Could Heavy Metals in Your Child’s Food Make them hard to live with?

New research has shown that metals in your child’s food could be causing aggressive, antisocial behavior, learning disabilities, and sleep difficulties. This is according to Neil Ward, professor of chemistry at the University of Surrey in the UK. The potentially harmful metals described include mercury, lead, arsenic, cadmium, aluminum, and uranium.

Not only do these heavy metals act as tissue and cellular poisons, they act as blocking nutrients which hinder the absorption of essential minerals.

According to Dr. Ward, “lead acts as an anti-nutrient, hindering the utilization of magnesium, zinc and vitamin B1. High lead levels have been linked to a reduction in IQ, negative classroom behavior ratings by teachers, juvenile delinquency and increased violent behavior. Aluminum also has been linked to antisocial behavior.”

How does this occur?

These toxic metals can become part of our food as a consequence of contamination of the soil from environmental pollution. Such things as p ollution runoff from industry, mercury vapor from coal burning  arsenic from pesticides, or aluminum from cookware can then be absorbed by our bodies. C ontamination can also occur directly in the manufacturing and processing of food , such as mercury contamination of high fructose corn syrup.

Here is a list of the most common toxic metals that one should be aware of:

1. Lead: Lead can affect nearly every system in your body. We know that there are over a half a million children in the US under five years of age who have blood lead levels above the recommended level of 10 mcg per deciliter . We also know that that any detectable amount of lead leads to decreases in IQ, and that elevated levels of lead had been associated with antisocial behavior and a higher likelihood to commit violent crimes. When lead is breathed in from contaminated lead dust, or enters the body through exposure from lead crystals in glazed pottery, or in contaminated drinking water, or in toys that have been made in China, or from contaminated lipstick, the resulting elevated lead levels are unhealthy. We know that compared to 500 years ago the lead levels in our bones are about 1000 percent. This becomes a factor when as people age, they have bone loss which releases lead into their system that leads to systemic toxicity. This may also occur in when people go on calorie restricted diets and in the process lose bone. In my opinion all people including children should get a blood lead level annually to see what their status is. If serum lead levels are in detectable range, I would suggest the person undergo some  heavy metal detoxification in order to lower thei r levels.

2. Cadmium: Cadmium is another heavy metal which can bio accumulate in the body and remain there for many years. It can be found in bone, liver, kidney, and the central nervous system. It has been associated with increased risk of cancer, infertility, brain damage, and immune suppression. Behavioral difficulties and memory loss can also occur. It appears that most cadmium that enters the body comes from food sources. The highest levels are found in shellfish and organ meats. Secondhand cigarette smoke is also a source of cadmium.

3. Mercury: Mercury is one of the most toxic elements known. Persons with silver amalgam fillings usually show elevated mercury levels as a result of their fillings of gassing mercury into their bodies. The average 500 mg silver amalgam filling, contains approximately 50% mercury with the rest being made up of silver copper and zinc. Another common source of elevated levels of mercury is from eating fish. Large predator fish bio – accumulate mercury and when we eat them it enters our bodies. Such fish as tuna, mackerel, shark, and mahi-mahi usually have high levels of mercury. As a special precaution, c hildren, pregnant and nursing women should avoid eating fish because mercury can cause birth defects, problems in language development , memory, attention, and motor function in fetuses and growing children .  Coal burning p ower plants also release large amounts of mercury into the atmosphere each year. This mercury eventually accumulates in plants and groundwater and is another large source of mercury contamination for people. Mercury has also been found as a contaminant in high fructose corn syrup. High fructose corn syrup is commonly used in many sweetened beverages and confectionery items.

How Can You Best Keep Metals Out of Your Diet and Environment?

1. Eat organic as much as possible.
2. Use filters on your shower and bathing water.
3. Drink only filtered water.
4. Use natural chemical free body products and cosmetics.
5. Avoid toys manufactured in China
6. Get a hair sample for toxic elements and a blood lead level annually on all family members.
7. To reduce the level of environmental toxins already in the body, one must ensure that he gets adequate fluid each day, has a  bowel movement at least every day, do something active so one sweats each day, and do something to help bind the se toxins and increase their rate of removal from the body.

Heavy metal contamination in our food and environment may be a serious concern for many people. These  heavy metals  have been linked to heart disease , stroke, autoimmune illness, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, ADD, and cancer. In most individuals health can be improved by removing heavy metals from the body.