Everyone everywhere is exposed in some way to heavy metals.
From the air we breathe and the foods we eat, we all have at least trace amounts in our body.
And everybody can benefit from a heavy metal detox to remove these accumulated heavy metals - giving you more energy, better immunity and gut health and enhanced mental performance.
A heavy metal detox will benefit your brain and nervous system, along with your heart, kidneys, liver, lymphatic system and respiratory system.
And your skin will become noticeably clearer and smoother too!
Below we show you how to successfully detox by prioritizing certain foods, while avoiding others. And adding herbs and supplements to your diet to naturally remove the toxic metals from your body.
Photo by Christina Rumpf on Unsplash
There are so many aggressors in the modern world – from blue light damage to pollution to the metals present in our deodorants and sunscreens.
What is Heavy Metal Toxicity?
Without you realising it today’s industrialised environment can expose you to high levels of heavy metals every day - including from the foods you eat and air you breathe.
Some of these metals - like zinc, copper and iron - can be good for you in small amounts. But overexposure can lead to heavy metal toxicity.
While heavy metal toxicity is quite common, it’s not routinely diagnosed. Staying well hidden in our bodies, not easy to spot unless you’re actively looking for it.
Symptoms of Heavy Metal Toxicity
Symptoms of heavy metal toxicity vary depending on your exposure – and the type of metal you’re overexposed to.
Long-term exposure to metals can cause side effects that range from headaches and insomnia to more serious conditions like chronic infections and organ damage.
The most common warning signs of heavy metal toxicity include:
- Headaches
- Skin irritation
- Poor recovery after exercise
- Brain fog
- Insomnia
- Abdominal pain and cramping
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Fatigue
But in cases of chronic heavy metal poisoning you can experience more severe symptoms:
- Vomiting
- Difficulty breathing
- Burning and tingling sensations
- Chronic infections
- Visual disturbances
- Paralysis
It’s important that you seek medical treatment if you are experiencing any of the more serious symptoms.
How does heavy metal toxicity happen?
Everyone everywhere in the world is exposed in some way to heavy metals and has at least trace amounts in his or her body. Because we come into contact with heavy metals in so many different ways.
Some of the factors that can cause types of heavy metal toxicity include:
- Environmental pollution - exposure to traffic fumes, air pollution, food contaminants and cigarette smoke.
- Amalgam dental fillings - silver fillings can slowly release mercury into your body.
- Poor-quality diet - A diet that includes a lot of processed foods and food that is not organically grown, including foods grown in soil that contains high levels of metals.
- Fish containing high levels of metal - For example, farm-raised fish that carry health-hazardous heavy metals - such as swordfish, shark, and bigeye tuna.
- Contaminated drinking water – that contains trace amounts of metals, such as aluminum.
-
Certain household products - Exposure to certain products that can contain mercury, such as adhesives, air condition filters, some cosmetics, fabric softeners, floor waxes and polishes, and talcum powder.
As well as those that could contain lead - like canned foods, toothpastes, old paints, insecticides and soldered pipes.
Along with heavy metals in some baking powders, certain baby formulas, plastic toys, antacids, aluminum foil, some metal pans, stainless steel cutlery and coins.
- Some cosmetics and toiletries – certain products such as antiperspirants and deodorants, sunscreen, and some makeup.
How do you cleanse your body of heavy metals?
You can successfully detox by prioritizing certain foods, while avoiding others. And adding herbs and supplements to your diet to naturally remove the toxic metals from your body.
Avoid certain foods - start by preventing overexposure to heavy metal toxins by avoiding certain foods.
Prioritize other foods known for taking heavy metals out of your system - research has shown that there are foods that can electrically attract metal and help move it out of your body.
Along with changes to your diet you should:
Take supplements - which help to break down metals into smaller molecules so they can be naturally removed from your body.
Benefits of a Heavy Metal Detox
If you think you have had excessive exposure to metals, you should speak with your doctor and seek medical testing for metal poisoning.
Heavy metal testing in the form of hair analysis or a blood test is widely available and can quickly confirm any toxicity.
But even if you choose not to be tested, a heavy metal detox following the diet and lifestyle changes below will be beneficial for your entire body.
The primary goal is to remove accumulated heavy metals. In this way your brain and nervous system, along with your heart, kidneys, liver, lymphatic system and respiratory system will all benefit from detoxification.
And your skin will become noticeably clearer and smoother.
Benefits of doing a heavy metal detox:
- Improved skin health
- Reduced free radical damage
- Higher levels of energy
- Enhanced immunity and gut health
- Better digestive function
Along with improvements in mental performance – more focused attention, better memory, improved learning ability.
ACTION PLAN: How to Successfully Detox
Some foods can help detoxification by actually binding to the metals and removing them in the digestive process.
And eating foods that are high in vitamins and minerals have a protective effect if you’re exposed to heavy metals in the future.
Foods to eat while doing a heavy metal detox
Try to stick to organically-grown produce that haven’t been exposed to insecticides if you can.
- DARK LEAFY GREEN VEGETABLES – think bitter-tasting greens like kale, broccoli, swiss chard, spinach, arugula and beet greens. These are some of the most potent detoxifying foods as well as providing antioxidants and reducing inflammation. Try to eat at least one type once a day.
- HERBS AND SPICES - Cilantro is one of the best herbs for detoxifying and reducing heavy metals like mercury and lead in the body. Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant herbs and spices like basil, parsley, oregano, rosemary, thyme, ginger, turmeric, cinnamon and cilantro can also help remove heavy metals. Try adding herbs like cilantro and parsley to green juices.
- GARLIC AND ONIONS
- FLAX AND CHIA SEEDS – These are a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids and fiber which reduce inflammation and detoxify the colon.
- Food rich in VITAMIN C - Fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin C can reduce the damage caused by heavy metal toxicity by acting as an antioxidant. High-vitamin C foods include blueberries, citrus fruits like oranges or grapefruit, leafy greens like spinach and kale, broccoli, kiwi, papaya, guava and bell pepper.
Stay well hydrated
While you’re detoxing it’s important to drink plenty of liquid. It’s important all the time of course but especially when you’re flushing out toxins from your body.
- Water – Drink 8 ounces of water, lemon water or vegetable juice every two hours to stay hydrated and help flush out toxins.
Supplements to help you detox
Taking these supplements help overcome heavy metal poisoning and aid the detoxification process.
And the thing we love about these vitamins and minerals is that they address so many other concerns at the same time.
- CHORELLA – a type of green algae that is a source of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. It also binds any heavy metals in our body – from deodorants, from sunscreens – and gets rid of them.
- SPIRULINA - a blue/green algae with high levels of protein, vitamins and minerals. Super antioxidant, spirulina also builds collagen and is anti-inflammatory.
- VITAMIN C - an antioxidant that helps reduce free radicals and has a chelating effect on iron.
- PROBIOTICS - help to improve gut health, boost immunity and detoxification.
Always talk to your doctor before trying a new supplement to make sure it won’t interfere with any medication you’re taking.
Foods to avoid while detoxing (and afterwards)
To help prevent and minimize the effects of heavy metal poisoning you need to eliminate some foods from your diet – especially processed foods with excess fats. These can slow down the detox process by soaking up the harmful substances you want to remove.
Some foods to limit or avoid in your heavy metal detox diet include:
- Rice (especially brown rice) because it often contains arsenic. Rice is the single biggest food source of inorganic arsenic, which is the more toxic form.
- Farmed fish – Farmed fish can contain heavy metals which are highly toxic – especially larger and long-living fish. You can still eat fish - just make choices that are low in mercury. Or better yet, purchase wild-caught fish.
- Non-organically grown foods
- Processed foods with additives
- Alcohol – Too much alcohol is toxic to the body and can make it more difficult for your liver to process other toxins.
Side Effects of a Heavy Metal Detox…
When you start any detoxification process your body can take a short time to acclimatise. During this time it’s normal to experience some mild side effects.
So you might actually feel a little bit worse before you start seeing improvements in your health and feeling better. But this will only last for a short time as your body heals itself and will leave you healthier.
So what can you expect?
Potential symptoms you might feel for a short time when you start cleansing:
- Bloating
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Changes in appetite
- Low energy
- A metallic taste in your mouth
And how to deal with any side effects
It’s always best to detox slowly and gradually.
To ease symptoms, stay hydrated, get plenty of sleep, and eat a healthy, nutritious diet with moderate exercise until you gain more energy.
Try to stick with the detox plan and be patient — it will be worth it!
When to seek medical advice
If you have concerns about your heavy metal levels, it’s a good idea to see a doctor who can help diagnose you and offer treatment.
The most common way that toxins can be removed is through chelation. Chelation therapy is a medical procedure and it’s recommended to be performed by a doctor since serious side effects are possible. It involves administering chelating agents which bind to the molecules and allow them to be dissolved.
More to read:
- "Phytonutrients: Eat the Rainbow for Healthy Skin"
- "Gut Health and Your Skin: What's the Connection?"
- "Can Intermittent Fasting Make You Look Younger?"
FAQ’s
What are the symptoms of heavy metal toxicity?
Symptoms vary depending on the type of metal you’re overexposed to – and the amount of exposure.
Mild side effects include headaches, skin irritation, poor recovery after exercise, brain fog, insomnia, cramping, nausea and general fatigue.
More serious symptoms can show up as chronic infections, vomiting, difficulty breathing, visual disturbances, paralysis and organ damage.
It’s vital that you seek medical treatment if you are experiencing any of the more serious symptoms of heavy metal toxicity.
Why should I do a heavy metal detox?
A heavy metal detox following key diet and lifestyle changes is beneficial for your entire body.
The primary goal is to remove accumulated heavy metals. This will give you:
- Improved skin health
- Reduced free radical damage
- Higher levels of energy
- Enhanced immunity and gut health
- Better digestive function
Along with improvements in mental performance – more focused attention, better memory, improved learning ability.
Are there any side effects on a heavy metal detox?
When you start any detoxification process your body can take a short time to acclimatise. During this time it’s normal to experience some mild side effects.
You may experience bloating, nausea, changes in appetite, low energy and a metallic taste in your mouth.
But this will only last for a short time as your body heals itself and will leave you healthier.
The Takeaway
Today’s industrialised environment can expose us to high levels of heavy metals every day.
And because we come into contact with heavy metals in so many different ways - including from the foods we eat and the air we breathe - every person everywhere in the world has at least trace amounts in their body.
So we can all benefit from a heavy metal detox to remove accumulated heavy metals from the body. This will benefit your brain and nervous system, along with your heart, kidneys, liver, lymphatic system and respiratory system.
And your skin will become noticeably clearer and smoother!
As well as giving you more energy, better immunity and gut health and enhanced mental performance.
The heavy metal detox plan above prioritizes certain foods, herbs and supplements to naturally remove toxic metals from your body.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not contain medical advice.
As always, please contact your physician or qualified healthcare provider with any questions regarding a medical condition.
References
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Rafati-Rahimzadeh M, Rafati-Rahimzadeh M, Kazemi S, Moghadamnia AA. Current approaches of the management of mercury poisoning: need of the hour. Daru. 2014 Jun 2;22(1):46. doi: 10.1186/2008-2231-22-46. PMID: 24888360; PMCID: PMC4055906.
Karkos PD, Leong SC, Karkos CD, Sivaji N, Assimakopoulos DA. Spirulina in clinical practice: evidence-based human applications. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2011;2011:531053. doi: 10.1093/ecam/nen058. Epub 2010 Oct 19. PMID: 18955364; PMCID: PMC3136577.
