Heavy metals have become a huge health concern in the modern era. Although they are a natural part of the environment, our exposure has greatly increased over the centuries, leading to a wide variety of health issues.
Heavy metals are naturally released into the environment through geological processes like weathering, erosion, and volcanic eruptions, but human activities, like mining, industrial processes, and “cloud seeding” have increased their concentration and distribution in the environment. Aside from the environment, heavy metals are found in the majority of our food, especially processed food, water, medications and vaccines.
Some heavy metals are essential for life in trace amounts, but in higher concentrations they can become extremely toxic. These metals pose significant risks to children because their bodies are still growing and developing. Even low levels of exposure can disrupt brain development, weaken immune systems, and cause other health issues. For instance, lead exposure has been linked to learning difficulties, while mercury can damage the nervous system.
Metal Toxicity Symptoms in Children
Developmental Delays: Delays in speech, language, and motor skills.
ADHD-like Behaviors: Hyperactivity, impulsivity, inattention, and aggression.
Cognitive Impairment: Learning difficulties, memory loss, and reduced IQ.
Sleep Issues: Insomnia or poor-quality sleep.
Mood Issues: Irritability, anxiety, and depression.
Sensory Issues: Sensitivity to light, sound, or touch.
Gastrointestinal Distress: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and constipation.
Weakness and Fatigue: General lack of energy or muscle weakness.
Neuropathy Issues: peripheral neuropathy and motor dysfunction, leading to walking abnormalities, like tippy-toe walking
Neurological/Physical Symptoms: Headaches, tremors, numbness/tingling in hands and feet, and poor coordination.
Skin Issues: Rashes, eczema, pale skin (anemia), and occasionally a garlic-like breath odor.
Teeth Grinding: teeth grinding (bruxism) can be an indicator of heavy metal toxicity, particularly mercury, lead, or cadmium.
Autism and Other Neurodevelopmental disorders: Research indicates a significant association between exposure to certain heavy metals (such as mercury, lead, arsenic, and cadmium) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Diagnosis
Diagnosing heavy metal toxicity in children typically requires a blood test from their pediatrician. Sometimes a urine test can be performed if it is considered low-level exposure.
A careful analysis of dietary, environmental, and occupational exposure is one of the most important tools in evaluating potential metal toxicity.
Other people opt out for the testing, and prefer to jump right into the protocol, especially if they have been experiencing metal toxicity symptoms. Whichever you decide to go with, make sure to do your own research so that you can make the best informed decision for you and your own health.
Metal Detox Protocol
Step 1: Reduce Exposure
Step one is to start minimizing your child’s exposure to heavy metals. Begin analyzing your child’s lifestyle and environment, so that you can narrow down potential sources.
Read Labels: Start reading labels of products that you put on your child’s hair and skin especially. Learn particular names for ingredients that contain potentially harmful metals and do not buy these products.
Food Sources: many different foods, especially processed foods, contain heavy metals. Even whole foods like rice contain arsenic and chia seeds can contain lead.
Home Repairs: Does your home have old pipes? Does your house have led paint? All of these become factors that need to be analyzed and if necessary, fixed and repaired.
Step 2: Open Detox Pathways
The first thing necessary to your child’s detox is to open up their detoxifying pathways. These are the body’s avenues for removing toxins, metals and parasites. The major detoxification pathways include the liver, kidneys, and gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Below are several ways to open up these pathways.
Nourishing The Liver: Incorporate foods that support liver health, such as leafy greens, cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, Brussels sprouts), garlic, and turmeric.
Promoting Sweat: physical activity can help stimulate sweat and facilitate toxin removal within the lymphatic system.
Enhancing Respiratory Health: Deep breathing exercises can improve lung function and oxygenation, which are important for detoxification.
Optimizing Gastrointestinal Function: A diet rich in fiber promotes regular bowel movements, which are essential for eliminating waste and toxins via bile and feces.
Supporting the Lymphatic System: The lymphatic system is a crucial part of the body’s waste disposal system. Exercise, such as walking, biking, or even jumping on a small trampoline can help stimulate lymphatic flow and promote detoxification.
STEP 3: Start Chelation
Now that you have opened your child’s detoxifying pathways for at least 2 weeks, it’s time to begin the chelation process.
Chelation is a treatment used to remove metals and other elements from the body. Natural chelation occurs when the body uses its own mechanisms to bind and remove heavy metals, while chemical chelation involves using specific chemical agents to achieve the same effect.
In nature we find many plants and substances that can offer chelation, and the two most well known, are Cilantro and Chlorella.
According to one study, heavy metal chelation using cilantro and chlorella can naturally remove an average of 87% of lead, 91% of mercury, and 74% of aluminum from the body within 45 days.
Cilantro contains compounds that can bind to heavy metals like mercury, lead, and aluminum. It has compounds like citric acid, phytic acid, and amphoteric electrolytes that have chelating properties, allowing them to bind to heavy metals and help remove them from the body. Cilantro also helps support the liver and kidneys, the body’s main detoxification organs.
Chlorella algae is another popular substance used for chelation. It has a unique cell wall that is thought to bind to heavy metals and toxins within the digestive tract, preventing their reabsorption and facilitating their elimination through feces. Due to this action, chlorella also plays a role as a binder.
In order to use these substances for a complete detox, they are best used when made into an extract using vegetable glycerin or vinegar. If you’re not familiar with this process, you can follow our step-by-step guide here.
If you’re looking for a product that already contains these ingredients as well as other chelating herbs, you can find our Children’s Metal Remover here.
The chelation process is best when used for at least 30-45 days. Have your child take the extract in the morning mixed into a beverage. After this, move on to maintaining a metal-free lifestyle.
Typically in children, a metal detox is only necessary once yearly, but in certain circumstances when the toxicity is severe, a several week break is recommended and then a second 30-day cleanse should be performed. You can also continue to supplement your child’s diet with herbs like cilantro or algae like chlorella.
Is a Binder Required?
Herbs like cilantro or algaes like chlorella are considered binders because they have the ability to bind and remove toxins and metals, so technically a separate binder doesn’t need to be used. However, many people choose to supplement with something such as Fulvic Humic Acid, which is not only a binder, but also a trace mineral supplement. This will help replace some of the minerals you will lose during the cleansing process.
Fulvic Humic Acid is also known for binding and removing microplastics as well Mycotoxins, the byproduct of toxic mold species, which can be detrimental to human health. In fact, this is one of the main supplements recommended for mold toxicity. If you want to learn more about fulvic humic acid, click here.
Step 4: Maintenance
After a metal detox has been performed, it’s best to continue a clean lifestyle. Avoid food and body products that could be contaminated with heavy metals. Continue to feed your child a nutritious diet and promote an active lifestyle. This will help your child’s natural detoxification pathways to stay open and functioning properly.
Parasite Cleansing?
Many parents that perform a metal detox on their children also perform a parasite cleanse, because typically they go hand in hand. Some protocols recommend starting with a metal cleanse as where others recommend starting with a parasite cleanse.
It is believed that parasites encase themselves in a biofilm, made of heavy metals, that must be destroyed first in order to reach the parasites. But many of these practitioners might not be aware that black walnut extract has actually proven to penetrate biofilm with ease. This means, using black walnut for a parasite cleanse, doubles as a biofilm destroyer. (Source)
The second reason, is to remove the heavy metals that the parasites are bioaccumulating. Many believe they are thriving within these metallic environments, and although this theory sounds great, it’s actually quite counterproductive.
See, when parasites die they release noxious gases and heavy metals back into the body. These toxins produce what is referred to as die off symptoms, which are uncomfortable symptoms such as nausea, indigestion, itching, etc. During this time, it is recommended to use a binder to bind up these toxins and remove them from the body.
Unfortunately, most binders aren’t as effective in removing heavy metals like something such as chlorella. This means there will be residual metals left in the body from what the parasites released and the binder didn’t bind.
If you performed a metal detox prior to this, it means you would then have to perform another one after the parasite cleanse, and this can be extremely hard on the systems of the body.
This is why here at HealthPrimitive, we prefer starting with the parasite cleanse and then moving to the metal detox once you are finished. This is the only way to ensure that all heavy metals have been removed from the body.
If Symptoms Persist
If you have already performed a metal detox and parasite cleanse and your child continues to suffer symptoms, Mold Toxicity should be investigated.
Mold toxicity from mycotoxins is typically a precursor to many different issues because they are extremely immune suppressive. They shut down the bodies, immune system and ability to detoxify itself properly. Above this they destroy gut health and can continue to deteriorate health in general if not addressed.
To learn more about mold toxicity, its symptoms and holistic treatments, continue reading here.
Safety Considerations
As always, it is recommended to do your own research so that you can make the best informed decision for your child’s health. If there are prior health concerns or medications involved, it’s best to speak to their pediatrician prior to beginning any detox protocols. The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only. View our disclaimer here.
Final Thought
At the end of the day, caring for our children means looking beyond quick fixes and asking deeper questions about what their growing bodies truly need. A holistic approach to reducing heavy metal exposure isn’t about fear—it’s about awareness, balance, and gentle, consistent support.
By focusing on nourishing whole foods, medicinal plants, clean environments, and natural pathways of detoxification, we empower our children’s bodies to do what they were designed to do: restore and thrive.
Stay Wild
