What is Heavy Metal Toxicity?

Heavy metals are trace metals which are natural components of the Earth’s crust.They are very stable elements and cannot be degraded or destroyed. Once liberated into the environment or used in the countless human-made chemicals and products, heavy metals are taken into the body through inhalation, ingestion and skin absorption.

Because of their density, heavy metals are hard to remove from the body's tissues. Heavy metal toxicity occurs when these heavy metals build up in our system.

What causes Heavy Metal Toxicity?

Heavy metals can be taken into the body through inhalation, ingestion or skin absorption. Below are the most common toxic heavy metals and some of the ways they can enter the body:

• Aluminum –cookware, aluminum foil, antiperspirant, antacids, buffered aspirin, baking powder, canned acidic foods, processed cheese and refined flour.

• Arsenic –weed killers, contaminated meats and seafood (especially clams and oysters), and well water.

• Cadmium –cigarette smoke, refined grains, soft water, shellfish, coffee and tea.

• Lead –paints from before 1971, water from leaded pipes, lunch meats, cigarettes, pottery, and lipstick.

• Mercury –cosmetics, vaccines, fungicides, pesticides, fish, tattoos, fabric softeners, and dental fillings.

What are the signs and symptoms of Heavy Metal Toxicity?

At the beginning heavy metal toxicity symptoms are often vague including:

• headaches
• fatigue
• upset stomach
• skin problems
• irritability
• constipation
• muscle and joint pain

Heavy metal toxicity may not show physical symptoms during the early stages at all. Even though these physical symptoms may not appear, the body is still being damaged.

How common is Heavy Metal Toxicity?

All Canadians have been exposed to some heavy metals (see list above). The level of your exposure determines how toxic you are.

What health problems are caused by Heavy Metal Toxicity?

Heavy metal toxicity can directly influence behaviour by:

• impairing mental and neurological function
• influencing neurotransmitter production and utilization
• altering numerous metabolic body processes

Heavy metals affect the following systems within the body;

• blood
• cardiovascular
• endocrine
• detoxification
• reproductive
• gastrointestinal
• nervous
• immune
• enzymatic

In addition, heavy metals can;

• increase allergic reactions
• compete with minerals for bond sites
• act as antibiotics, killing both harmful and beneficial bacteria

What can be done to help with Heavy Metal Toxicity?

The following products can help in the process of removing heavy metals from the body. 

• Heavy Metal Cleanse - a 30 day advanced heavy metal cleansing program.

• FibreSMART - a daily fiber supplement that works to absorb toxins processed by the liver and bring them to the colon for elimination.

• CleanseMORE - this can be taken as needed to ensure that bowel movements are regular. This is important to ensure toxins are properly eliminated through the colon and not reabsorbed back into the body.