Heavy metal poisoning is the accumulation of various heavy metals in
your body. Environmental and industrial factors expose you to high
levels of heavy metal every day, including the foods you eat and air
you breathe.
Some of these metals such as zinc, copper, and iron are good for you
in small amounts. But overexposure can lead to heavy metal
poisoning, such as what occurs in Wilson’s disease, which can be
fatal.
These toxins are removed by medications given intravenously under
medical supervision. These medications bind to the metals, a process
called chelation. In addition to chelation, you might consider a
natural complementary therapy such as a “heavy metal detox.” This
dietary option incorporates foods that electrically attract metal to
help move it out of your body.
Chelation And Heavy Metal Detoxification
Symptoms of heavy metal poisoning
Long-term exposure to metals can be toxic, causing harmful side
effects that range from headaches to organ damage. It’s important
that you seek medical treatment if you have heavy metal toxicity.
Symptoms of heavy metal toxicity vary depending on the type of metal
you are overexposed to. Mercury, lead, arsenic and cadmium are some
of the more common overexposed metals.
Acute symptoms associated with these metals include:
In more severe cases of chronic heavy metal poisoning, you may
experience symptoms including:
burning and tingling sensations
chronic infections
brain fog
visual disturbances
insomnia
paralysis
Good and bad foods for heavy metal exposure
Many people get a buildup of heavy metals in their system because of
the foods they eat. Some research suggests you can prevent
overexposure to these toxins by avoiding certain foods and eating
others known for taking heavy metals out of the system.
Removing Heavy Metals
Foods to eat
Some foods can help you detoxify by getting rid of heavy metals from
your body. These foods bind to the metals and remove them in the
digestive process. Eating foods high in vitamins and minerals can
have protective effects for those exposed to heavy metals.
Heavy metal detox foods to eat include:
Cilantro
garlic
wild blueberries
lemon water
spirulina
chlorella
barley grass juice powder
Atlantic dulse
curry
green tea
tomatoes
probiotics
Also, if you aren’t getting the recommended daily intake of
vitamins, consider taking supplements. Vitamin B, B-6, and C
deficiencies are associated with poor tolerance of heavy metals and
easier toxicity. Vitamin C has been reported to have chelating
effects on iron. In one animal study, B-1 supplements were shown to
decrease iron levels.
Foods to avoid
An effective heavy metal detox includes more than incorporating
healthy fruits and vegetables. To minimize the effects of heavy
metal poisoning or prevent it altogether, you need to eliminate bad
foods from your diet.
This is especially true for processed foods and excess fats. These
foods have minimal nutritional value and slow down the detox
process. This is because fats tend to soak up the harmful substances
you want to remove.
Some foods to limit or avoid in your heavy metal detox diet include:
rice (brown rice, specifically) because it often contains arsenic
farmed fish
alcohol
non-organic foods
Outlook for this condition
Heavy metal poisoning can trigger a number of harmful side effects.
If left untreated, it can be life-threatening. Follow through with
any recommended medical treatment. Talk to your health care provider
about how dietary changes can help to protect you from heavy metal
overexposure.
It takes time to detox and safely remove metal toxicity from your
body, but it’s possible. Prior to participating in the heavy metal
detox diet, consult with your doctor or dietician to discuss your
options.
