Why would I ever need to do a heavy metal detox? Where in the world would I pick up heavy metals?
Sadly, today our world is very toxic. We can pick up heavy metals in the foods we eat (think tuna and even corn syrup has been shown to contain them), water, air, dirt, immunizations just to name a few. They are really hard to escape.
What are heavy metals and why are they not necessarily good for our health?
Heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, mercury, and arsenic (to name just a few) are in our environment and have the potential for serious health issues. If you have heavy metal toxicity it can affect the following body systems: liver, kidneys, gastrointestinal system, central nervous system, cardiovascular system, endocrine system and likes to settle into your bones.
Heavy metals are not the easiest thing to get rid of. Meaning, as soon as they are in your body or bloodstream, they quickly move to an organ and settle in. They don’t stay in the blood for long. It has been my finding that blood tests are therefore not very accurate in figuring out if you have heavy metals.
The older we grow, and this is true especially for women, the more we start to lose our bone density. When we do, we release stored up heavy metals from our bone marrow. Which is a favorite place heavy metals like to reside.
This means that the released metals reenter your body and can do a number of things.
Lead released from bones during menopause into the blood causes damage to blood vessels resulting in elevated blood pressure.
High lead levels also can cause kidney damage according to the The New England Journal of Medicine. Link to study
If you happen to have a MTHFR gene variation(s), you will have problems detoxing on your own. And heavy metals will most likely be a problem.
ACUTE SYMPTOMS of heavy metal toxicity are as follows:
Sudden, severe cramping, nausea, vomiting, sweating, headache, difficulty breathing, impaired cognitive, motor and language skills to name a few.
Longer exposure to heavy metals and toxicity tend to appear more subtle such as:
fatigue, digestive distress, reduced ability to break down and use fats, aching joints, depression, impaired blood sugars, and female reproductive problems.
If you suspect you are suffering from heavy metal toxicity, I recommend a 24-hour urine chelation test, biofeedback session or a muscle/applied kinesiology session with a naturopath or functional medicine practitioner prior to any other action.
When to do a heavy metal detox cleanse:
Once you have healed your gut and possibly completed a candida cleanse you are ready to begin a heavy metal detox cleanse.
I suggest using cilantro, cypress, lemon, and grapefruit essential oils. I would start out with adding a drop or two of lemon and/or grapefruit essential oils to your water or in a capsule first thing in the morning. Preferably in warm water before you’ve eaten or drunk anything else. This will help cleanse your liver.
Then you can either dilute cilantro and cypress oils with a vegetable oil, such as organic coconut oil and apply the oils over your liver or on the bottom of your feet to assist your body in pulling out the heavy metals.
I also recommend taking a form of chlorophyll. Chlorophyll will help bind to the metals allowing them to leave your body. Which is the ultimate goal. You don’t want them being reabsorbed!
I generally place the oils in a glass rollerball bottle 10mL. I add 10-15 drops of each of the essential oils to the bottle and fill the rest of the way up with fractionated coconut oil. Keep the rollerball bottles in the bathroom and apply everytime you visit the bathroom. This is a good guide on how often you want to apply the oils, and it especially helps as a good reminder to remember to apply them.
I would then make sure I’m taking the chlorophyll 2 or 3 times a day. I would do this for maybe 3 days on, 3 days off. Until you feel like you are making a difference.
It will be interesting to note the differences you see after a detox. I saw some very unexpected ones in my boys who have sensory issues. Meaning, for us, there were some improvements in their sensory issues.
Also, you may find that you have improved mood, memory and shedding of weight. As body fat absorbs toxins as a way of protecting your body’s vital organs. Cleansing your body of these toxins allows for weight to finally come off! That’s just an added bonus!
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Please consult your physician.