Toxic heavy metals are everywhere. Just about everyone of us has way to many of them sitting inside our cells where they cause a variety of problems. Fortunately there are foods we can eat that that help to remove these toxic heavy metals out of our bodies, but first of all lets look at how we become contaminated.
The 5 most common toxic heavy metals that we become contaminated with are arsenic, lead, cadmium, aluminum and mercury. Arsenic, lead and mercury are actually the 3 most toxic substances we know according to the Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry (ATSDR), they rank 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively!
Arsenic is found in our water systems throughout the planet unfortunately. When you turn on the faucet there will be arsenic in the water. How does arsenic reach the water supply? Arsenic is used as an ingredient in some of the pesticides that are sprayed right onto our food! Of course, this puts arsenic directly into the earth and water cycle. Arsenic is also produced by some industrial process like glass making and the smelting of zinc and iron. Arsenic is also used in some paints, wood preservatives and rat poison.
Lead is unfortunately a major part of infrastructure in the USA. It was used extensively in pipes, plumbing and paint used in houses built prior to the 1940’s. Even today lead is an ingredient in some paint and pipes! Just like arsenic, lead is also a common toxic heavy metal that is used in pesticides. Ammunition, many batteries and PVC plastics are all made with lead too.
Mercury is famous as the unpleasant ingredient used in tooth fillings called amalgams. There is controversy about the safety of amalgams and mercury leaching from them into our bodies. Although some agencies defend amalgams fiercely (usually the ones making money out of them) it is not disputed in and of itself that mercury is poisonous to us! Amalgams are actually banned in Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Gold mining, coal incineration and metal processing are methods that release mercury into the environment.
To read more about how these toxic heavy metals, how they harm us and what foods we can take to detox of them visit heavy metal detox.