Home Remedies to Remove Heavy Metals from Your Body

Home Remedies to Remove Heavy Metals from Your Body

1. Drink Enough WaterYour body is made up of 65 percent water. This alone proves a deficiency of the same is likely to have adverse consequences.

Water is indispensable to better health. No amount of detoxification methods – diets or exercise – will have any positive effect on your body if you are continually dehydrated.

Dehydration is a major cause of oxidative stress, which hinders the body’s ability to fight cell-damaging free radicals.

When heavy metals enter our bodies, oxidative stress triggers their toxicity. Drinking plenty of water reduces oxidative stress and inhibits the toxicity of heavy metals in the body.

Furthermore, water transports essential nutrients and minerals throughout the body. These nutrients and minerals strengthen the detoxification organs – the liver, kidneys, intestines, respiratory tract and skin.


2. Eat Fermented Foods
The role of gastrointestinal bacteria, or probiotics, in eliminating heavy metals from the body is not widely known.

Fermented foods are rich in probiotics.

Probiotics like lactic acid bacteria (lactobacillus) found in the intestine and in fermented foods possess the ability to bind to heavy metals and flush them out of the body, according to a 2012 study published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology.

Out of 255 lactic acid bacteria isolated for testing purposes, 26 displayed remarkable cadmium- and lead-removing properties in water, according to a 2012 study published in the Journal of Applied Microbiology.

Fermented foods that contain this good bacteria include probiotic yogurt, whey, cottage cheese, kefir drinks, fermented tofu and tempeh as well as pickled cucumbers, radishes, beets and garlic.

Make them a part of your regular diet to promote the growth of beneficial bacteria to eliminate heavy metals from your body.

3. Increase Intake of Polyphenols
Polyphenols are micronutrients found abundantly in our diets. Their role in combating cancer and cardiovascular disease is well-known.

The richest sources of polyphenols include cloves, star anise, dried peppermint, dried oregano, flaxseeds, cocoa powder, dark chocolate, green tea, elderberries, chokeberries, blueberries, strawberries, black currants and plums.
A lesser-known fact about dietary polyphenols is that they enhance the production of metallothionein, a major antioxidant enzyme. This enzyme is responsible for metabolizing and detoxifying heavy metals.

Polyphenol-rich beverages like red grape juice, green tea and red wine increased metallothionein production in the human body, according to a 2010 study published in the Journal of Food Science.

Eating more polyphenol-rich foods will help you on your way to detoxifying your body of heavy metals.

4. Consume Sulfur-rich FoodsGlutathione is the primary antioxidant in the human body and is key to purging the body of harmful toxins and heavy metals. It attaches itself to heavy metals and flushes them out via the bloodstream through the liver and kidneys.
Arsenic is a heavy metal that directly inhibits the production of glutathione in the body.

The glutathione levels in the body significantly dropped when a group of 378 adults were fed different concentrations of arsenic mixed in water, according to a 2013 study published in Environmental Health Perspectives.

Sulfur-rich foods boost glutathione activity in the body.
Foods rich in sulfur include cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, kale, spinach, collard, watercress, cabbage, Brussels sprouts and cauliflower as well as garlic, onions, leeks and shallots.
Alternatively, you can consume oral glutathione supplements after consulting your doctor.

5. Consume Milk ThistleThe liver is the detoxification powerhouse of your body.
Milk thistle strengthens the liver cells, which prevents the absorption of toxic heavy metals. Silymarin is the primary active substance in milk thistle, also known as silybum marianum.

According to a 2006 study published in The Indian Journal of Medical Research, silymarin appears to be a highly promising treatment for heavy metal contamination. The study further notes that silymarin promotes the production of glutathione and prevents its depletion.

It’s easy to incorporate milk thistle into your daily diet.

Drink up to 6 cups of milk thistle tea a day for detoxification purposes. To make the tea, add 1 teaspoon of ground milk thistle-seeds or a milk thistle tea bag to a cup of hot water and let it steep for 10 minutes.

Alternatively, you can take milk thistle supplements.

Note: Before consuming milk thistle in any form, consult your doctor for the exact supplement and tea doses appropriate for your health status to prevent possible side effects.