How Heavy Metal Toxicity Can Ruin Your Health

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Because of the heavily industrialized world that all of us have to live in, most people get exposed to a variety of toxins just in the course of everyday living. There are, for instance, pesticide residues in most conventionally raised or processed foods, fluoride in the water, and a variety of pollutants in the air from sources like factories or car exhaust. But among the most serious health threats of this nature is exposure to heavy metals, which can cause serious and permanent damage to the neurological system — including the central nervous system and the brain – and cause other health issues as well. Read on to learn more about why heavy metals in particular are so dangerous to human health.

Problems with Acute Versus Chronic Exposure

Exposure to heavy metals can fall into one of two categories: acute or chronic. Acute exposure is less common (but can still be very traumatic) and involves the sudden, though usually short-term exposure to high amounts of toxins. This kind of exposure can cause immediately problems with the gastrointestinal tract, mucous membranes like the eyes, nose and mouth and the central nervous system.

There are, however, problems with the toxic build-up of heavy metals over time. These heavy metals can accumulate in small amounts throughout the body and usually are stored in organs like the liver as well as the kidneys, bones and central nervous system, and can do damage to any organ or system they come into contact with. The problem is that this process can happen slowly and its signs and symptoms can mimic symptoms of many other chronic or long-term conditions, such as fatigue. Sometimes, the individual many not even realize that they have a problem with heavy metal buildup.

Health Problems Stemming from Heavy Metal Build-Up

There are a variety of health problems which can stem from heavy metal exposure. Some of the most common include:

Neurological problems such as lower IQ, poorer executive functions like learning and memory and even issues like autism and Parkinson’sGI tract issues like short-term nausea, vomiting and diarrhea as well as long-term issues like loss of appetiteCancer, due to cellular damage done by exposure to heavy metals

Detoxing from Heavy Metals

Because of the health threat that heavy metals pose, detoxing from these metals is very important. This can be done in a number of ways, including:

Chelation therapyDetox drinks like green tea or cucumber or lemon waterHigh-fiber foodsCertain herbs like milk thistle which stimulate liver function

In short, heavy metals can pose a serious challenge to continued human health. Whether the exposure is acute or chronic, there can be issues stemming from a number of bodily systems that can translate into long-term health problems for the person being exposed. This is why learning about the heavy metals and recognizing symptoms of exposure – as well as detoxing periodically — is so very important.

Sources : wakeup-world.com, patient.co.uk, lifeextension.com

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Christine . S
Christine has written articles on most health-related topics, including traditional medicine, alternative and naturopathic and natural treatments, wellness, medical marijuana, diets and fitness.