recommendations

Many of the early symptoms of metal toxicity -- anemia, muscle pains, indigestion, dizziness, headaches, fatigue and constipation -- are vague, or could also relate to other problems. That is, symptoms of metal toxicity may be false symptoms in that they may be mirroring the vague symptoms of some of your other imbalances. Read all the information regarding metals carefully but if you have no reason to suspect that you have metal toxicity, then you probably do not. However, if you think there is any reason that you might be suffering from high toxin levels (ie, due to environmental factors, etc), follow the online recommendations.

Researchers suspect that aluminum toxicity may play a role in the development of Alzheimer's disease. While there is no proof that the excess aluminum found in the brains of Alzheimer's patients causes the disease, aluminum has no known benefit in the body, and therefore it is best to avoid known sources of aluminum.

Aluminum cooking pots, processed foods (such as cake mixes), cigarettes, some antacids and drugs, deodorants and many other everyday items introduce aluminum into our bodies. One serving of tomato soup heated in an aluminum pan can release as much as 25mg of aluminum into your body.

It is possible to rid the body of excess aluminum by avoiding known sources and taking supplements such as calcium and magnesium, which force aluminum out of nervous tissues. However, dosages must be determined by a professional nutritional advisor.

Cadmium is a malleable, ductile, toxic, bluish-white metallic element that occurs in association with zinc ores. It is used in electroplating, alloys and as a neutron-absorber in the control of nuclear fission. Cadmium is an environmental poison, is toxic to humans and has no known useful biological function.

Cadmium is in paint, cigarette smoke (it comes from the cigarette paper and is especially bad in second hand smoke), car exhaust and car tires (cadmium enters the atmosphere as the tires wear down), solder, and also in old galvanized pipes.

Mercury is a very toxic metal. Unlike some other heavy metals that in small quantities have a useful function in the body, mercury is completely foreign to our bodies and performs no natural useful function. Much of the mercury pollution that finds its way into the food chain comes from water borne mercury byproducts of gold mining. Seafood is often a source of mercury. Dental fillings are another.

The controversy over the safety of dental fillings is far from over. Some experts believe that removing existing fillings should only be considered if you have specific symptoms of mercury hypersensitivity or poisoning. Various tests (urine, blood, and hair analysis) are available to help identify mercury as a problem, before having any fillings removed. This caution is necessary because drilling out the fillings can inadvertently cause additional quantities of mercury to enter your bloodstream and increase your level of mercury toxicity.

Like other toxins, mercury can be cleansed from the body by an individually designed regimen of the correct nutritional supplements and by eating foods that bind to toxins and allow them to be safely flushed from the body.

Lead, like cadmium, mercury and aluminum, has no known use in the body. Excess lead can lead to a variety of often subtle neurological and mental disorders. Lead poisoning often occurs slowly, over a long period of time as the lead accumulates in the body's tissues.

Sources of lead are canned foods (especially canned tuna), various paints, leaded gasoline, hair dye, synthetic baby formulas, and vehicle and machinery exhaust fumes. Like other toxins, lead can be cleansed from the body by an individually designed regimen of the correct nutritional supplements.

Many of the early symptoms of metal toxicity -- anemia, muscle pains, indigestion, dizziness, headaches, fatigue and constipation -- are vague, or could also relate to other problems. The checkup chart will be valuable to you if, in your daily routine, you are exposed to metals. Some of the high risk jobs are: gas station attendants, roofers, dentists, jewelry makers, printers, battery makers, and people who use solder frequently.

Read all the information regarding metals carefully. Since symptoms of metal toxicity are often vague and resemble those of other imbalances, if you have no reason to suspect that you have metal toxicity, then you probably do not. I can give you some general advice, but if you feel you have reason to be especially concerned, you should look for a reliable lab that can do a hair analysis, which will either substantiate or defuse your suspicions with more accuracy than the symptom test can provide.

Remember that if you are in very good health, your body has its own, very efficient, detoxification system that is designed to eliminate these kinds of toxins. A toxicity problem usually results either from chronic exposure which causes such an overload that even a healthy system gets bogged down or from a slow buildup as a result of a poorly functioning immune system, sluggish kidneys, liver or colon.

If you suspect metal poisoning, include foods such as garlic, onions, beans, brown rice, miso and fresh carrot juice in your diet -- these will begin to help cleanse any metals from your system. Also, begin taking a good, high-potency multivitamin/mineral capsule. The nutrients that are known to help eliminate toxic metals in the system are selenium, calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron, copper, chromium, B-complex vitamins and vitamin C. If the multi doesn't have at least 50mg of each of the B vitamins, you should take an extra B compound tablet daily. Also, some extra vitamin C (an antioxidant) would be a good idea -- 500 to 1000mg per day. If you are taking 1000mg, to get the most benefit don't take it all at once, spread it out over the day, 250 to 500mg at a time. Pine bark extract and grape seed extract, both available at your health food store, are very powerful antioxidants that would be beneficial in boosting your immune system.

The best way to strengthen your immune system (so that it can resist metal toxins) is through diet. Correct any nutritional deficiencies. Eat more fruits and vegetables (especially dark green, leafy vegetables). broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, winter squash, sweet potatoes, carrots, cantaloupe, and mango. Buy deep green vegetables and orange vegetables. They contain the greatest amounts of antioxidants. Also, try to add more raw vegetables (organic, if possible) to your diet. Try one of the several good antioxidant supplement formulas available from your health food store. Sea vegetables such as arame, bladder wrack, dulse, hijiki, kelp, kombu, nori, sea palm and wakame are one of the best natural detoxifiers.

A green food powdered supplement that is dissolved in water or diluted juice would be an excellent supplement for you. It would give you a quick green boost (minerals) and, since it is a food-source supplement, it is easily absorbed. Wheat grass, barley grass, sometimes alfalfa, spirulina and chlorella are the main ingredients. They supply an extra boost of vegetable protein, minerals, a wide range of vitamins and chlorophyl (good for your liver). Wakunaga Kyo-Green would be a good one to try (it's not too expensive) but there are others available if you can't find it. Green superfoods are really good fatigue fighters, too.

If you are a big meat eater, try to cut back.

Drink 8 to 10 glasses of pure water every day. Get some exercise daily. Make sure you get enough rest.

A water-soluble fibre supplement will help cleanse your colon, for swifter elimination of the metals. Powdered psyllium seed husks (found at your health food store) are a good choice. Take about one tablespoon in a big glass of water or juice, in the evening.

Night time is cleansing time for your system. One of the best natural ways to help your body detoxify and cleanse itself naturally is to avoid overloading it with food and to refrain from eating after 8pm., so that it can undertake its detoxification more efficiently.

If a hair analysis does show high levels of toxicity, you should see a holistic health care practitioner, who will be able to advise other means of helping you get rid of the buildup of metals. He or she may recommend a blood purifying cleanse. Do NOT go on a liquid diet if you suspect metal toxicity because it can put too many toxins all into the blood stream at once.