Hello dear friends!

It may not be fun to think about, but it’s the world we live in; it’s a toxic world. The modern era has been great for some things, like advancements in technology and a global awareness of social issues, but it’s also been devastating in other areas, specifically human health. Exposure to dozens of different compounds has been shown to have detrimental effects on the body and mind, and some of the most overlooked compounds are heavy metals. If you are struggling with any kind of chronic illness, especially Lyme, MS, fibro, or chronic fatigue, you may very well have high levels of metals in your tissues. And you gotta get those out!

Some of the common metals that have been found in your average middle-class human being include: mercury, cadmium, lead, arsenic, aluminum, and nickel.

I know it can be really hard to distinguish the causes of certain symptoms, but heavy metal buildup in the body (aka “chronic toxicity”, which is much more of an issue these days than “acute toxicity”) has been shown to cause things like:

Extreme fatigue
Brain fog
Autoimmune flares
Dementia and Alzheimer’s
Neurological disorders like Parkinson’s
Aching joints
Hormone dysregulation, especially in menstruating women

But unlike many docs and health professionals, I’m not here to sell you hundreds of dollars in supplements or get you to sign up for my extensive detox program. I’m a firm believer in the power of nature, and if you want to detox from heavy metals, there are only a few things that you’ll need to do. Granted, in extreme cases, you may need to see a naturopath or functional med physician for supervised chelation therapy, but for most of us, this approach will work just fine!

All you need to do is...Stop, Drop, and Roll!

1. STOP (the poisoning)

I’ll give it to you straight- you can do all the detox protocols in the world, and if you’re still exposing yourself to heavy metals, you will never get better. You clean out the system (your gorgeous bod) but then you’re filling it back up again, and that never works. Before you embark on any kind of heavy metal detox protocol, take a good hard look at your environment, and find places to make changes.

A few ways that you can reduce your exposure to heavy metals include:

Throw out the “nonstick” cookware, and use caution with stainless steel. The Teflon coating that makes pans “nonstick” has been shown repeatedly to be toxic to the human body. Stainless steel cookware can expose you to high levels of nickel.
Avoid dental amalgam fillings, and if you currently have them, talk to a qualified holistic dentist about potential removal.
Always drink from glass whenever possible. We already know that plastic is ick, but even stainless steel bottles (especially those exposed to extreme temperature fluctuations) can be dangerous.
Avoid all conventional household cleaning products. Luckily, these days it’s pretty easy to do, with all the natural brands on the market. Or, you can make your own!
If you smoke, quit (DUH). Even if you don’t, steer clear of smoky areas, as cigarette smoke contains high levels of cadmium.
Filter your water, or go direct to a natural spring. Many municipal tap systems have fairly low levels of heavy metals, but if you’re drinking as much water as you’re supposed to for optimal health, it adds up to a decent exposure. Plus, the added fluoride can increase your body’s uptake of aluminum.
Switch to natural body care and cosmetic products. Makeup especially is loaded with metals, so do your due diligence here. If you need help finding safe products, the EWG is a good resource!

If you’re serious about detoxing from heavy metals, it’s critical that you eliminate or reduce as many of these exposures as you can. Then you can move on to step two!

2. DROP (your body burden)

When you’re ready to begin the active phase of heavy metal detoxification, you’ll be surprised to see that it’s much easier than you may have thought. You only need a handful of ingredients, and they’re both inexpensive and easy to use at home. Hooray for DIY detox! Here are the two basics:

Chlorella

Binds to heavy metals and dioxins
Has naturally high levels of B vitamins
Boosts the levels of glutathione, the body’s “master antioxidant”
Improves gut flora balance

Cilantro

Encourages mobilization of metals out of the tissues
Naturally antibacterial and anti-inflammatory
Beneficial for the renal system, an important avenue of detoxification
Acts as a digestive tonic

So, in essence, the job of the cilantro is to get the metals moving, and the chlorella mops them up. If you have ever experienced strange symptoms like headaches, mood swings, and joint pain after eating cilantro, it’s because you were mobilizing heavy metals, but didn’t have anything to absorb them safely! It’s important to take these both- just using one isn’t going to get you very far.

You can safely take these two ingredients for up to 3 months, and many people have shown significant decreases in their heavy metal levels in only 6 weeks. I’d recommend detoxing for at least a month, and seeing how you feel!

If you are not already taking supplemental magnesium, that’s a great thing to add to the detox protocol. Magnesium acts as a relaxant for muscles, nerves, and blood vessels, and that relaxation will aid in flushing out toxins easier. It’s also a nice sleep aid, so give it a try before bed!

3. ROLL (on with your life)

Once you’ve completed your round of metal detox, give yourself a little break- you’ve earned it! There is nothing beneficial to a continuous detoxification, and over time that may upset the balance of minerals in the body. So, ease up and reassess. It’s always a nice idea to take a survey of your symptoms prior to starting the detox, and revisiting it afterwards. Hopefully, you notice some positive effects. If you had prior blood or hair testing, now’s the time to re-test- just be sure to use the same exact laboratory as your first test.

If you aren’t seeing any noticeable changes in your symptoms after the detox period, then don’t give up hope. Heavy metals are only one of the puzzle pieces in these complex, chronic health issues, and it may take some time and experimentation before you finally feel better. Of course, modifying other parts of your life, like your nutrition strategy, can also make a world of difference, and can be very beneficial during and after a detox program.

For anyone dealing with a chronic health issue, especially one that involves the nervous system, I recommend repeating this heavy metal detox once every year or two for maintenance. Sadly, no matter how diligent we are, we can’t stop every single exposure risk that’s out there, and we should take regular steps to give our bodies a fighting chance!

So friends, there you have it! Heavy metal detox doesn’t have to be a drag, or cost hundreds of dollars. Got more questions or need someone to tailor your detox to your specific symptoms and needs? Get in touch with me- I’m here to help! In the meantime, here is my recipe for a yummy detox smoothie!