Heavy metals are omnipresent in our environment, even if we often forget this because they cannot be seen. The most common source of heavy metals is industrial facilities such as steel mills or paper industries, which release the metals into the air. The use of pesticides against pests and acid rain, which allow the metals to enter the soil and water, also pose a risk.
As a consequence of that, vital minerals in food and drinking water are minimized. The body is therefore not only just exposed to heavy metal pollution, but it also receives too few nutrients.
Where can we find heavy metals?
Our present-day diet favours the absorption of harmful substances. The high proportion of sugar, fat and protein leads to a chronic acidosis of the body, which supports the absorption of harmful substances.
Additionally, heavy metals can be found everywhere in our food. This ranges from high amounts of mercury in fish to considerable amounts of lead in our drinking water, which for example, originates from a leaded water pipe in old buildings.
With regard to heavy metal pollution, factors such as job, place of residence or leisure activities can play a decisive role.
Who is most affected by the pollution?
Children and elderly people are especially susceptible to pollutants. Children are exposed to a greater amount of pollutants due to their small body size, higher breathing rate and play behaviour. Elderly people have a weaker kidney performance as well as a defensive function, whereby pollutants can accumulate in their bodies more quickly.
Which heavy metals are the most prevalent?
The heavy metals at which most contaminations prevail are:
Lead
Lead can be taken in through the respiratory tract, food, drinking water or through contact with it in certain occupations.
Copper
In small quantities, copper is a vital trace element. However, in high doses it is toxic. Excessive quantities of copper can be absorbed via drinking water (copper pipes), cooking utensils or copper spirals (use for contraception).
Zinc
Zinc is also a vital trace element, but it is toxic in high doses. The absorption is possible through drinking water (galvanized pipes) as well as through professional contact.
Mercury
The absorption of mercury is possible through food (fatty fish, mussels), through a dental amalgam filling and also through occupational contact.
Cadmium
Cadmium is one of the most dangerous heavy metals. We can absorb it through the air (waste incineration), food (seafood, hydrogenated fats), cigarette smoke and plastics.
Typical symptoms
Even small amounts of heavy metals can affect our body. The problem is that the heavy metals accumulate unnoticed in our body over a longer period of time before health problems occur. In most cases however, the health problems are not only caused by a single metal. Metals interact with each other and can therefore intensify their effects.
Symptoms range from chronic fatigue, headaches, migraines, sleep and concentration disorders to nausea and vomiting.
They can lead to anaemia, allergies, respiratory problems, hair loss, skin rash, high blood pressure, joint pain, gastrointestinal problems, liver dysfunction, susceptibility to infections, cardiac arrhythmia, changes in the nails, kidney pain, neurological symptoms, psychological disorders, hyperactivity and psychomotor deficits (reading and writing difficulties).
Heavy metals promote the formation of free radicals. This promotes aging processes as well as changes and blockages in the cell functions and can lead to mutations and malignant degeneration of the affected cells (cancer).
How can heavy metals be removed?
With the help of alpha lipoic acid, a body’s own sulphurous substance, which as a universal antioxidant is involved in many metabolic processes in lipophilic and hydrophilic environments and can be used in chronic metal intoxications to remove heavy metals and strengthen liver function.
Chlorella vulgaris, a unicellular freshwater green alga, is a further aid for the elimination of toxins, especially mercury, in acute and chronic cases. Chlorella has the ability to bind heavy metal ions in the intestine. The metals lead, cadmium, mercury, arsenic and nickel in particular are bound and excreted in the intestine. The high cellulose content of chlorella stimulates the intestinal muscles, which makes it possible to remove heavy metals more quickly. In addition, the alga offers a high nutrient content. The amino acids, vitamins, minerals and polyunsaturated fatty acids contained in the algae can effectively compensate for the deficiencies that occur during the drainage process.
Wild garlic is also helpful. It is used by the body to loosen the heavy metals from the nutrient depots. Furthermore, wild garlic provides sulphur compounds which are necessary for detoxification reactions. These can form heavy metals as a complex and thus make them accessible for excretion.
L-glutathione protects cell structures, proteins, lipids and nucleic acids from oxidative damage caused by hydrogen and oxygen peroxide radicals. Glutathione plays a major role in the detoxification of toxic metabolic products and in the detoxification of heavy metals. Especially formaldehyde and acetaldehyde, two cytotoxins that are produced in the liver by alcohol, drugs or pesticides, are neutralized by the reduced glutathione.
How can I unburden the liver?
Milk thistle extract has an immunomodulating effect, has a strong anti-inflammatory effect and protects the liver. The active ingredient of milk thistle extract can prevent the penetration of toxic compounds into the liver cell.
Artichoke extract has a liver-protective effect and increases the metabolic performance of the liver. It stimulates cell growth and division and protects against cytotoxic substances through its antioxidant effect.
How can I increase detoxification efficiency?
L-glutathione can enhance detoxification performance. Selenium is responsible for the activity of glutathione peroxidase, one of the most important detoxification enzymes. An insufficient selenium supply leads to a significant impairment of the detoxification capacity, which leads to an increased toxic burden on the body. Zinc and copper as well as vitamins B2, B6 and vitamin C are involved in detoxification processes at several points similar to selenium.
Secondary plant substances also play an important role in detoxification. Glucosinolates and indoles, which are found in broccoli, mustard or cabbage, as well as resveratrol or turmeric (Curcuma longa), which are particularly important. They have a proven activity-increasing effect on detoxification enzymes in the body.
Additionaly, attention should be paid to a balanced acid-base balance, since the activity of all enzyme systems depends on an exact, in this case slightly alkaline pH value. Therefore, preparations for balancing the acid-base balance are also of therapeutic importance as measures for detoxification and cleansing. To increase the removal of toxins via the intestines, it is advisable to suplement the body by taking additional dietary fibres.
