I didn’t have to study chemistry to understand that metals are
naturally occurring elements that are present everywhere in the
environment. As part of the earth’s crust, metals infiltrate the air we
breathe, the food we eat and the water we drink. Some metals, such as
zinc, copper and selenium, are required by the body in very small or
“trace” amounts to maintain proper metabolism. However, not every metal
is compatible or have a place within the human body as they can cause
severe toxic effects.
According to the website: http://www.food-info.net:
“Heavy metals are dangerous because they tend to bio-accumulate.
Bioaccumulation means an increase in the concentration of a chemical in
a biological organism over time, compared to the chemical's
concentration in the environment.”
As an advocate of healthy living and natural medicine, I’ve always
made a concerted effort to maintain balance. I find that the more I
learn about natural healing, the more I came to understand what works
for me. I can tell right away when something I ate doesn’t agree with
me. My energy level tells me if something is slowing me down. Cleansing
and detoxing techniques have helped me clear out the “junk.”
When I learned about heavy metal toxicity, I began to look a little
deeper at the foods that I was eating, especially fish. Mercury is
linked to a number of illnesses such as neurological problems,
gastrointestinal problems, brain damage in children, Alzheimer's
disease and chronic fatigue. According to Lenntech, a Dutch water
treatment & air purification company, “Mercury is a toxic substance
which has no known function in human biochemistry or physiology and
does not occur naturally in living organisms.” Our fish are not happy
or healthy swimmers due to the amount of mercury in our oceans and
rivers. If you eat fish, it is best to know which kinds have less
potential of mercury contamination. The Blue Ocean Institute has published an excellent pocket guide that tells you what fish are most contaminated and which are the safest to eat.
Another widespread source of mercury in food is in high fructose corn
syrup (HFCS) which is refined with mercury grade caustic soda (lye).
Since corn syrup is in almost all processed food and beverages (sodas,
teas and juice drinks etc) this is a very dangerous and insidious
source of mercury contamination in our diet. A study featured in
January 2009’s issue of Environmental Health tested 55 different
processed foods/beverages bought at a supermarket with HFCS listed as
an ingredient and found that nearly one out of three of these products
had mercury above the detection level.
Mercury from silver amalgam fillings are another often
overlooked culprit for the kind of cellular damage that creates
imbalance within our bodies. As it turns out, it wasn’t just the fish
that I was eating that was problematic. I had a mouthful of amalgam
fillings that were slowly leaking a steady stream of toxic, unwanted
mercury into my body. I decided to take a crucial step towards my own
good health by having the mercury fillings removed in a safe and
holistic way. This one decision improved my health instantly as I felt
a clearing immediately following the procedure. I also realized from
consultation and evaluation from my doctor that the metal that was
trapped in my body still needed to be released.
Many people live with amalgam fillings their entire lives and don’t
even notice the effects of the mercury poisoning as these symptoms are
hidden and show up gradually over time. The symptoms manifest in the
very illnesses that I mentioned above, such as Alzheimer’s, brain
damage and chronic fatigue. So how do you detect mercury toxicity in
your body before it turns into something that may not be reversible and
how do you safely detoxify from the poisonous effects of this heavy
metal?
Mercury can show up in a live blood cell analysis. At HealthWalk, we use a scientific modality called Vital Hematology
that magnifies live blood cells up to 30,000 times. Our experienced
practitioner can identify metals, microorganisms, stress, nutritional
deficiencies and the overall condition of the blood.
Another effective diagnostic tool is HealthWalk’s Galvanic Skin Response, GSR biofeedback testing to indicate the stressors and the specific health condition of the body. GSR
uses biofeedback to scan your body to determine specific imbalances and
what the root causes are and then can be used to indicate the
appropriate remedies to rebuild and enhance your health. This is also a
great way to determine if mercury and other heavy metal are present in
your body.
When I underwent this evaluation during a bout with a minor
infection, all the indicators kept pointing to an overload of mercury
in my system. I knew right away that my fillings had to be replaced in
order for my organs to function and my cells to absorb nutrients
properly.
A natural complete metal detox may take up to several months. There is
a variety of oral supplementation regimes that can help to chelate the
toxins out of your body. Specific foods like cilantro are also known to
assist in this process. The best advice is to see a naturopathic
practitioner through a reputable healthcare organization such as HealthWalk to help you safely keep the heavy metal on the radio only.
HealthWalk is offering a free workshop and a healthy dinner at 6pm on Wednesday, March 25th on Anti-Aging, Detoxing and Revitalizing
at our clinic in Carlsbad. Please come as you will gain valuable
information, meet new friends and connect with supporting partners to
assist you through a custom detox program. You also will enjoy a
delicious dinner to boot!
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