Environmental Toxins

Exposure to dangerous metals is unfortunately a part of life and has been since the dawn of existence.

Heavy metals are a natural part of the environment and are present in the Earth’s crust, rocks, and soil. They can be 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.

Some heavy metals are essential for life in trace amounts, but they can become toxic at higher concentrations.

How do we accumulate metals in the body

Food: Plants and mushrooms can accumulate heavy metals from contaminated soil or water, entering the food chain when consumed by humans or animals. Popular foods such as rice, contains arsenic and dark chocolate contains lead. Most fish even contain low levels of mercury.

Drinking Water: Contaminated water sources, particularly from industrial waste or old plumbing systems containing lead, can lead to heavy metal ingestion. There is also a debate whether most public water systems contain trace amounts of heavy metals.

Accidental Ingestion: Young children are particularly susceptible to ingesting lead-contaminated paint chips, dust, or soil.

Occupational Exposure: Workers in industries like mining, smelting, and manufacturing can inhale heavy metals in dust, fumes, or aerosols.

Air Pollution: Exposure to heavy metals can increase by living near industrial sites or high-traffic areas through contaminated air.

Environmental: metals like aluminum, magnesium, and strontium are included in pyrotechnic compositions used for cloud seeding (which is sprayed in the air).

Cigarette Smoke: Cadmium and other heavy metals are present in cigarette smoke.

Contaminated Soil or Water: Absorption of heavy metals through the skin can occur through direct contact with contaminated soil or water, particularly in occupational settings or during recreational activities.

Dental fillings: exposure to mercury via dental amalgam fillings poses health risks. Removing and replacing existing dental fillings with mercury-free composite material should be considered.

Certain Products: many cosmetics (which are not regulated), body products, paints, and other household products may contain heavy metals that can be absorbed through the skin.

Vaccines: although there is debate as to whether these levels are potentially harmful, many vaccines contain heavy metals such as mercury and aluminum.

Unfortunately we, as modern humans, are surrounded by high concentrations of potentially harmful metals throughout our daily lives. There is no real way to escape them.

The only option we have is to minimize our exposure the best we can, and periodically cleanse our bodies of these potentially harmful metals.

Signs of metal toxicity

• Chronic fatigue

• Autoimmune diseases, including

• Lyme disease

• Poor recovery from exercise and weakness

• Skin irritation

• Neurological disorders

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

• Depression, manic depression and/or anxiety

• Dementia

• Insomnia

• Digestive issues, such as irritable bowel syndrome

• Chronic aches and pains

• Weakness

• Tingling in the hands and feet

• Fingernail or toenail discoloration (Mee’s lines; usually appearing as white stripes running horizontally across the nails)

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Abdominal pain

Symptoms can vary as every person’s body and physiology is different, especially their immune function.

Normally, the human body is designed to detoxify itself even of metals, but considering the high amounts that we are exposed to today, it is only natural that the body may need our assistance.

Diagnosis

Diagnosing metal toxicities can be difficult; the symptoms and consequences of many, especially chronic toxicities, are non-specific and may resemble other diseases.

A careful analysis of dietary, environmental, and occupational exposure is one of the most important tools in evaluating a potential metal toxicity.

Metal testing panel help rule out or confirm a diagnosis of metal toxicity and is usually performed in several ways: a blood or urine test, or hair analysis. We recommend you using this at home urine analysis that you can find here. Otherwise a blood test can be requested from your physician.

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 general exposure

To begin your detox, you first must start minimizing your exposure to metals. Start analyzing your lifestyle and the products you use.

Read Labels: Start reading labels of products that you put on your hair and skin especially. Learn particular names for ingredients that contain potentially harmful metals and do not buy these products.

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.

Job Related: Career related exposure is unfortunate. Most people are not willing to leave their job unless they become deathly ill. If you work a job that exposes you to high amounts of dangerous heavy metals, you need to detoxify your body more frequently than the average person. Other options would be to try to find a new career path.

Step 2: Open drainage pathways

The first thing necessary to your detox is to open up your 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 Your Liver: Incorporate foods that support liver health, such as leafy greens, cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, Brussels sprouts), garlic, and turmeric.

Promoting Sweat: Regular exercise, saunas, or hot baths 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 rebounding, can help stimulate lymphatic flow and promote detoxification.

It is recommended to practice several of these methods for at least 30 days prior to beginning our Heavy Metal Detox.

If you have purchased our Parasite Detox Combo, it is recommended to start with our Black Walnut Blend, prior to starting your metal detox. You can find the proper protocol here.

STEP 3: Start Chelation

Now that you have opened your detoxifying pathways for thirty days, it’s time to begin our Heavy Metal Detox Elixir, an elixir made for chelation.

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.

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.

According to various studies, 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.

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.

Chlorella is rich in antioxidants, such as chlorophyll, beta-carotene, and lutein, which can help neutralize free radicals and reduce oxidative stress associated with heavy metal exposure. It also contains nutrients that can support the liver, again, a vital organ for the detoxification processes.

Our Heavy Metal Detox contains both of these natural ingredients, as well as other detoxifying herbs such as milk thistle seed, dandelion root and turmeric, for a powerful total detox.

Suggested Use

Take 1-3 ml mixing in a beverage of your choice up to 3 times a day for 30-45 days.

We recommend starting slow and working your way up. Some people don’t require as high of a dose as others, so it’s important to listen to your body.

Foods to consume during detoxing

Foods rich in Vitamin C: Fruits and vegetables like citrus fruits, berries, bell peppers, and broccoli can help reduce damage from heavy metal toxicity by acting as antioxidants.

Cruciferous Vegetables: Broccoli, cauliflower, kale, and other cruciferous vegetables support liver detoxification.

Beets: Support liver health and detoxification.

Water: Drinking plenty of water is essential for flushing out toxins.

Bone Broth: Helps with hydration, provides minerals, and supports liver health with glutathione.

Green Tea: Contains antioxidants that support liver health

Foods to avoid

Chocolate, tea, and coffee: may contain cadmium and lead

Rice: particularly brown rice (contains arsenic)

Certain leafy greens and root vegetables: may accumulate cadmium and lead

Herbs and spices: some brands may have higher levels of heavy metals

Certian fish: high in mercury

Developing healthy eating habits can improve your overall health and wellness in general. Diet plays a crucial role in the body’s ability to detoxify itself.

Replacing & Binding

Heavy metals can be stored in various tissues and organs throughout the body. During detoxification, when these metals are mobilized and released into the bloodstream and bile, they can be reabsorbed back into the body if not properly captured and eliminated.

Binders work by binding to these heavy metals in the digestive tract and preventing their reabsorption, ensuring they are excreted from the body through stool. They act like “molecular magnets” or “sponges” that attract and hold onto heavy metals, facilitating their removal from the body. By binding to heavy metals, binders enhance the body’s natural detoxification processes, such as bile and fecal excretion.

Using a binder will help to reduce the overall toxic burden on the body by removing metals that may be circulating or stored in tissues. This reduction in toxic load allows the body to focus on healing and repair, improving overall health and well-being. Certain binders are capable of binding to a wide range of heavy metals and other toxins, making them valuable for a comprehensive detoxification strategy.

Although there are many amazing binders available for detoxification, most only target the digestive tract. Because heavy metals work systemically in the body, meaning they affect all systems and all organs, we need a binder that is comparable in this action. In this case, Fulvic Humic Acid is our top recommendation.

Humic and fulvic acid, are often used as soil additives to increase nutrients and bind to toxins in the soil. They are superior when it comes to binding toxins and work systemically in the body, with the ability to cross the blood brain barrier. Unlike other binders, fulvic acid does not inhibit nutrient absorption but actually increases bioavailability. Our Fulvic+Humic Acid provides nutrients and contains 72 plus trace minerals that are essential to human health.

Since many toxic metals mimic nutritionally essential metals, they compete for the same transport mechanisms for absorption from the intestines and uptake into cells. For example, nutritional zinc or iron deficiency can increase cadmium absorption, and lead absorption from the gut appears to be blocked by calcium, iron, and zinc. Therefore, adequate intake of essential trace minerals like can reduce toxic metal uptake.

Gut Health

It is extremely important that during your cleanse, you maintain a healthy gut flora. A healthy gut microbiota is vital to detoxification and immune support.

One way to help improve gut health is by incorporating foods that are naturally prebiotic and probiotic. Foods like yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, and kombucha, naturally contain probiotics, while foods like bananas, onions, garlic, are rich in prebiotics. These foods can help support a diverse and healthy gut microbiome.

Above this, fermented foods high in probiotics may actually help remove heavy metals from the system.

Among their myriad functions, certain strains of probiotic bacteria may minimize toxin exposure by trapping and metabolizing xenobiotics or heavy metals. The probiotic bacterial strains Lactobacillus rhamnosus (LC-705 and GG), Lactobacillus plantarum and Bifidobacterium breve, were all shown to bind both cadmium and lead in laboratory studies.

Its good to incorporate naturally fermented foods into your diet, which will not only assist in detoxification, they will help improve your overall health and wellness.

Alternatively, you can start taking a good quality probiotic and prebiotic supplement. Ora brand Trust Your Gut, contains 16 billion CFU of clinically-studied probiotic strains and organic prebiotics. You can view their product here.

Diatomaceous earth

Fod grade diatomaceous earth can be used as a complementary therapy during your chelation.

Diatomaceous earth is a naturally occurring, sedimentary rock composed of the fossilized remains of tiny, hard-shelled aquatic organisms called diatoms. These microscopic organisms have silica skeletons, and their fossilized remains accumulate over millions of years to form deposits. Diatomaceous earth is a fine, chalky powder that is high in silica and other minerals which is often used as a binder and antiparasitic.

The silica in DE can bind to heavy metals like aluminum and help the body eliminate them through sweat, urine, and feces. DE can also help with gut health by gently exfoliating the intestines and removing negative particles. One to two tablespoons daily, mixed in a liquid or food, can assist in your metal detoxification. Although it is tasteless, diatomaceous earth doesn’t settle very well in liquid so I usually recommend to my clients to mix it in some yogurt or applesauce.

If you decide to use diatomaceous earth during your cleanse, make sure you purchase food grade, otherwise it may contain higher levels of crystalline silica and contaminants.

Finished Chelation Therapy

Now that you have finished your 30-45 days of chelation, in conjunction with a fulvic acid binder and a healthy diet, you are now done with your cleanse.

Here at HealthPrimitive, we recommend detoxifying from heavy metals every 6-12 months, as a maintenance program. This will help prevent metal toxicity and future overiraccumulation of metals in your system.

It’s important to remember that heavy metal toxicity can damage systems and organs of the body. Removing these metals from the system can help eliminate the root cause, but will not fix the health issues that are a result. These issues, unfortunately, will have to be addressed separately, once the metals are removed.

Seong people who feel they have an overaccumulation of metals in the body, prefer to do another cleanse shortly after the first. It is optional to repeat this cleanse 2-3 months after the first if you feel you have been exposed to high amounts of heavy metals.

Final Thought

Incorporating regular detoxing into your routine can significantly enhance your overall health, boost your vitality, and foster a deeper connection with your body. It’s not just about removing toxins, metals and parasites, but about creating a sustainable foundation for healthier habits and a more balanced life.

Take the time to listen to your body’s needs, and remember that every small step toward detoxification is a meaningful move toward lasting wellness. Your journey to a cleaner, more energized life starts with that first mindful choice.

Stay Wild

Kayce Heister

Kayce is an Author, Clinical Herbalist, Naturopathic Practitioner (HHP), Active Forager, Wild Food Chef and Mother of three. She has spent the last 20 years practicing herbalism and natural health, and spends most of her time educating others on the amazing potential the natural world can offer.

Sources Below

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560920/

https://kaplanclinic.com/condition/heavy-metal-toxicity/

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10095087/

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3654245/

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048969723073400