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Heavy Metal
by Dr. David Ramaley

It can be very confusing to decipher all the information we read and hear about toxins. Never before in the U.S. have we been exposed to such large quantities of pollutants, in particular toxic metals, than we have in the last several decades. I routinely test and treat many people for heavy metal exposure. In my opinion, most people have excessive levels of toxic metals in their bodies, creating fatigue, muscle and joint pain, autoimmune disease and, in children, ADD-type behavior. Fortunately, there are things we can do to prevent or mitigate the effects of toxins.

In 1979 the EPA reported that toxic metals were the second worst environmental problem in the U.S. Toxic metals are widely used in industry, food processing and agriculture and find their way into our air, food and water. Sixteen percent of all U.S. children have higher than acceptable levels of lead in their bodies.

Our greatest exposure to mercury comes from amalgam fillings, fish and incinerated mercury that ends up in our soil and water. In a recent study, almost one-third of all fish in Central Washington lakes were found to exceed the EPA standards for mercury in terms of what would be harmful to women of childbearing age. In a recent study in San Francisco, a doctor tracking her patients' dietary habits for one year found that 80 percent of those who ate fish two times per week or more exceeded safe levels for mercury in the blood. An amalgam filling in the mouth is 50 percent mercury and releases, on average, 3 -17 micrograms per day, which over time can be toxic to the body.

In my practice, 80 - 90 percent of my patients have heavy metal toxicity. Most of these cases are mercury-related, followed by lead, aluminum and copper. Testing for metals can be done using applied kinesiology (muscle testing), hair analysis or urine testing. I have found blood testing not accurate or sensitive enough to measure toxicities.

Try the following to decrease your exposure to toxic metals:

Lead: Eliminate or reduce canned food, because the seams in the can are made of lead, which leaches into the food. By doing this, we can decrease our lead exposure by an estimated 50 percent.

Aluminum: Decrease processed foods that may contain some aluminum, including grated cheeses and most packaged products. Avoid non-natural deodorants and toothpaste as well as aluminum cookware and cans.

Mercury:

• Avoid shark, yellowtail, landlocked salmon and most forms of tuna, and limit your overall fish consumption to two times per week. "Light" tuna is better than "white" tuna. A canned tuna called Papa George appears to be very low in mercury. They use only West Coast troll-caught albacore tuna that has documented low levels of mercury. See their website to find their product in Washington or order online at www.papageorgetuna.com.
• Use 1,000 - 2,000 milligrams of fish oil a day. With the lower consumption of fish now recommended, this amount of fish oil can give us the same health benefits as eating fish. The product label should state that it has been tested for toxic metals, pesticides and other pollutants. If it doesn't state this, don't get it.
• Buy organic food whenever possible.
• If you think you are very sensitive to mercury, then get the amalgam fillings removed from your teeth by a dentist who is knowledgeable in their removal. Your dentist can remove these, but dentists who practice "biological dentistry" specialize in amalgam removal and use procedures that a regular dentist may not.

The best way to guard against toxic metals is to get the right amount of certain minerals and vitamins daily. I suggest the following:

• To guard against mercury and copper, take 200 micrograms of selenium a day
• Take 30 - 45 milligrams of zinc to help with almost all forms of metal. Most people are very deficient in zinc and need this for proper digestive and brain functions and a healthy immune system.
• To help with lead exposure, take 1000 milligrams of calcium and 200 milligrams of magnesium.
• Eat organic foods high in sulfur such as onions, garlic, legumes and eggs to aid the liver in the removal of metals. Dark-green leafy vegetables also help. Apples are a great source of pectin, which binds to toxic metals and pulls them out of the body.

In addition to the above, I suggest doing a liver and colon cleanse twice a year for 2 - 3 weeks. Depending on the individual, this is enough time to clear most, if not all, the toxins out of the body.

The Good News: Almost everyone I have seen with heavy metal toxicity has been able to clear the metals from their bodies with the above recommendations within a few weeks. Our bodies are amazingly resilient and given the chance, they will heal.