are protected.

Nutrition protects us in several ways. First, if our nutrients are in place in our bodies at the time of exposure, then we do not store harmful metals. Second, when we consume the required nutrients, our bodies will displace the toxic metals and put the required ones in their place. Third, nutrients help cleanse and detoxify our organs and fourth, nutrients will protect our organs from damage from these toxins.

Fasting

Fasting allows the body's natural detoxification process (of excreting pesticides and drugs) to work more efficiently by lessening the body's workload and the amount of new chemicals coming in. Fasting does not remove heavy metals from the body because the body thinks they belong there and is purposely storing them. Fasting only helps the body to eliminate chemicals that the body knows don't belong in it.

Autoimmune Disease

Many autoimmune diseases such as, multiple sclerosis, lupus and arthritis have been linked to heavy metal toxicity. The presence of these metals weaken, overburden and interfere with the normal functioning of the immune system. This damaged immune system stops recognizing its own tissue, and now treats it like it would any foreign invader. It attacks it and inflames the area. Some examples follow:

Juvenile onset diabetes-the immune system attacks and destroys cells in the pancreas (where insulin is made)

Rheumatoid arthritis-tissues inside joints are attacked (and the area inflamed) by the immune system

Scleroderma-immune system causes an overproduction of collagen in the skin, blood vessels or organs

Grave's Disease-immune system attacks the thyroid causing an overproduction of the hormone that controls metabolism

Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus)-immune system attacks the skin, joints, central nervous system, blood vessels, kidneys, heart and lungs

Other increasingly common disorders that have been associated with heavy metal toxicity are hyperactivity, autism, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. (Clearly affecting all ages)

Many nutrients (mostly minerals) and phytochemicals (substances that are beneficial to the body but not necessary to sustain life) help the body to excrete toxic metals from our systems. Below is a list of those nutrients and food properties.

Nutrients and Substances That Protect:

Lead Poisoning and Symptoms

Vitamin C helps prevent the absorption of lead. Prior to 1985 plumbing pipes contained lead. Hot water picks up lead more easily than cold water does. Even copper plumbing pipes may contain lead in the soldered seams. Lead toxicity can cause fatigue, tremors, insomnia, confusion, seizures, kidney, liver and nervous system damage

Calcium stops lead from being stored in the organs by storing it in the bones and fat cellls. Only when calcium levels become low is the lead pulled from the bones into the kidneys and blood.

Iron, phosphorus and vitamin D also prevent the storage of lead

Garlic helps to bind with and excrete lead

Vitamin A protects the body from damage from lead poisoning

The B-complex vitamins help to remove lead from the body

Vitmain E prevents lead absorption

Aginate, a substance in Pacific sea kelp, removes lead from the body. It does this by binding the lead to itself. Since alginate cannot be absorbed by the body, the body excretes it and the lead leaves the body without causing damage.

Cadmium Poisoning (from batteries) and Symptoms

Iron helps protect the body from cadmium toxicity. Cadmium toxicity can cause anemia, headache, a weakened immune system, kidney failure, liver damage, emphysema and cancer

Selenium blocks cadmium from being stored in the body.

Calcium also prevents cadmium from being stored.

Sufficient quantities of zinc in the body prevent cadmium from being stored in the kidneys and liver. Taking zinc helps to reduce cadmium levels already in the body.

Supplementing the diet with kelp helps to prevent the absorption and storage of cadmium

Vitamin C helps to detoxify the body from lead and cadmium

Zinc helps to prevent the absorption of lead and cadmium

Arsenic Poisoning and Symptoms

Vitamin C helps detoxify arsenic:

Chronic-chronic arsenic poisoning is the accumulation of low doses of arsenic over a period of time. The symptoms are nausea, headache, anorexia, discoloration of fingernails.

Acute-acute arsenic poisoning is a toxic dose of arsenic all at once. The symptoms are severe gastrointestinal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, kidney failure, shock, cancer and death

Sulfur eliminates arsenic and lead from the body

Mercury Poisoning and Symptoms

Vitamin C helps to detoxify the body from mercury. Mercury toxicity can cause pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, depression, dizziness, fatigue, insomnia, blindness, paralysis, hyperactivity, irritability, kidney failure and death. Mercury toxicity may be a factor in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases and autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, lupus and arthritis.

Sulfur helps the body to excrete mercury

Vitamin E helps to detoxify the body from mercury, silver and cadmium

Selenium helps to detoxify the body from mercury, silver and cadmium

Zinc helps to prevent mercury and nickel absorption

Fish may contain mercury but it also contains alkylglycerols which remove mercury from the body

Copper Poisoning and Symptoms

Copper toxicity can cause anemia, insomnia, stuttering, hyperactivity, mood swings, kidney and central nervous system damage and may be a contributing factor in the development of autism, dementia, depression and schizophrenia

Wilsons disease is a hereditary disease in which copper builds up in the brain, liver, kidneys and eyes and causes shaky limbs, fatigue, malaise, menstrual problems and fever. Zinc supplements can reverse this condition.

Strontium 90

Calcium is chemically similar to Strontium 90-a radioactive product from nuclear reactions. Adequate calcium prevents Strontium 90 from being stored in the body.

Pacific sea kelp inhibits absorption of, and helps remove, Strontium 90 (from nuclear reactions and nuclear plant accidents),

Alzheimer's Disease and Calcium

A deficiency of calcium may lead to the storage of aluminum in the brain associated with Alzheimer's disease.

Toxic Metals

Pectin binds with and removes metals and other toxins from the body. It occurs naturally in apples, bananas, cabbage and carrots

Alfalfa detoxifies the body

Carrots detoxify and cleanse the liver

Alpha-lipoic acid, an antioxidant found in spinach, liver, kidney, heart, beef, brewer's yeast and broccoli binds to toxic metals removing them from the body.

Proper nutrition can protect us from the harmful substances that we cannot avoid.

The Chemicals We Breathe

Heavy metal toxicity can occur from the foods we eat or the air we breathe. Below is a list of some of the chemicals we encounter from air pollution.

Carbon Monoxide and its Link to Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that affects more women then men often begginning in their thirties. One of the worse things about this disease is its unpredictability. A person can have no symptoms one day and wake up blind the next, only to be fine again on the following day.

In one study, these bouts with symptoms have been linked to exposure to carbon monoxide found in cigarette smoke and automobile exhaust fumes as well as other sources. Air pollution from industry, campfire smoke, cigarette smoke (including secondhand), and exhaust fumes from vehicles is a probable cause of cancers including lung cancer and possibly other diseases.

Cigarette smoke contains over four thousand chemical substances, with over forty known carcinogens(cancer causing substances) including carbon monoxide, cyanide, nitrosamines, vinyl chloride, ammonia, benzene and radioactive chemicals. Vitamin C can detoxify benzene and other chemicals in cigarette smoke. Vitamin C is used up as it detoxifies the body. That's why every cigarette destroys 25-100 milligrams of vitamin C.

Vitamin E protects lung tissue from the nitrogen dioxide in air pollution.

Vitamins B and C and the amino acid cysteine help protect the body from the harmful effects (headache, eye damage and respiratory problems) of acetaldehyde-an irritating chemical present in tobacco smoke and air pollution.

Vitamin C along with cysteine help to detoxify nicotine and protect the lungs from other chemicals in cigarette smoke. One of trhe best ways to protect ourselves from smoke and pollution (other than avoidance) is to take vitamin C supplements.

Consuming all of the nutrients required by the body will prevent toxic metals from being stored, reverse toxic conditions that already exist in the body, and protect and repair our organs from damage. Always consult a physician before taking any supplements.

This article was compiled from excerpts from the book "EveryBODY Can Heal" by Frances Bleuet and Angela LaMor RMA, NCPT available in soft cover, hard cover and as an eBook.

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