Heavy Metals

What Is Heavy Metal Poisoning?

Heavy metal poisoning happens when you’re exposed to lots of metals of a certain type. It can make you sick and affects how your body functions.

Some of these harmful heavy metals include arsenic, lead, mercury, and cadmium which are found in soil, water, and many of the products we use. Exposure to too much of these metals can wreak havoc on your body.

Unknowingly, you might also drink or eat food with heavy metals or breath in contaminated fumes.

Symptoms

The signs that you may have heavy metal poisoning are vast. The severity and kind of symptom you have can vary based on the amount and type of heavy metal exposure. Here are some symptoms:

vomiting, feeling nauseous, diarrhea, feeling faint, confusion, kidney and liver damage, lung irritation, breathing problems, headaches, weakness, and abdominal pain.

Lead has been banned from plumbing for years, but it still gets into the water supply from old lines. Some water filters will remove it from your water, but if you’re concerned about the level of lead in your drinking supply, you can request a water test. It’s always a good ideal to install a water filter for your sink that removes lead and other heavy metals. Don’t forget to filter your shower water as well since heavy metals are also absorbed through the skin.

Testing

Different tests can check for different types of heavy metals often by testing your blood, urine, or by x-ray. Blood count tests, kidney and liver function tests, urine analysis, imaging, and electrocardiogram tests are very helpful in accessing heavy metal exposure and damage.

Detoxing

If you are interested in doing a detox, you don’t have to choose just one detox, but customize it according to your needs. Perhaps you have a reason to detox your liver, or you really want to have healthier lymph nodes. There are certain natural ways to detox each main part of your body. Making detox a part of your regular health regimen goes a long way towards helping to minimize the harmful effects of heavy metals.

Liver and Kidneys

Two popular areas of the body to detoxify are the liver and kidneys. There are certain foods that are really great for these areas of the body in particular. To detox the liver, focus on fruits and veggies like barley grass, spinach and kale, apples, avocado, and dandelion greens. Some other things to add to your diet for cleaning the liver include walnuts, arugula, garlic, and grapefruit. With the kidneys, try tomatoes, turmeric, onion, cauliflower, cabbage, and raspberries.

Blood

Similar produce and herbs can help with your blood, if you want to detox that part of your body. A healthy diet might already consist of many of these foods, but others are good to add if you don’t already consume them on a regular basis. Try fruits like red grapes and berries, then add vegetables such as kale, leafy greens, and beans. Garlic, coconut, wheatgrass, and oregano is also said to help with having healthy blood.

Pancreas and Gallbladder

Now let’s talk about the pancreas and gallbladder. With your gallbladder, there are quite a few options that are probably part of your normal diet, such as whole grains, cucumber, tomatoes, lentils, and beans. Legumes, avocado, beets, and sweet potato are also included. Also try to add more garlic and onion to your meals, and give okra a try. For your pancreas, fruits like cherries and blueberries are great, along with veggies like sweet potatoes, mushrooms, spinach, broccoli, and cabbage.

Lymph Nodes

Your lymph nodes are not something many people think about when detoxing their body, but cleansing them of toxins is just as important as the other areas of your body. For the lymph nodes, fresh and whole juices are great, both with fruits and vegetables. Drinking lemon water regularly is good for you, along with trying fruits like strawberries and guava. As far as veggies, go for asparagus, lettuce, and carrots.

As you can see, most of these are typical fruits, vegetables, and herbs you already consume. By eating a healthy diet, you are naturally detoxing the different areas of your body.

Signs of Needing a Detox

You may have heard about others doing a detox, but is it really something you need to participate in? It is possible that your body or mind has been giving you some subtle signs that it is time to cleanse your entire system, without realizing it. Here are some common signs of needing a detox.

Physical Signs

First of all, there are quite a few physical signs that can point toward needing a detox. When you have a lot of chemicals and toxins in your body, such as in your kidneys and liver, your body reacts with a number of different issues. These can often be linked to those toxins, which means you will feel better after detoxifying with healthier options. Some physical signs of needing a detox include having frequent headaches, bloating or digestion problems, persistent sinus problems, skin irritation, muscle aches, and even menstrual cycle issues.

Depression

Some mental health disorders can also be signs of needing a detox. If you have been experiencing worsening episodes of depression, or you suddenly feel depressed even though it is quite rare for you, it may be due to the health of your body, not just your mind. It is a good idea to not ignore these signs, since cleaning your body with a detox can actually help clear your brain of negative toxins as well. You should also consult a doctor if you have worsening symptoms of depression.

Insomnia

Have you been having trouble sleeping, with either falling asleep or staying asleep? If so, it might not be completely due to your mattress or not having a good bedtime ritual. Another possibility is that there are a lot of built up toxins in your body, which is keeping your body from resting probably for sleep. Insomnia is not something to take lightly, or just to take medication to help solve. You should also try doing a healthy detox and see if it helps you get better sleep.

Other Signs of Needing a Detox

There are also lots of other symptoms that could point to needing a detox. For example, you might be having mood swings and extreme irritability, which is related to the toxins in your body. You may have more cravings especially to sugar, or have increased blood sugar. More belly fat, fluid retention, and stomach bloating are also common signs of needing a detox.

Try a Bath Detox For Optimal Health

If you are looking for a way to start fresh and feel your best, you might want to consider doing a bath detox. This is when you take a bath with certain ingredients that cleanse your skin for a natural beauty detox, but can also have other health benefits as well. Here are some different recipes for a bath detox.

Simple Salt Detox Bath

This first recipe is for a basic detox bath using salt. It is going to make you feel clean and refreshed, as well as helping with a lot of various skin problems. If you have any type of skin irritation, this can definitely help. However, be careful if you have open cuts or sores. All you need to do is fill your bathtub with water as hot as you can handle it, then while that is filling up, boil a pot of water. To the pot, add in some Epsom salt, sea salt, apple cider vinegar, and baking soda. Let it all dissolve, then pour into the bath.

Eucalyptus Detox Bath

A detox bath that uses eucalyptus and essential oils is great when you have skin that is overly dry or itchy. For this, you can add some pure eucalyptus extract in small amounts, or just add some drops of eucalyptus essential oil drops. Also add in some Epsom salts to the bath, along with scented oils to complement it, such as lavender or vanilla. Soak in the bath for 20-30 minutes.

Bentonite Clay Detox Bath

If you have not heard about bentonite clay before, now is the time to become familiar with it! Bentonite clay is a type of organic clay that can be used to help with your skin and overall health. It is the perfect combination when also adding in the Epsom salts, which are an integral part of most detox bath recipes. For this type of bath, try adding some Epsom salts, and the same amount of bentonite clay to a hot bath. You can then also add some drops of essential oils for the aromatherapy, or just because you like certain scents.

Ginger Detox Bath

Finally, a ginger detox bath is a fantastic option if you are suffering from indigestion or nausea. Having stomach problems is a common reason to try a detox in the first place. In addition to switching your diet, you can also detox your body with a bath. For this one, go ahead and start with your Epson salts, then add some fresh ginger and lemon to the bath. You can also add in essential oils if you like.

Being mindful of heavy metals and creating awareness of how you feel is the first step towards staying healthful and minimizing the effects. Filter your water, detox your body through food and baths, and take a good detox supplement such as fulvic acid which binds to toxins and escorts them out, supporting the detox process.  The best way to get heavy metals out of your body safely is by taking a high quality zeolite.