Heavy Metals

Heavy metals are generally defined as metals with relatively high densities, atomic weights, or atomic numbers. Some heavy metals are essential for life in precise amounts, while others are toxic to humans at any level of exposure. Examples of essential heavy metals include zinc, iron, and copper. They are needed for immunity, red blood cells, energy production, reproduction, thyroid regulation, collagen synthesis, and much more! In proper amounts, they contribute to vibrant health. If these metals are found in excess or not properly regulated by the body, they can lead to negative health consequences.

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Toxic Heavy Metals

Examples of toxic heavy metals include mercury, cadmium, lead, aluminum, and arsenic. There has been no biological function found for these heavy metals, and they can wreak havoc on the health of humans.
Heavy metals can damage the integrity of cell membranes, DNA, proteins, and other cell structures, as well as replace essential minerals on binding sites for enzymes that are necessary to carry out critical functions of the body.
Symptoms of chronic heavy metal exposure:
- Tingling or numbness in the extremities, also known as neuropathy
- Tremors
- Muscle pain
- Metallic taste in the mouth
- Rashes
- Mood swings
- Headaches
- High blood pressure
- Irritability
- Vision changes
- Fatigue
- Constipation
- Chronic recurring infections
- Difficulty breathing
- Kidney and liver problems
- Digestive distress
- Nail abnormalities

Getting To The Root Cause

There are many possible sources of heavy metal exposure. They are found in cosmetics, paints, computer parts, dental materials, agricultural products, pharmaceuticals, plants and herbs grown in contaminated soil, certain types of seafood. Occupational exposure to heavy metals is often found in dentistry, painting, welding, mining, and more.
A person can experience acute heavy metal exposure, chronic exposure, or simply be unable to detoxify after exposure is done, so the body retain the metals.
Only acute exposures to heavy metals will show up in the blood. After a day or two, the body rapidly clear the metals from blood circulation and deposit them in the hair, bones, fat cells, and vital organs like liver, kidneys, and brain.

Testing Methods

Testing methods for heavy metals that are more reliable than blood include hair tissue mineral analysis, unprovoked/provoked urinary metal analysis, kidney and liver function tests.
Parasites are attracted to bodies that are full of heavy metals. Some types have the capacity to absorb heavy metals, so often when a person is participating in a parasite cleansing protocol, they will need to add in heavy metal support.
There is often a high association between mercury toxicity and Epstein-Barr Virus, as well as Lyme disease. Lead often plays a role in osteoporosis as is replaces calcium in the bones. Aluminum has been linked to an increased rate of Alzheimers.
Heavy metal detoxification support may be essential for the body. It can lead to extreme detox reactions if done improperly. With the guidance of a trained practitioner, making dietary changes, increasing the body's natural detox capacity like stimulating glutathione production, and utilizing powerful heavy metal binders like HM-ET Binder by CellCore can help rid you of the symptoms of heavy metal toxicity!

GPL Urine metals

Heavy metals toxicity caused by increasing levels of pollution and use of chemicals in industry is a growing threat to our health and development of our children. High levels of toxic metals deposited in body tissues and subsequently in the brain, may cause significant developmental and neurological damage.

Determine if metal toxicity or mineral deficiency is contributing to the disorder
Monitor the effects of chelation (elimination of heavy metals from the body)
Identify if supplementation of important minerals may bring about significant improvements

HTMA

What is a hair tissue mineral analysis (HTMA)? An HTMA is a measurement tool to assess the levels of elements like electrolyte minerals and heavy metals that are deposited in the hair. The hair acts as a "traffic counter", picking up minerals as they float by in the blood stream. This assessment is different than a blood draw, as the blood changes constantly to maintain homeostasis (e.x. a slight change in blood pH can result in death). One inch of hair, taken from the base of the scalp, represents approximately 3 months worth of metabolic activity, giving us an overview snapshot of what has been happening in the body.

The HTMA can reveal information about the status of thyroid, kidney, liver, heart and adrenal function, blood sugar regulation, psychological trauma, mineral excesses and deficiencies, metabolism, heavy metal detoxification, inflammation, emotional volatility, infections, and more!

It is important to have a trained practitioner interpret the results, as there are many specific patterns and nuances that must be learned. For example, high magnesium is usually a "loss" pattern, meaning magnesium is spilling out of the cells, when it belongs inside, while a high level of sodium has nothing to do with dietary intake! Just because no heavy metals appear on an initial test does not mean that there are none in your body, but that your detox capacity is too low to to effectively push them out of the body. Low copper and potassium paired with high calcium can indicate "hidden copper toxicity", so supplementing copper in this situation could be detrimental!

Comparing blood and hair results gives us a holistic picture of what is happening both day-to-day and more long-term in the body, so we can more effectively optimize you!