In today’s world, we are plagued by toxins in the air we breathe, the water we drink, and even the foods we eat. New chemicals are being produced every year and are entering our environment faster than we can react. Heavy metal pollutants such as lead and mercury can damage our cells, which then leads to altered or decreased cell function. So what can we do to minimize our exposure to toxic heavy metals?
First things first- not all heavy metals are bad for us. We actually need a group of metals called trace metals in order to remain healthy. Trace metals include elements such as iron, magnesium, lithium, zinc, copper, chromium, nickel, cobalt, vanadium, arsenic, molybdenum, and manganese. They normally occur at very low levels in the environment. They are absolutely necessary for our nutrition and physiology, but we only need small amounts. High levels of these same metals are toxic to us. Take iron for example. In human blood, iron transports oxygen around the body. However, if there is too much iron, it can negatively impact human health.
The transorbital electron abilities of these elements makes them beneficial in low quantities. The problem with high quantities of heavy metals is that they can strip electrons from other molecules. Hence, heavy metals can be dangerous free radicals. They become toxic when they are not metabolized by the body and accumulate in the soft tissues. They can take the place of other essential elements in a cellular structure and disrupt the regular flow of our body.
Excessive heavy metals cause all of the following problems:
- Damaged or reduced mental and central nervous function
- Lower energy levels
- Damage to blood, lungs, kidneys, liver, and other vital organs.
- Physical, muscular, and neurological degenerative processes that mimic Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, muscular dystrophy, and multiple sclerosis.
- Allergies
- Cancer
Now that we’ve laid down the facts, lets talk about ways to detoxify. This article lists 25 natural ways to get rid of heavy metals,pesticides, environmental pollutants, and metabolic waste. Check it out!