No matter where you live, environmental pollution is a persistent fact of life. We see it in the brown haze on the horizon, the black soot covering plowed snow, the multicolor sheen on waterways. But this is just some of the visible evidence—pollution lives a secret life as well. More and more, environmental toxins arepollutingour homes, food and water supplies…andbuilding upinsideyourbody.
One of the mostwidespreadandharmfulenvironmental toxins is thetoxicheavy metal mercury.Up to 8,000 metric tons of mercury are released into the environment each year, accumulating at levels that pose serious threats to environmental and public health.
Like so many other industrial toxins,the dangers ofmercuryarewidely known,and yet it’sstillwidelyused—in everything from householditems like florescentlightbulbsandthermometers, todental fillingsstill used today. But mercury is also a major industrial byproduct, mainlyfromcoal-fired power plants. Mercury-laden soot from thesedirty powerplantstravelsfar andquickyaccumulates upthe food chain. This process is called bioaccumulation and it makes the mercury even more toxic and dangerous, the higher up the food chain it accumulates.
Signsand Symptomsof Mercury Poisoning
Mercury poisoning is a serious condition. In addition to being adangerousneurotoxin thatseriouslydamagesthe central nervous system, the element alsoimpacts vital organslikethe heart, kidneys, liver, and others,while hindering the normal abilities ofthe immune systemto defend against viruses and other pathogens. Pregnant women and children are most at risk.
Symptoms of mercury poisoning include:
- headaches
- insomnia
- tingling in extremities
- problems with speech,hearing,vision,and balance
- cognitive impairment
- others
A study conducted in New Zealand found that people with high levels of mercury suffered fatigue, memory loss,depression,and hair loss. Needless to say, if you are experiencing any combination of these symptoms, see your doctor immediately. A variety of tests are available to help determine your mercury levels.
Even more importantly, thereareclinically proven strategiesto safely remove mercury from the bodyand restore optimal health.
AvoidingMercuryExposure
While there are many sources of mercury, the greatest danger comes from eating fish. Organisms in the water convert mercury into the even more toxic methylmercury. From there, the toxin creeps up the food chain, with much higher levels found in larger, predator fish like tuna,swordfish,and shark. European regulators have advised pregnant women not to eat more than 100 grams (3.5 ounces) of these types of fish each week. It’s probably not bad advice for the rest of us as well.
This doesn’t necessarily mean avoiding fish entirely. Smaller fish are not considered a significant source of mercury. One interesting study showed that cognition in infants had an inverse relationship with their mothers’ mercury levels. The lower the mercury levels, the better the cognition. The study also noted that women with low mercury levels who ate a lot of seafood hadbettercognitive-performing children. These mothers simply avoided large, mercury-dense fish.
There are other common sources of mercury as well. We getmercuryfrom smog-filledair, contaminated water, even from somecommoncosmetics.
Detoxfor Greater Health
While mercury is one of the worst, it’simportant to recognize that there are ahugenumber of other toxins present in our environment, including:
- pesticides like glyphosate and others
- radioactive particles
- other heavy metals like lead,arsenic,and cadmium
- estrogen-mimicking compounds from plastics and fertilizers
- mycotoxins from mold and fungi
- and much more…
There are a variety of conventional chelation methods that can be used under a doctor’s supervision to remove heavy metalsand other toxinsfrom the body. Some work better than others. One of the more common compounds is EDTA, a synthetic amino acid that’s used to treat lead poisoning. Another compound is DMSA, which is used to chelate lead,arsenic,and mercury.
While thesecan beeffective chelation methods, they arealso harsh on the body and cancause side effectslikeheadaches, low blood sugar, and even organ damage. A significant problem with all of these conventional chelation methods is that they remove essential minerals such as calcium and magnesium from the body, taking the good with the bad. Obviously, we need to be careful which detoxification agents we use, as the “cure” can sometimes be worse than the condition.
Natural, Clinically ProvenDetoxification
On the other hand, certain natural compounds, nutrients, botanicals and foods help remove mercury and other heavy metals from the body in a much gentler way. These natural solutions support the body’s innate detoxification systems,whilebinding to the heavy metalsand toxinsdirectlyfor safe elimination.
An important step is to support the body’s ability to make glutathione, a master antioxidant and detoxifier produced by the liver. Glutathione is one of the most important antioxidants for removing mercury. Alpha lipoic acid, vitamin C, selenium, N-Acetyl Cysteine, as well as liposomal glutathione supplements support glutathione production and help detoxify mercury from the body. Sulfur rich foods including whey protein and cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower,kale,and cabbage, also support glutathione production and detoxification in general.
Garlic, cilantro, and chlorella, a type of algae superfood, can also help to detoxify mercury and heavy metals from the body. Garlic binds to mercury and helps to pull it from soft tissues such as the digestive tract. Cilantro is a powerful herb to help remove mercury and heavy metals, and its active compounds may cross the blood brain barrier to help remove mercury from the brain and central nervous system. Chlorella is a milder detoxification agent that also helps to pull mercury from soft tissues and support the body’s natural detoxification systems.
One of my top recommendations for advanced, safe chelation and detoxification isa clinically proven blend ofModified Citrus Pectin (MCP)and alginatesfrom seaweed. This toxic metal cleanse formula isclinically proven to remove heavy metals such as lead,mercury,and arsenic from the body without affecting essential minerals. MCP is a special form of citrus pectin that has been modified to a smaller size molecule, which allows it to absorb into the circulation, bind to heavy metals and toxins, and gently remove them.Alginates from seaweed which are another excellent detoxifier. In my clinical experience, MCP and alginates are a powerful yet gentle combination for removing toxic metals frombodyandpreventingthe reabsorption of toxins—a big problem in many other detox programs.
Musical Chairs:The Problem ofToxinReabsorption
One of the common pitfalls ofcertaindetoxprotocols,is that heavy metals can be taken from one organ, only to be re-absorbed by another part of the body. During heavy metal detox, it’s critical to avoid this game of musical chairs. Once the metals are grabbed by the right detoxification agents, they need to be flushed from the body completely before they re-deposit somewhere else.
That’s why I recommend starting withthe MCP/alginates formulafor2-4 weeks.This works to cleanse the circulation and digestive tract and prevents anytoxins from reabsorbing. Importantly, it alsopreparesthe body for moredeeper, morethorough cleanse usingotherdetox ingredientsthat increase glutathione production and help the body release toxins from fat cells,tissues,and organs.
For this deeper second phase, I recommendintensive detox support with atotal-bodydetoxformulathatincorporates many of the glutathione-enhancingingredients mentioned above, together withother powerfuldetox herbs such as dandelion and milk thistle.
Even though mercury pollution is becoming more prevalent, we can limit the toxic effects. Watch what we eat, choose natural products, avoid heavily polluted areas if possible, and detoxify using gentle, health-promoting detox supplements on an ongoing basis. Remember, it took time to accumulate heavy metals and toxins, so it takes time to clear them from the body.But withthe rates of exposure rising, keeping mercury out of our system may be one of the most important ways todefend yourlong-termhealth and vitality.
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Eliaz I, Weil E, Wilk B. Integrative medicine and the role of modified citrus pectin/alginates in heavy metal chelation and detoxification–five case reports. Forsch Komplementmed. 2007; 358-64.
Oken E, Wright RO, Kleinman KP, Bellinger D, Amarasiriwardena CJ, Hu H, Rich-Edwards JW, Gillman MW. Maternal fish consumption, hair mercury, and infant cognition in a U.S. Cohort. Environ Health Perspect. 2005;1376-80.
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