Safe & Effective Methods to Detox Heavy Metals
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Part 2 of 2. Heavy Metal Toxicity Part 2 covers dietary and lifestyle preventative measures to reduce heavy metal exposure and the risk of heavy metal toxicity, plus safe and effective methods to detox heavy metals.

Read Part 1 ► Heavy Metal Toxicity: Sources, Signs and Symptoms

*** It’s imperative to identify the source of toxins and reduce the toxin intake and exposure. It’s also important to realize that people are either slow detoxifiers or fast detoxifiers. The process of eliminating heavy metals is extremely important, can be rather challenging and can take several months to remove and clear toxic metals safely and effectively. It should never be a rushed process. It’s important that you’re properly nourished, have healthy functioning adrenals and healthy liver function before starting any chelation method or treatment. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare professional whom is versed in heavy metal detoxification for support in identifying toxic metals and guidance in removing them.

Below you’ll find safe, natural and effective methods to remove toxic metals, along with dietary and lifestyle tips to minimize heavy metal exposure, and supplemental support to reduce heavy metal body burdens.

Safe and Effective Methods to Detox Heavy Metals

Diet – food is medicine

  • The nutrient quality of your diet has a significant influence in modifying the response to toxic-element exposure. Eat anti-inflammatory foods, drink clean, filtered water, grass-fed, pasture-raised and organically-grown foods as much as possible.
  • Chlorophyll- and fiber-rich foods: Leafy greens, dark green veggies, artichoke, asparagus, broccoli sprouts and herbs especially cilantro and parsley. Daily green smoothies are key detoxifiers.

Cilantro is an especially effective and gentle detoxifing chelator of lead, mercury and other toxic heavy metals and other toxic contaminants. One study demonstrated rapid removal of aluminum and lead from the skeleton and brain with cilantro was superior to any known other detox agent. “Cilantro is probably the only effective agent in mobilizing mercury stored in the intracellular space and the nucleus of the cell.” ~D. Klinghardt, M.D.

  • Foods high in sulfur. These include egg yolks, garlic, onions, horseradish, cruciferous veggies such as broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, mustard greens, kale, cilantro, collards, watercress, radish, turnips
  • Cysteine-rich foods that create metallothionine: chicken, turkey and duck, egg yolks, whey protein, raw dairy, garlic and onions
  • Pectins in citrus such as lemons, lime and grapefruit naturally chelate heavy metals without depleting important trace minerals.
  • Adequate protein, especially animal protein is necessary for detoxification. Pasture-raised (not conventional) animal protein detoxifies heavy metals from the body naturally by supplying sulfur-containing amino acids, which support liver detoxification pathways and help chelate toxic metals.
  • Spices, especially garlic and turmeric. Turmeric contains the active ingredient curcumin, which is a powerful anti-inflammatory and healing remedy for the liver and kidneys.
  • Avoid canned foods, processed, fast and fake foods.
  • Avoid rice and wheat, which often contain high amounts of toxic heavy metals. 
  • Do not use table salt. Instead use unprocessed sea salt or Himalayan salt.
  • Educate yourself on which fish and seafood are safest. Avoid albacore tuna, shark and swordfish. Women who ate fish more than once a week have 4.5 times the risk of toxic body burdens. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, especially avoid or restrict mercury-heavy fish, including tuna.
  • Strengthen your body’s immune system through diet and correction of any nutritional deficiencies so that it can resist metal toxins.

Lifestyle

  • Strengthen and support the liver, gallbladder and kidneys.
  • Optimize digestion and healthy gut function.
  • If you have mercury fillings, consider removal by a biological dentist only.
  • Switch to organic and natural personal care products including cosmetics, lotions, toothpaste and deodorants. A study by University of California found lead, aluminum, cadmium and other toxic metals in lipsticks and lip glosses.
  • If you work in an environment where you are exposed to heavy metals (pottery, plumbing, painting, battery manufacture, landscaper and other occupations.…read part 1), shower or at least wash your hands and face at work and change your clothes there. Wash your work clothes separately. Keep your work shoes outside.
  • Detox bath: Soak in a tub of Epsom salts, baking soda and Bentonite clay.
  • Dry skin brushing before showering encourages lymph flow that helps to flush toxins from the body.
  • Honor the importance of sleep and rest. Extra rest and uninterrupted sleep is critical for any detoxification program.
  • Identify your personal and unique nutrient deficiencies through a functional blood chemistry analysis. Dietary deficiencies of calcium, iron, and zinc enhance the effects of lead on cognitive and behavioral development. Iron and zinc deficiencies are associated with increased gastrointestinal toxic metal absorption.
  • Sweating encourages elimination of toxins and accumulated toxic metals. Saunas and daily exercise. 
  • Addressing and resolving psycho-emotional trauma increases the excretion of heavy metals.
  • If you choose to vaccinate yourself, your children or pets, opt for thimerosol-free (no mercury) vaccines only.
  • Daily bowel regularity is essential in chelating toxic metals and any detoxification program.
  • If you’re planning to become pregnant, both the father and mother-to-be have a high relative risk of elevated levels of lead, mercury and PCBs. Identifying and ruling out toxic metal body burdens prior to becoming pregnant is not only smart, it’s crucial for both the mother, father to-be and the health of the baby. Today, all children are born with some toxic metals acquired in utero. Toxic metals pass through the placenta from mother to child. This is seen clearly when reviewing mineral analyses of infants. These are babies who have never been exposed to food, yet their bodies are loaded with many toxic metals. According to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), 60,000 American children are born every year with neurological problems caused by prenatal exposure to methyl mercury compounds.
  • Take control of your water supply. Install water filters in your home.
  • Identify and rule out Candida and parasites with a comprehensive stool analysis. Dying fungi/yeasts may release vast amounts of previously bound mercury. 
  • Keep young kids away from imported candy and don’t let them chew on wrappers or gift wrap.
  • Switch to natural household cleaners such as vinegar, baking soda and castile soap. 
  • Avoid aluminum and iron cookware. Instead use ceramic or stainless steel.
  • If you smoke, quit. Avoid secondhand smoke.
  • Reduce stress. Activate the parasympathetic nervous system and inhibit the sympathetic branch. Stress of any kinds slows down the detoxification process. Stress-Less Solutions

Nutrient support with supplements (Quality matters) 

***Supplemental support for chelating heavy metals will be different for each and every individual and also different for specific metals. Chelation means metal binding. Many chelating agents also remove vital minerals, so these minerals must be replaced to avoid nutrient deficiencies.

  • Digestive enzymes with HCL to adequately break down protein and facilitate proper mineral  and nutrient absorption.
  • Lipoic Acid is a potent antioxidant that supports the body’s own pathways of elimination and boosts glutathione levels. Increase glutathione with grass-fed whey protein, alpha lipoic acid (R-ALA), N-acetyl-choline and methylation nutrients, vitamins B6, B12 and folate to assist in breaking down toxic metals so they can be eliminated by the body.
  • Chlorella, a single cell algae sea vegetable that grows in fresh water is a food-grade natural chelating agent. Chlorella works synergistically with cilantro as it has better binding properties. Chlorella can cause side effects in some people. Always start with the lowest quantity and highest quality form of chlorella as many sources of chlorella contain contaminants and metals. Biotics in-house phytochemistry lab certifies that their Chlorella is free of contaminants, heavy metals and bacteria.
  • Not all fish oil is healthy. Eighty percent of fish oil today is rancid and oxidized. Supplement with only high-grade quality omega-3 fish oil such as EFA Sirt Supreme, which is void of PCBs, soybean oil and toxic metals.
  • Optimize the balance of intestinal flora with probiotics. Once again, quality matters. 
  • Optimize vitamin D levels
  • Supplemental support and the choice of which ones to use to gently remove toxic metals will vary for every single individual and may includea one or more of the following: Porphyra-Zyme, HM Chelate, Metal X Synergy, lpha Lipoic Acid (R-ALA), N-acetyl-choline (NAC), Pectasol, Taurine, Melatonin, Methylguard or Methylfolate, Curcumin (Meriva-SR), Vitamin C and garlic. I cannot stress the importance that supplemental quality is crucial and support is specific and unique to each individual’s biochemistry.
  • Avoid low-quality supplements and some protein powders as they contain metals and other less than desirable ingredients.
  • Many calcium and other mineral products are contaminated with lead. It is best to avoid calcium, especially calcium derived from sources such as bonemeal, dolomite, oyster shell or coral calcium.
  • Because of the health risks associated with high levels of iron, all men and women over age 40 should have their iron and ferritin levels checked. Excess iron is a PRO-oxidant, a free radical initiator that accelerates the aging process, causes cognitive dysfunction and increases glycation. Symptoms of iron overload may include high levels of toxic heavy metals, lack of energy, joint pain, diminished sex drive, abdominal pain, memory and heart problems.
  • Bentonite clay and food-grade diatomaceous earth mixed with water and taken before bedtime can be consumed internally to safely remove heavy metals, harmful bacteria, yeast, fungus and viruses, pesticides and other toxins.
  • Accumulation of toxic metals in the body is more problematic when other essential minerals are deficient. Identify and correct nutrient deficiencies, Balance Body Chemistry with Nutrition through the Blood Chemistry Analysis.
  • Many chelating supplements and agents (EDTA and DMSA) also remove vital minerals, so these vital minerals such as magnesium, zinc, iodine, iodide and selenium must be replaced to avoid nutrient deficiencies. Magnesium is one of the most vital and health-giving nutrients.  It’s involved in over 300 enzymatic reactions in the body and has been shown to have a wide variety of benefits against metal carcinogenesis risk factors. Avoid magnesium deficiency at all costs.
  • The above suggestions are adequate to detox heavy metals from the majority of individuals. However, there are other chelating processes such as suppositories, stronger chelating agents and IV therapy (which can be quite expensive and should only be administered by top-notch, experienced practitioners).

***The process of eliminating the source of exposure to heavy metals and  detoxing heavy metals is very important, can be rather challenging and can take months to remove them safely and effectively. It should never be a rushed process. Always see the guidance of a qualified healthcare professional whom is versed in heavy metal detoxification to support you in identifying toxic metals as well as removing them.

The Healing Crisis. During the process of detoxing heavy metals, many individuals may experience what is called a healing crisis where they feel worse before better. Symptoms may include frequent bowel movements, headaches, fatigue, nausea, GI issues, dizziness or skin breakouts. Emotional and mental symptoms often occur as well such as feelings of depression, anxiety, irritability, insomnia or mood swings. These symptoms will subside. Honor the process of detoxification: be patient and gentle with yourself, value rest, get more sleep and listen to your body.

As a holistic nutritionist and functional health practitioner, my philosophy is to identify the root cause of any underlying health issues, slowly "peel away the layers of the onion," and design a healing protocol and comprehensive LIFESTYLE plan specific to your unique biochemistry so you can heal, eliminate toxins the smart way, experience vibrant health, balanced hormones, and look, think and feel better than ever for a lifetime. I consult with men and women around the world and with clients locally in the Phoenix area. Schedule a free 15-minute consultation!

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