Heavy Metals and Detoxifying Foods

Did you know heavy metal toxicity can impact your gut health?

• Many health conditions and symptoms are directly related to our gut health.

• Our environmental toxins such as heavy metals

• we are exposed to daily can be the missing puzzle piece in our road in improving our overall physical and mental health.

What is a heavy metal?

• Mercury

• Lead

• Arsenic

• Cadmium

• Aluminum

• Nickel

• Uranium

• Thallium

• And sometimes manganese, iron, lithium, zinc and calcium. Yes, even minerals we need at high levels can be problematic for some.

Symptoms and signs of heavy metal exposure/poison can be:

• Chronic fatigue

• Neurological disorders

• Dementia

• Brain-fog, trouble concentrating, difficulty learning and poor memory

• Depression,Manic Depression or anxiety

• Insomnia

• Digestive problems

  • (bloating,

  • change in bowel habits,

  • Vomiting

  • Nausea

  • Diarrhea

  • abdominal pain

  • IBS

• Hormonal issues

  • Missed cycles or, irregular cycles,

  • Hormonal imbalance

• Autoimmune disease

• Chronic aches and pains, such as those associated with fibromyalgia

• Impaired motor control, hearing, speech, vision and gait

• shortness of breath (slow recovery from exercise)

• Auto-immune Disease ( including Lyme’s disease)

• tingling in your hands and feet

• chills

• Tremors

• Higher risk for heart attacks

• Anemia

Why are heavy metals and gut health a big deal?

Our gut is made to digest and absorb the foods we eat and NOT heavy metals and other toxins. They irritate the gut lining and cause inflammation. All of that inflammation and irritation may cause “leaky” gut!

What is leaky gut?

Think of your gut lining like a cheese cloth. When the cheese cloth gets irritated the holes become bigger and now all the particles you didn’t want to go through that cloth have made their way to “the other side”. Meaning, your your intestinal walls start to loosen up larger substances, such as bacteria, toxins, and undigested food particles pass across the intestinal walls into your bloodstream.

So heavy metals are in our blood and ruining our gut health...Does it really matter?

UMMMM- YES!

Inflammation, immune health, brain health, hormone imbalance and much more.

What can you do to stop heavy Metal exposure?

(Find out where it is coming from and stop using it!)

• Exposure of metals can be in our drinking water

• Our food ( and this is one reason to buy organic)

• Over consuming large fish contain large amounts of mercury (tuna, swordfish,shark, king mackerel, etc)

• Exposure or use of household substances (adhesives, air filters, fabric softeners, floor waxes and polishes, and talcum powder)

• Having metal amalgam dental fillings (mercury)

• Food additives

• Medicines

• Coated food containers

• Deodorant, baking powder, some baby formulas, plastic toys, antacids, aluminum foil, some metal pots and pans, stainless steel cutlery, coins, and cosmetic products

• tattoos

• Cookware (release metals during cooking,storing & heating).

• Lead and other metals can be found in (some chocolates, canned foods, toothpastes, old paints, insecticides, ceramic and some pottery and vintage dishes including lead

• glass).

What is detox ?

Think of your liver as a garbage can. Our goal is to empty that garbage can faster than we fill it. We do this by removing toxic substances when we sweat, breath and go to the bathroom. If we too many toxins/metals in our garbage can it will overflow our body becomes a human garbage dump!

Detoxing should be a part of daily living!

** BUT iIf metal exposure is high, a trusted health practitioner can help with proper “detoxing”. This isn’t isn’t something to do on your own.**

Detoxing should be a part of daily living!

1. Limit or eliminate heavy metal exposures in your daily life.

2. Eat foods that can “bind’ with metal and remove it for our bodies.

Leafy green veggies!— They are somef the most powerful heavy metal detox foods.

Herbs and spices —Cilantro, basil, parsley, oregano, rosemary, thyme, ginger, turmeric, cinnamon

FYI _ Cilantro is one of the most powerful of herbs for detoxifying! Eating daily and add to salads, smoothies, casseroles, etc.

Fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin C (antioxidant support to help with daily detox)

Garlic and onions, cabbage, broccoli cauliflower (sulfur containing foods helps your liver detoxify itself of heavy metals like lead and arsenic.

Water- Just as water can be a source, clean water have help rid the body of toxins.

Flax and chia seeds – OMEGA 3 fats and fiber that can help with detoxification of the colon and reduce inflammation.

Fiber rich foods both soluble and insoluble

Bottom line

Eat lots of fruits and vegetable and fiber rich foods to make detoxing our bodies a part of daily living!

Try my Cilantro salad! It is an amazing source of