Most people believe that the food supply must be safe for human consumption, right?
This is a dangerous assumption. There are, in fact, toxic heavy metals in our food, air, water and other consumer goods. These substances could be affecting your mental health.
Metals are naturally occurring in the earth, and flow through the food chain, ultimately finding their way to your dinner plate – and even into your glass of wine, according to WebMD.
Here, we will tell you about three of these metals and 20 symptoms of toxicity or sub-clinical toxicity.
Disclaimer: All of the information here is based on research. However, if you decide to investigate the role that heavy metals may play in your symptoms, proceed conservatively and base your decisions on the most validated information you can find.
If you choose to take supplements to cleanse or block heavy metals in your diet, be sure to take supplements that have been tested to be free of heavy metals themselves! And be sure to get verification that they are effective, according to lab results.
Lead
Lead is a very dangerous metal that can cause neurological issues. It can be present in contaminated soil, water, some pesticides used on crops, and even in canned goods.
Lead can affect your mental health in a plethora of ways. Those exposed to lead might experience:
1. Trouble concentrating
2. Memory issues
3. Lowering of overall IQ
4. A lowered capacity for speech and hearing
In younger children:
5. Hyperactivity
6. Learning disabilities
7. ADHD
8. Irritability
9. Lethargy
Mercury
Mercury is yet another metal that all of us probably know is very dangerous. Sadly, global pollution of the oceans has resulted in some seafood at the top of the food chain being contaminated with mercury.
This is why many doctors recommend that pregnant women do not consume much seafood while pregnant. High levels of mercury can cause mercury toxicity.
Toxicity can lead to:
10. Lessened cognitive ability
11. Speech delays
12. Difficulty concentrating
13. Repeating the same behaviors again and again
14. Memory loss
15. Emotional instability
16. Hallucinations might also occur in those with mercury toxicity
Aluminum
Most of us might think of aluminum as being a relatively benign metal. However, exposure to it over the years have been linked to lots of mental health problems.
You might find aluminum in highly processed foods like prepared bakery items, cheese spreads, or food coloring. Food additives are yet another place where aluminum might lurk.
Common issues found in those with high levels of aluminum:
17. Involuntary tics
18. Issues with speech
19. Problems with concentration are also common
20. In the long term, aluminum exposure could be linked to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
What To Do About Heavy Metal Toxicity
Chances are very high that you are not experiencing acute heavy metal toxicity. If you were, you’d be in the emergency room, as it is a life threatening condition.
The concern about heavy metal toxicity is one of chronic, low-grade exposure that builds up in your system over time. This is known as subclinical toxicity. The World Health Organization said the following about subclinical lead toxicity:
Although they are not clinically obvious, the subclinical toxic effects of lead can be very damaging. The premise underlying the concept of subclinical toxicity is that there is a dose-related continuum of toxic effects in which clinically apparent effects have their asymptomatic (but still very real) counterparts (Landrigan, 1989).
Western medicine doesn’t seem to take the issue seriously unless the condition is acute.
Other researchers, however, insist that low-grade heavy metal toxicity is an epidemic. Many alternative health practitioners have systematic healing approaches that include blood tests and detoxification protocols.
It is best to seek out a rigorous and highly qualified practitioner if you are interested in this approach. Some warn that cleansing heavy metals from your system must be done under close supervision, as the cleansing process itself can be dangerous. It could place too much of a burden on the liver, for example.
Still other health advocates recommend a gentler approach, such as sweating more, or taking herbal supplements that block heavy metal absorption with your meals. The challenge with supplements is to find verifiable evidence that these formulas actually do actually block heavy metals and don’t further contaminate your system with heavy metals that are unwittingly embedded in the product.
Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, offers a lab verified supplement and has posted lab results that indicate reduction in heavy metals with his particular supplement. Mike is also the most rigorous researcher and supplement tester on the planet.
Further research:
http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/food-poisoning/news/20081029/heavy-metals-found-in-wine
http://www.webmd.com/children/features/lead-in-toys-could-it-be-lurking-in-your-home
http://voxxi.com/2013/08/22/aluminum-toxicity-health-symptoms-detox/
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/mercury_poisoning/page3_em.htm