If you are
concerned about heavy metals and their effect on your health, eating
certain foods may help to detoxify these toxic chemicals from your
body. Heavy metals found in our teeth, our homes and in our air can
have long-lasting toxic effect on our organs, becoming lodged in the
tissues of our liver, kidneys, hair, skin and bones. However, some
whole foods protect our bodies from mercury, cadmium and lead,
improving our ability to chelate and excrete them safely. Consult
with your health care provider before combining natural remedies
with prescription medications.
Chlorella
Chlorella is a green algae rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants
and chlorophyll. In a study published in "Nutrition Research and
Practice" by the Korean Ewha Womans University in 2009, researchers
investigated the detoxifying properties of chlorella in animals
given high doses of the heavy metal cadmium. Chlorella reduced the
amount of cadmium that became lodged into the cellular tissues of
the animals and increased the levels of cadmium that were detoxified
through the urine and feces. Chlorella when taken internally can
counteract the toxic and dangerous effects of heavy metals and aid
in their safe excretion from the body.
Cilantro
Cilantro is a culinary and medicinal herb more commonly known as
coriander. The leaves of the cilantro plant are rich in essential
oils with anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and detoxifying
properties. According to Kevin Gianni, author of "High Raw,"
cilantro leaves have significant chelating properties, binding to
heavy metals in the tissues and helping to carry them outside of the
body. Cilantro can be taken as an herbal extract, a tea or consumed
regularly in foods as a fresh green.
Pectin
Pectin is a form of soluble fiber that is found in many fruits,
including apples, pears and citrus. In a clinical trial published in
"Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine" in 2008, children
with high levels were given pectin supplements to test the
detoxification properties of the fiber. Children given pectin had
significantly lower levels of lead in the blood, and the excretion
of lead through the urine increased by up to 132 percent. Eating
pectin-rich fruits in the diet helps with digestion and liver
health, supporting proper detoxification by binding toxins and heavy
metals and carrying them out of the body.
Milk Thistle Seeds
Milk thistle seeds are used in Western herbal medicine as a
protective and toning plant for the liver. In a study published in
"The Journal of Biological Research" in 2000, researchers tested the
effects of both garlic and milk thistle seeds on animals poisoned
with high doses of mercury. In the animals treated with milk thistle
seeds, the liver organs were protected against some of the harmful
effects of the mercury. Taking milk thistle seeds as a supplement or
a herbal tea helps to prevent heavy metal toxicity and supports the
functional health of the liver.
Garlic
According to research published in "The Korean Journal of Medical
Science" in 1987, garlic aids in the detoxification of heavy metals.
Researchers from Korea University administered garlic to animals
poisoned with heavy metals such as mercury and cadmium. Garlic
protected organs from heavy metal toxicity with comparable efficacy
to standard prescription drugs and aided in the excretion of cadmium
through the feces and urine. Crushed garlic should be consumed
fresh, uncooked to preserve its medicinal actions, or it can be
taken as a dietary supplement.
