Howdy neighbor! It’s Mwaka again, with the next experiment in cleansing and cleaning, nourishing my brain, body, and life! You may be a big fan of heavy metal music, but that’s not a problem you have to deal with. There’s more to heavy metal than just music!

You know me and experimenting, but before I do any, I like doing my homework to understand as much as possible. So, in preparation for my heavy metal detox, I’m going to bring you guys along with me as I do my research. Let’s call it group work. After all, teamwork makes the dream work!

What Are Heavy Metals?

These are metallic ores that occur naturally on the earth. Some metals are refined for industrial use and mining is a big cause of heavy metal pollution to our ecosystem. Heavy metals like mercury and chromium are toxic to our bodies even in low quantities. Your body does have a clean-up system for heavy metals, but the current levels you are exposed to are too high for your liver to handle.

Why Are Heavy Metals Toxic?

Accumulation of any undesirable substance, like metals, in the body creates toxicity and inflammation. We are exposed to heavy metals in water or air (pollution), in the foods we eat, cosmetic products we use, cigarettes, and low-quality metallic packaging. Once your soft tissues accumulate these heavy metals, you’re at a higher risk of health complications.

Effects of Heavy Metal Toxicity

Heavy metal toxicity can affect your body in the following ways:

• Poisons mitochondria (which are organellesancient bacteria that live in your cells and produce energy).
• Suppresses the immune system and reduces your natural anti-inflammatory capacity.
• The brain and mental functions are impaired, reducing focus and increasing anxiety.
• It compromises the endocrine system messing up your hormones (internal communication).

Signs and Symptoms of Toxicity

It is difficult for you to diagnose heavy metal toxicity because its symptoms are very similar to other modern lifestyle conditions. Its also hard to accurately test for toxicity as the metals get ‘lodged’ in places like bone, and your brain. Your symptoms also vary depending on the duration and type of heavy metal you are exposed to. Symptoms include:

• Confusion
• Lack of concentration
• Irritability
• Cataracts 
• Constipation and bloating
• General body weakness
• Fatigue
• Headaches
• Pain in the joints
• Infertility
• Skin irritability

Benefits of Reducing Metal Toxicity

• Boosts immunity from cognitive decline
• Prevents oxidative stress and inflammation
• Improved brain performance, including memory and concentration
• Improved gut health and function
• Skin health is improved

How to Detox Heavy Metals

Yes. Your body has a lot of ways to sweat, pee, and poo them out. All you need to do is give your body a helping hand! 

• Step 1: Reducing exposure to heavy metals speeds up the detox process. Since the foods we eat can expose us to these heavy metals, better dietary choices reduce accumulating toxicity. 

• Step 2: Chelating herbs and plants produce metal binding substances (phytochelatins) that absorb heavy metals from the soil. Plant-based nutrition increases the consumption of phytochelatin, pulling toxins out of your body.  Chelating herbs and plants include apples, limes, leafy greens leaves, berries (except cranberry), Irish Sea moss, and mushrooms. 

• Step 3: Be patient! Depending on the level of toxicity (acute or chronic), it may take a couple of weeks, months, or years to remove heavy metals from your system. There’s no set duration. You can speed up the detoxification process with chelating herbs and foods in your own heavy metal detox smoothie or consider supplements.

My Heavy Metal Detox Smoothie Recipe

Remember the foods that are good for heavy metal detox? (apples, limes, leafy greens leaves, berries, Irish Sea moss, and mushrooms.) With this knowledge in mind, you have the chance to be creative with what you like. So, I let my creative juices flow and came up with this recipe for you:

Ingredients

• 1 apple (any except Granny Smith or Red Delicious)
• 2 Seville oranges
• 1 Key lime
• 1 cucumber, peeled and sliced
• Handful kale
• 1 cup arugula

Instructions

• Cut your orange and lime and sieve out the seeds.

Add all your ingredients into a high-speed blender and blend.If the smoothie is too thin, consider not sieving out the orange pulp, and if it is too thick, add spring water until desired consistency is achieved.

Ready to take things to the next level? Try doing an alkaline juice cleanse to boost your energy and support your overall health.

My Thoughts on Heavy Metal Detox

With increased industrialization and current dietary habits, it is a harsh reality that the menace that is heavy metal toxicity is here to stay. My opinion is that going plant-based and following Dr. Sebi’s Nutritional Guide may be our only saving grace.

Let’s try heavy metal detox together, shall we? You could use my recipe or Dr. Sebi’s Heavy Metal Detox Smoothie. Of course, you’re not limited to these; get out of your comfort zone and get creative. As I always say, it’s not a one shoe fits all scenario. 

Heavy Metal Detox Supplements