Remember when lead was used in household wall paint? It really was not all that long ago. In fact lead based paints were only banned in the United States in 1978. How old is the house you live in? Chances are that many Americans are still being exposed to toxic levels of lead in their daily lives.
Acute metal toxicity, which is the result of a workplace or occupational accident, is also common but the difference is that the incident is recognized, diagnosed and treated properly. Chronic heavy metal toxicity remains a silent killer.
Did you know many of the cosmetic products sold in stores contain small trace elements of heavy metals?
Chronic toxicity builds up in the body over time and can manifest itself in multiple symptoms, many of which mirror other common health conditions and can go undiagnosed or mistreated for years.
When the body is exposed to heavy metals like aluminum, copper, uranium and mercury, it is unable to flush them and instead stores them in vital organs like our kidneys, liver, bones, central nervous system, pancreas and most significantly, our brain.
These metals act as free radicals in the body, damaging healthy cells and encouraging rapid cell death. Healthy cells are then unable to regenerate which results in rapid aging and a weakened immunity to disease and infection. So much for those so called anti-aging serums.
The consequences of even the smallest trace amounts of these toxic metals over time can lead to cancer.
A recent study by the Centre for Science and Environment’s Pollution Monitoring Lab found measurable levels of mercury in 44% of skin creams, along with chromium and nickel in about 50% of lipsticks tested.
As it stands there are no laws requiring cosmetic manufacturers to label their products. The same goes for cookware and kids’ toys. According to a 2004 study by the Environmental Working Group, the number of toxic metals found in blood samples from new born babies is on average 287, which includes mercury, fire retardants, pesticides and chemicals from non stick cook ware.
Long term exposure to these metals has also been linked to degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
The symptoms indicating toxic build-up in the body are unfortunately hard to diagnose as they manifest very similar to everyday ailments, including fatigue, digestive stress, depression, headaches, anxiety and reproductive problems.
Here are a few ways you can reduce your exposure to metal toxicity:
- Choose glass, cast iron, carbon steel or enamel cook ware whenever possible.
- Avoid stainless steel and minimize your consumption of restaurant foods as they commonly cook using stainless steel.
- Minimize your use of cosmetics and avoid any beauty products with an aluminum or mineral bases.
- Avoid conventional household cleaning products.
Also, adding antioxidants and zeolite to your daily diet can further help detox your body and diminish the influence of these harmful heavy metals. By promoting a natural daily detoxification, your body’s natural metabolic process will be strong enough to excrete these heavy metals from your system.
