New year, new you.
It’s January’s favorite catchphrase, and it has many reevaluating their overall health and setting lofty goals for the year to come. For some, it may mean detoxing, and specifically, detoxing from heavy metals.
Exposure to heavy metals may be more common than you think. Traces of toxins like lead, arsenic, and mercury are floating around in the air we breathe, hiding in the water we drink, and can even be found in some skincare products and household items we use every day. Over time, an accumulation of heavy metals can wreak havoc on the body, causing weakened immunity and more health issues.
Consequently, the idea of heavy metal detoxing has captured widespread attention. Around 2020, a host of influencers and health and wellness gurus began toying with the idea of heavy metal detox smoothies, baths, and even supplements — all aimed at pulling heavy metals out of the body to improve energy, fight brain fog, and perhaps lead to clearer skin and slimmer waistlines.
The interest in detoxing has sparked many questions surrounding heavy metal toxicity — including discerning what exactly heavy metals are and why some celebrities believe that a heavy metal detox could be the key to unlocking better health.
For answers to all these frequently asked questions and more heavy metal detox guidance, The Post consulted two heavy metal detox experts — Dr. Alicia Armistead of Healing Arts NYC and Sonia O’Farrell of Touchstone Essentials.
What are Heavy Metals?
“Our environment is inundated with heavy metals, from the air we breathe to the water we drink, down to the soils our food is grown in,” explained O’Farrell, the chief marketing officer at Touchstone Essentials, a company that specializes in natural liquid zeolite detoxes.
O’Farrell said that the most common heavy metals found in our environment include arsenic, aluminum, cadmium, lead, and mercury.
What is Heavy Metal Poisoning?
Heavy metal poisoning happens when heavy metals build up in the body over time, causing a disruption in the body’s essential processes — think digestion, respiration, memory, and even cell production.
“While we have natural defenses and detox systems in the body, these can become overwhelmed by the sheer volume of toxins, leading to heavy metals being stored in our cells, tissues, organs, and bones,” O’Farrell said.
The slow build-up of these toxins can lead to a slew of undesirable and potentially life-threatening symptoms.
Symptoms of heavy metal poisoning
Alicia Armitstead, holistic chiropractor and founder of Healing Arts NYC, takes a personalized approach to treating heavy metal poisoning with her patients.
In her experience, heavy metal toxicity can look different in each person, depending on what type of metals they are exposed to and how many heavy metals are in their system. However, there are a few common symptoms to look out for.
“Symptoms of heavy metal detox include headaches, skin rashes, constipation, diarrhea, fatigue, irritability, brain fog, and low immune system,” Armitstead listed.
How to Detox from Heavy Metals
Those looking to reduce their exposure to heavy metals may consider a range of lower-effort dietary and lifestyle changes — everything from swapping out products in the home to eating a greener diet.
Armistead suggests looking for high-quality fish to lessen the likelihood of mercury ingestion and eating more foods like cilantro, seaweed, and leafy greens — which can help trap and remove toxins. Besides dietary changes, she recommends using aluminum-free deodorant and ensuring your makeup and toothpaste are free of titanium.
For a more serious heavy metal detox, Armistead opts for high-quality detox supplements combined with plenty of water (at least two liters a day) to help flush the metals out of the body.
“We support the body using supplements to pull heavy metals out of the cells and into the lymphatic system. The lymph carries it Into the bloodstream. The blood carries the heavy metal to the liver and kidneys to be detoxed and then excreted out through the urine or bowels,” she explained.
What is a Zeolite Detox?
While there are many methods for heavy metal detoxing, a tried and true method includes using the natural mineral zeolite clinoptilolite. Colloquially referred to as simply zeolite, it is a natural mineral formed from volcanic ash and seawater, and it’s been found to support the removal of heavy metals.
“With hundreds of scientific studies supporting its ability to bind to heavy metals, this rare natural mineral is the most gentle and accessible way to take a proactive stance against heavy metal buildup in the body,” said O’Farrell.
Zeolite’s porous structure and negative charge make it especially useful for detoxing. In essence, zeolite works like a magnet to attract and trap positively charged toxins, such as heavy metals. Once the toxins are trapped, they are pulled through the body’s natural elimination process.
“The most effective zeolite detox will be in liquid form for optimal absorption and will offer both micrometer and nanometer particles for a gut, body, and cellular detox. Touchstone Essentials’ Zeolite Detox Pack provides just that,” O’Farrell explained.
What are the Benefits of Heavy Metal Detoxing?
Everyone’s detox experience will look different. However, there are a number of potential health benefits that can come from a successful detox.
“By freeing the body of stored toxins, individuals may experience improved metabolic function, which can look like increased energy, healthy weight maintenance, and mental clarity,” O’Farrell outlined. “Also, someone who has been detoxing may experience the alleviation of problematic skin issues, digestive discomfort, and irritability.”
Heavy Metal Detox Side Effects
While serious side effects are not common, Armistead has explained that most are due to detoxing too fast and overwhelming the body.
“If the liver or kidneys are not detoxing them, or the intestines are not getting rid of them, toxins can just keep recirculating in the blood, causing headaches, skin rashes, constipation, diarrhea, fatigue, irritability, and brain fog,” she warned.
Armistead also noted that it can be confusing since some detox side effects actually overlap with toxicity side effects. She has suggested watching to see if symptoms get worse and taking fewer supplements to slow the detox if needed.
Heavy Metal Exposure in Kids
All people, including children, can be affected by heavy metal accumulation and toxicity.
In fact, research has indicated that babies born with heavy metals are already in their systems. The Environmental Working Group study, which tested umbilical cord blood, found that 287 industrial chemicals passed through the placenta to the baby.
Additionally, children could be more susceptible to heavy metal toxicity because of their immature immune systems and rapidly developing organ systems, on top of other behavioral factors — like how they put non-food items in their mouths.
Should Children Do a Heavy Metal Detox?
According to O’Farrell, there are a few changes that can help reduce children’s exposure to heavy metals: selecting natural household products, installing a water filtration system, ensuring kids eat a whole food diet, and avoiding snacks that are overly processed.
But, for those looking for a more effective change, a safe detox is also an option. The FDA has granted zeolite clinoptilolite GRAS status (Generally Recognized as Safe).
“This gentle detoxifier is safe for people of all ages,” O’Farell said. “However, if someone is suffering from health complications or is prescribed various medications, it’s always best to discuss any new supplements with a healthcare professional before use.”
The New York Post always recommends checking with your physician prior to beginning any new supplements, diets, or health programs.
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