I keep my Natural Detox Systems Humming — With foods, spices, and a secret super mineral “Iodine

I have been detoxifying my body by incorporating certain foods, spices, and iodine into my diet for the past two years. I can attest that these changes have provided significant benefits to my overall health and well-being, including increased energy levels and weight loss.

Remember Heavy Metals can kill you directly, but most of the time the Heavy Metals cause other medical problems that kill you or cause sickness and generally poor quality of life.

In our modern world, heavy metal exposure is virtually unavoidable. Heavy metals like mercury, lead, cadmium, and arsenic lurk in our air, water, food supply, and even our homes and workplaces. I live in Istanbul that has some of the world’s worst pollution in the water and the air. Prolonged exposure to these toxic heavy metals can lead to some serious health issues if they build up faster than our bodies can eliminate them.

The good news for all us Humans, is that our amazing bodies have natural detoxification systems designed to help us process and purge these harmful substances. The key is keeping those systems operating at peak performance. By supporting our built-in heavy metal defense systems with certain herbs, spices, and foods, we can optimize our ability to kick heavy metal butt!

Together we will look at;

1. How heavy metals negatively impact health
2. The body’s natural detoxification process
3. Top foods and herbs that enhance detoxification that I personally use
4. Simple ways to avoid heavy metal exposure

- The bottom line on banishing heavy metals for good!

- The super secret Mineral — Iodine

Why Heavy Metal Buildup Is a Big Deal

Heavy metal toxicity is more common than you might think thanks to the explosion of environmental pollutants in recent decades. Heavy metals accumulate in the body over time and can reach toxic levels before we even realize there’s a problem.

According to the World Health Organization, heavy metal toxicity is estimated to impact over a billion people worldwide.

So what’s the big deal with heavy metals? Why all the fuss?

Heavy metals are harmful to the body because they:

• Displace and replace essential minerals needed for vital organs, nerves, and metabolic functions
• Accumulate and damage vital tissues and organs like the heart, bones, and brain
• Disable important enzymatic reactions by binding to proteins and blocking them from functioning properly
• Disrupt metabolic functions, neurotransmitters, hormones, and other essential physiological processes
• Induce oxidative stress and free radical damage
• Deplete levels of endogenous antioxidants needed to fight free radicals
• Inhibit the function of immune cells, making the body more prone to infections
• Stimulate inflammatory pathways that lead to inflammation and chronic disease
• Cause anemia by reducing hemoglobin production and red blood cell counts
• Increase risk of serious neurological conditions like Alzheimer’s, dementia, Parkinson’s

Many heavy metals are also classified by the World Health Organization and EPA as human carcinogens linked to higher cancer rates. Not exactly substances you want hanging around in your precious bod! I know friends who have died from heavy metal poisoning, but the doctors give a different reason.

The potential for heavy metals to wreak widespread havoc is why it’s critical to minimize exposure. But it’s just as important to maximize our body’s detox abilities so any exposure gets cleared quickly before it can become a problem.

Your Body’s Natural Heavy Metal Detox Systems

Fortunately, our bodies are equipped with sophisticated systems designed specifically to transform and excrete toxins before they can cause harm. This process of eliminating wastes and toxins is known as detoxification.

The liver is the superhero of detox that bears most of the burden for cleaning the blood and metabolizing toxins. But other organs like the kidneys, intestines, skin, lungs, and lymphatic system also play key roles.

Detoxification involves two important phases:

Phase 1:

Enzymes modify the chemical structure of toxins to make them easier for the body to eliminate. But this process also generates free radicals as a byproduct.

Phase 2:

Additional enzymes hook toxins to other molecules like glutathione so they can be excreted harmlessly via bile, urine, or stool. Antioxidants are also produced to scrub away any free radicals made in Phase 1.

A secret tool to assist your body the mineral IODINE

Many different enzymes are involved in these transformation and transport processes. The CYP gene family produces Phase 1 enzymes while the GST gene codes for the Phase 2 glutathione enzyme.

Believe it or not, we have some control over how actively these enzymes do their job! Certain foods and herbs can amp up production of critical detox enzymes. Optimizing these natural detox pathways is key for clearing heavy metals quickly and efficiently.

Top Heavy Metal Detox Superfoods and Herbs

Mother Nature provides a medicine cabinet full of foods and herbs that support the body’s innate detoxification abilities. Incorporating more of these natural detox boosters into your diet is an easy and delicious way to keep those cleansing enzymes humming!

Broccoli Sprouts “Brussel Sprouts”

Don’t let their tiny size fool you — broccoli sprouts are a nutritional and detox powerhouse! They contain very high concentrations of a phytochemical called sulforaphane that switches on detox genes to produce more Phase 2 enzymes.

Numerous studies confirm broccoli sprouts’ ability to promote the body’s detoxification systems and protect against carcinogens and neurotoxins. Some studies found sprouts were 10–100 times more potent than full size broccoli at activating detox enzymes due to their very high sulforaphane levels.

Sulforaphane also enhances the body’s own antioxidant defenses to help counteract oxidative stress caused by toxic heavy metal exposure.

Broccoli sprouts can be purchased or easily grown at home. Just sprinkle a spoonful on salads, soups, grains or blend into smoothies. Let sprouts become your go-to heavy metal detox booster!

Cilantro “Coriander”

Also known as coriander, this popular culinary herb has been prized since ancient times for its medicinal qualities. Traditional Ayurvedic medicine used cilantro to detoxify heavy metals and recent scientific research has validated this effect.

Cilantro works in two helpful ways — it chelates and binds to heavy metals so they can be excreted from the body. And it enhances activity of antioxidants and detoxification enzymes to protect against heavy metal poisoning.

Cilantro also increases levels of glutathione, the “master antioxidant” used by the liver to rid the body of toxins.

Sprinkle more cilantro on tacos, curries, salsas and Thai dishes or add to green smoothies. Coriander seeds can also be taken in capsule form as a supplement if you cannot tolerate the taste of fresh cilantro.

Turmeric

Turmeric is the golden spice renowned for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The active compound curcumin is to thank for much of turmeric’s health enhancing abilities.

Curcumin acts as a potent antioxidant to prevent cellular damage from heavy metal induced free radicals. It also stimulates the body’s production of its own detox enzymes like glutathione S-transferase and heme-oxygenase 1.

Additionally, curcumin can bind and chelate many toxic heavy metals directly. By shuttling metals away from vulnerable tissues, turmeric helps mitigate heavy metal toxicity and damage.

Boost your intake of turmeric by adding it to curries, soups, smoothies and rice dishes or choosing turmeric supplements. Pair with black pepper to increase curcumin bioavailability.

Garlic

Garlic belongs in the allium family along with onions, leeks and shallots. In addition to adding a pungent pop of flavor to foods, garlic offers a long list of health benefits.

Garlic’s sulfur-containing compounds exhibit potent medicinal properties including heavy metal detoxification. Garlic has been shown to increase production of endogenous antioxidants and upregulate Phase 2 liver detox enzymes.

It also directly binds to heavy metals to facilitate their removal. Regularly eating garlic provides ongoing support for the body’s detoxification systems.

Enjoy garlic’s detox benefits by adding more raw or cooked garlic into your diet. Roasted whole bulbs are delicious and mellow the harshness. Garlic supplements are another great option.

Milk Thistle

Milk thistle is an herbal remedy used for centuries to treat liver disorders. Today it remains one of the most popular supplements for supporting liver health and detoxification.

Milk thistle contains silymarin, an antioxidant compound shown to increase glutathione levels and stimulate activity of Phase 2 detox enzymes in the liver.

By strengthening the liver’s metabolic and detox functions, milk thistle enhances the entire body’s ability to clear heavy metals and other toxins.

Standardized milk thistle supplements can be taken to augment dietary sources. Milk thistle tea is another great option.

Ginger

Ginger is a spicy superfood loaded with protective compounds like gingerols, shogaols and zingerones. This aromatic root has been used for thousands of years as a traditional medicine to treat many ailments.

Modern research confirms ginger’s ability to speed up detoxification by increasing enzyme activity and preventing heavy metal accumulation in organs. Ginger also reduces oxidative stress triggered by heavy metal exposure.

Mix fresh or powdered ginger into stir fries, smoothies, marinades, and teas. Pairing ginger with turmeric ramps up its detox benefits even more.

N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC)

NAC is an amino acid precursor to one of the body’s premier detox antioxidants — glutathione. As a supplement, NAC helps raise glutathione levels to enhance the liver’s ability to neutralize toxins and oxidative stress.

This powerful antioxidant also binds to heavy metals directly to form complexes that are safely eliminated. Studies show NAC offered protection against several toxic heavy metals like mercury, lead, cadmium, arsenic and tin.

Most people tolerate NAC supplements well. Take 600–1,200 mg daily on an empty stomach for maximum absorption. Check with your doctor before using NAC if you have certain health conditions.

Reduce Toxic Heavy Metal Exposures

Avoiding unnecessary toxic exposures is the first critical step in any heavy metal detox program. While we can’t completely eliminate exposure, we can take steps to significantly reduce it.

Here are some top ways to minimize heavy metal sources in your environment:

• Eat low mercury fish like salmon, sardines, tilapia. Avoid high mercury fish like tuna, swordfish, Chilean sea bass.
• Choose organic foods whenever possible to limit pesticide exposure from conventional produce. Wash all produce thoroughly.
• Use non-toxic cookware. Avoid aluminum and coated pans; use cast iron, stainless steel or glass instead.
• Install a high quality water filter on your drinking and shower water to remove heavy metals.
• Avoid smoking and secondhand smoke which expose you to heavy metals like cadmium and lead.
• Reduce use of plastics which can leach toxic chemicals when heated or worn.
• Make sure your living and work space is well ventilated and free from indoor air pollution.
• Take off shoes when entering the house to avoid tracking in lead and other toxins.
• Get annual blood work done to monitor heavy metal levels — adjust diet and supplements accordingly.

Following these tips goes a long way toward cutting back on unnecessary heavy metal exposures from food, water, air, and products.

The Bottom Line on Banishing Heavy Metals

Given the heavy toxic metal exposures we face from modern living, some accumulation is inevitable. But you are NOT helpless against their harmful effects!

By proactively reducing exposures and maximizing your body’s own detox powers, you can keep heavy metal levels in check for lifelong health.

Make foods and herbs that enhance natural detoxification part of your regular diet. And learn how to grow cleansing sprouts at home for an ultra-fresh, potent heavy metal detox boost.

With the right dietary strategies and targeted supplementation, you can be vigilant about maintaining low heavy metal levels for reduced risk of toxicity.

Here’s to unleashing your body’s full heavy metal detox potential! Your resilient detox systems are ready for the job. Now give them the daily support they need with these proven foods and herbs for optimal heavy metal cleansing.

The secret tool IODINE

The Importance of Iodine for Heavy Metal Detox

Iodine is a trace mineral that plays many important roles in the body. It is critical for healthy thyroid function, metabolism, growth, and brain development.

In relation to heavy metal detoxification, iodine has a particularly helpful role. It helps bind and purge toxins like fluoride, bromide, and heavy metals from the body.

Why Iodine Matters for Detox

Iodine helps remove toxins in a few key ways:

• Forms iodolactones which bind to heavy metals and aid their excretion
• Competes with and displaces toxic halogens like fluoride and bromide that downregulate thyroid function
• Improves liver health and upregulates Phase 1 detoxification enzymes
• Functions as an antioxidant to neutralize damaging free radicals

Iodine Deficiency Is Common

Despite iodine’s importance, deficiency is common today. Low iodine levels make it harder to metabolize and remove heavy metals.

Factors that contribute to iodine deficiency include:

• Low iodine levels in soil from which our food grows
• Avoidance of iodized salt
• High intake of competing halogens like fluoride and bromide that displace iodine

Supplementing with Iodine

Many functional medicine doctors recommend supplementing with 12.5 to 50 mg of iodine per day to meet sufficiency, unless contraindicated. High dose iodine therapy over 50 mg may be used, but only for short periods and under medical supervision.

Sources of supplemental iodine include:

• Lugol’s solution (mix of elemental iodine and potassium iodide)
• Nascent iodine (pure elemental form)
• Potassium iodide tablets
• Kelp tablets (contain natural iodine)
• Cautions with Iodine Supplements
• Avoid high dose iodine if you have Hashimoto’s or autoimmune thyroid conditions. Can increase antibody attacks on the thyroid.
• Start low and slowly increase iodine dose to avoid symptom flare ups.
• Take companion nutrients to support iodine metabolism like selenium, magnesium, vitamin C.
• Use discretion with iodine if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or trying to conceive.

Work with your functional medicine doctor to determine if iodine supplementation makes sense for your heavy metal detox program. When used properly, iodine provides powerful support for removing these harmful toxins!