10 Warning Signs of Heavy Metal Poisoning
These days, heavy metal exposure is unfortunately a lot more common than you would think. Possible sources of contact with various toxic heavy metals include food, drinking water, air pollution, and commercial products like batteries, cosmetics, fertilizers, pesticides, and old paint. One study also found that popular e-cigarettes and vaporizers, also known as “vapes” or vape pens, expose users to around 12 toxic metals in dangerous concentrations.
Different types of heavy metal poisonings will present differently, but some common symptoms of heavy metal poisoning can include:
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhea
- Nausea and vomiting
- Memory loss
- Impaired cognitive function
- Mood disorders
- Numbness or tingling in the hands and feet
- Weakness
- Chills
- Shortness of breath
While there are several types of toxic metals that can cause health issues, lead, mercury, and arsenic are three that most commonly cause heavy metal poisoning. Let’s take a deeper look at the signs and symptoms of these types of toxicities and their causes.
Warning Signs of Lead Poisoning
Lead poisoning often occurs over months or even years as levels of lead build up in the body. Lead-based paint in older buildings, as well as contaminated water, soil, and air are some of the most common causes of lead exposure. Auto mechanics and people who renovate homes or old buildings for a living are at a higher risk of lead poisoning.
Children under the age of 6 years old are most susceptible to the toxic effects of lead. Signs of lead poisoning in children can include:
- Developmental delays and/or learning difficulties
- Irritability
- Abdominal pain
- Vomiting
- Constipation
- Weight loss
- Loss of appetite
- Fatigue
Lead exposure is also harmful for adults. Common signs of lead poisoning in adults are:
- Memory or concentration problems
- Headache
- Mood disorders
- Abdominal pain
- Muscle and joint pain
- Reduced sperm count
- Miscarriage, stillbirth, or premature birth in pregnant women
Caution! These symptoms can arise even without metal poisoning. It’s essential to prioritize good sleep, maintain a healthy digestive system, and avoid straining your joints, as these are key components of a healthy lifestyle.
It’s crucial to address the basic issues first, as resolving these will help filter out and identify any other underlying problems more effectively.
I highly recommend you heal your pesticide-damaged gut first with herbal remedies such as the Balanced Gut Tincture (check out the ingredients here). Only then will you be able to take further action – if needed – regarding heavy metal poisoning.
Warning Signs of Mercury Poisoning
Pollution from industrialization has led to an increase of mercury in the soil and water. Mercury in the water eventually makes its way into fish. As smaller fish are eaten by bigger fish, the amount of mercury increases. For this reason, large, predatory fish, particularly sharks, swordfish, tilefish, and king mackerel, tend to be higher sources of mercury.
Mercury poisoning is often caused by consuming too much of this toxic heavy metal. Children and pregnant women are at a higher risk of suffering these effects. Typically, mercury builds up in the body over time, eventually causing neurological symptoms, including anxiety, depression, irritability, memory loss, tremors, and numbness in the feet, hands and/or mouth.
Cognitive decline is nothing but the result of untreated neurological symptoms above. Your brain regenerates while in a deep-sleep state. If you cannot fall asleep or your sleep is not deep enough, you really need to do something about it.
Now, there are many herbs and teas that may help you get to sleep. But their effect is mild. If you want the strongest natural sleeping medicine, also called Nature’s Valium, check out this Sleeping Blend Tincture. It works amazing and you can feel the effect within minutes.
Warning Signs of Arsenic Poisoning
Drinking water is one of the most common causes of arsenic exposure. Arsenic occurs naturally in the environment, but agricultural practices, mining, smelting, and manufacturing can contribute to the contamination of water, air, soil, and food.
Exposure to high levels of arsenic can cause acute poisoning within 30 minutes. With longer-term exposure, symptoms can take much longer, even years, to develop. Some of the most common symptoms of arsenic poisoning may include:
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Swollen or red skin
- Skin changes, including darkening and formation of lesions
- Muscle cramps
- Tingling in fingers and toes
- Abnormal heart rhythm
Herbs to Help Detox Heavy Metals
Fortunately, there are several herbs that have a protective effect against heavy metal poisoning and can even promote the elimination of these toxic metals. Studies show that the following herbs can be helpful for detoxifying heavy metals from the body.
Garlic
Garlic (Allium sativum) protects against heavy metal poisoning. When consumed with mercury and cadmium, it decreases the amount of these toxic metals that accumulate in the bones, liver, kidneys, and testicles. It contains sulfur compounds that help the liver to clear heavy metals, particularly lead, mercury, and cadmium.
⇒ The ‘Unorthodox’ Thing That Happens When You Pour Vinegar Over Garlic (Video)
Milk Thistle
Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) contains a flavonoid called silybin that has been shown to help the body to excrete heavy metals. Studies indicate that it helps the liver to detoxify the body of lead, an effect that is enhanced by consuming it with vitamin C.
Cilantro
Cilantro (Coriandrum sativum) has been shown to detoxify the body of lead and mercury. It is thought to bind with these toxic metals and to help clear them from the body.
Gingko
Research has found that ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) is a helpful complementary treatment for lead poisoning. It reduces the oxidative stress associated with lead poisoning that is responsible for the damage it can cause to multiple body systems. In particular, it has a protective effect on the kidney and liver.
Turmeric
Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a potent antioxidant that protects the liver from arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, and mercury. It has a chelating effect, meaning that it binds to metal ions, which helps to remove heavy metals from the body.
Turmeric contains a powerful compound called curcumin, which has strong anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce inflammation in the body. Studies suggest that curcumin may be as effective as some anti-inflammatory medications, making turmeric a popular natural remedy for conditions like arthritis and joint pain.
Foods to Help Heavy Metal Detox
Green Algae
Chlorella and spirulina are green algae that are rich in chlorophyll, allowing them to chelate heavy metals, especially lead and mercury. This helps to eliminate toxic metals from the digestive tract, muscles, and bones.
Green Leafy Vegetables
Consuming plenty of green leafy vegetables is an important way to help the body detoxify. In particular, cruciferous vegetables, like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, and Brussels sprouts are rich in sulfur compounds that help the liver to eliminate heavy metals.
Vitamin C Rich Fruits & Vegetables
Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that can help reduce the damage that heavy metals do to the body. Citrus fruits, especially oranges, and grapefruits, red peppers, rose hips, guavas, kiwis, broccoli, kale, papayas, and strawberries are all high in vitamin C.
DIY Heavy Metal Detox Drink
This potent drink combines several detoxifying ingredients to help the body eliminate heavy metals. It’s important to also drink lots of water and eat plenty of fiber as you detox to ensure that the heavy metals are flushed from your system and don’t get reabsorbed from the digestive tract.
Ingredients
- ¼ cup cilantro, roughly chopped
- 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
- Pinch of black pepper
- 1 teaspoon milk thistle seed powder
- 2 teaspoons chlorella or spirulina powder
- ¾ cup fresh squeezed orange juice
Directions
- Add the ingredients to a blender. Blend well until smooth.
- Pour into a glass and enjoy.
Heavy metal poisoning can cause numerous serious health problems. While it can be scary to think about, with more awareness about the sources of these toxic metals, we can decrease exposure to prevent worsening issues. Adding plenty of detoxifying herbs and foods to our diets can protect vital organs and promote the elimination of these metals from the body so that we can regain health and vitality.
When will you ship your amazing products to Australia please? Regards Evie
Hey! We will let everyone know when shipping to Australia will be available!
Many Blessings and Good Health!
Thanks. Same question as evie. We need help detoxifying from the stratospheric aerosol injection of heavy metals and their oxides. Al, barium, caesium, etc.
Hi Nicole, Does the same protocol for the above heavy metal detox work for aluminum detox as well? I’ve read that Magnesium and silica are good for aluminum removal. Is that true? Thanks for responding….
Yes! Aluminium is just another metal
Interesting. I read somewhere that black pepper and tumeric had to be heated together so that the body could properly absorb/utilize the tumeric?
Would love to hear your thoughts on this.
Hey Mandy!
To maximize the health benefits of turmeric, it is beneficial to consume it with black pepper and apply some heat.
This combination enhances the absorption and bioavailability of curcumin, making it more effective for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
So, if you’re looking to get the most out of turmeric, consider adding black pepper and heating it up as part of your cooking or beverage preparation.
Many Blessings and Good Health!
How many times a day and for how many days should you drink the metal detox drink?
Hey Shannon!
You could start with drinking the detox drink once a day, and continue for about 7-14 days, making sure to stay well-hydrated and eat a fiber-rich diet. However, it’s essential to listen to your body and consult with a healthcare professional for personalized advice, especially for more extended detox regimens or if you have any underlying health conditions.
Many Blessings and Good Health!
I have arthrights in my knee what herb may I put in my meals to help ?