Heavy Metals 101

DISCLAIMER: All information is for education purposes only and is based on my research, training, and experience.. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or replace health professional advice. Always seek guidance of a medical professional for all health concerns.

With the recent information in the news about dangerous levels of toxic metals in baby food, people are becoming aware of this very real problem.  They are not just in baby food, but heavy metals can be in other foods like rice and cereals, drinking water, apple juice, cosmetics, paints, jewelry, dental fillings, fish, seafoods, older water pipes, and the list probably goes on and on.  It has gotten to the point that we can’t completely avoid them, but we can learn about them so we can minimize our exposure and take steps to move them out of our bodies, so they don’t accumulate and wreak havoc in our brain, organs, and other tissues.

Because toxic metals are so prevalent, I thought it would be good to take a little time to understand them.

WHAT ARE HEAVY METALS?

Remember back in high school science class you learned about the periodic table?  The elements with a higher density or atomic number were considered heavy metals.  (Source)  Mercury, lead, cadmium, copper, silver, tin, cobalt, and thallium are considered heavy metals.  All these metals occur naturally in our environment.  They’re in the air, the soil, rocks, plants, and water. 

As with amino acids, heavy metals are generally categorized as either being essential or non-essential.  The essential metals are involved in vital physiological functions that are essential to our well-being.  We need intake of these metals in trace amounts.  (Source)
The Main Essential metals are:

• Iron

• Zinc

• Copper

• Manganese

• Cobalt

Now for the non-essential metals.  These are metals we do not need for physiological functions.  Our industrial and technological age has ushered in increased presence of these in our environment.  Non-essential metals are in many chemical compounds used for a variety of purposes.  These are the bad guys!  (But even the essential heavy metals can become the bad guys too, if we are exposed or intake too much of them.  Everything is about balance.)

Some non-essential metals include:

• Cadmium

• Lead

• Arsenic

• Mercury

All forms of heavy metals can be found in two forms: organic and inorganic.  Essential metals that are organic are generally safe in trace amounts.  However, non-essential and inorganic metals are not.  Non-essential, inorganic metals are toxic even in teeny amounts.  That what makes them such a problem.  You know what they say.  When you know better, you can do better.

WHAT PROBLEMS DO TOXIC METALS CAUSE?

1 These toxic metals can accumulate in our bones. Cobalt in the bones is linked to osteopenia.  Source. 

2. Toxic metals hinder our metabolism.    They disrupt enzyme functions.

3. Toxic metals also are distributed to the various tissues and organs via the blood and through the digestive tract which can lead to dysfunction or stress in these areas.  (Kidneys, liver, brain, and gut.)

4. Toxic metals are linked to a variety of issues such as mood swings, anxiety, emotional instability, aggression.  Source.

5. Toxic metals can hinder the body’s detoxification pathways, making it difficult for you to get the bad guys out without proper cellular detox support.  

WHAT I WOULD DO?

1.      Keep learning and being open to new advances in handling these bad guys.

2.      Find someone who can test for toxic metal stress.  I think muscle testing and hair analysis are great options.

3.      Find someone who can support the body’s innate ability to remove these bad guys using products that naturally support the body’s detox pathways and bind safely to toxic metals to get them out of the body.

4.      Trust that we are fearfully and wonderfully made, and our bodies can do amazing things when given the tools they need to heal.

Blessings as you learn more about toxic metals and take on these bad guys!

Anita