Tasteless and odorless, arsenic might not look like much – but don’t be fooled. When ingested through your food, even in tiny amounts, it can promote nausea, fatigue, infections, liver damage, and other serious health problems. As a known carcinogen, arsenic is also linked to multiple types of cancer. The metal destroys cells, hampers their ability to create energy, and can lead to major organ failure when ingested in large quantities.
The danger is amplified by arsenic’s widespread presence. It’s found in soil, plants, pesticides, lumber, glass, and semiconductors and has even infiltrated water supplies, especially in rural areas. The Environmental Protection Agency states that safe arsenic levels in water should be less than 10 micrograms (millionths of a gram) per liter.
Tracking the Toxin
While we like to believe that regulatory agencies are closely monitoring deadly toxins like arsenic, this is not always the case. Take arsenic in poultry, for instance. For over six decades, farmers have fed poultry arsenic-laced animal feed, fattening the animals up and swiftly moving the fowl from farm to table. Although the industry claims that chickens excrete the arsenic and therefore keep the toxin from contaminating the meat, the Food and Drug Administration is now banning most forms of arsenic in animal feed on account of this falsehood.
Arsenic has also been found in rice and rice products like brown rice syrup, rice flour, rice vinegar, and rice-based bread and cereal. Arsenic concentrates in rice germ, which is removed to make white rice. Although brown rice generally consists of more nutrients, it holds higher concentrations of arsenic than white rice. Rice grown in the United States contains higher levels of arsenic than basmati or jasmine rice from Thailand or India. Out of the 50 states, rice produced in southern states was found to boast the highest arsenic levels, while California’s rice had the lowest detected levels.
To ensure public safety, we must take the initiative and be proactive in protecting our health, counteracting the toxic effects of arsenic by detoxing our bodies.
Cleansing through Diet
Realistically, we will never be able to completely avoid environmental toxins like arsenic, as they’re present in all food and water. However, minimizing their damage is possible by adopting a cleansing diet rich in vegetables and low glycemic fruits. Ideally, this diet should shun processed foods, white flour and sugar products, in addition to non-organic dairy, meat, eggs, or poultry. Make sure to incorporate healthy fats to foster healthy cell membrane function.
For stress reduction and immunity boost, try moving meditations like yoga and tai chi. These activities can also help decrease inflammatory stress hormones.
With regular exercise that encourages sweating, you can also promote detoxification. Start with small steps – even a brisk 30-minute walk each day will suffice.
Active Detox
Because arsenic is a heavy metal, compounds that bind the metal can help the body with toxin removal. Chemically manufactured compounds for this purpose can produce significant side effects, so opting for a gentler, more natural approach might be more ideal. One formula that combines modified citrus pectin (MCP) and modified alginates derived from brown kelp is both gentle and effective.
MCP is a substance extracted from citrus peels that specifically binds to metals. Once absorbed into the circulatory system, it can work to eliminate arsenic and other heavy metals from your body without causing side effects or ridding your system of beneficial minerals. A great addition to a detox program, MCP prevents toxins from migrating to other organs. Furthermore, MCP is known to enhance immune function, making it a valuable ally in preserving optimal health.
Tackling Toxins with Herbs and Nutrient Supplements
A variety of herbs, nutrients, and botanicals can be utilized for detoxification efforts at the cellular level. Here are a few options to consider:
- Medicinal mushrooms: These support immunity and facilitate detoxification in various ways.
- Astragalus root, turmeric root, fenugreek, dandelion, and stinging nettle: These botanicals, hailing from Western and Chinese herbal traditions, support waste removal in organs such as liver, skin, digestive tract, and lungs.
- MSM (methylsulfonylmethane): This compound supplies the necessary sulfur for detoxification pathways in your body.
Although it might seem bothersome to closely examine our diets, it’s paramount to maintaining excellent health. Regulatory agencies might not have caught up with toxin-related problems in our food yet, but by being vigilant when it comes to our diets and regularly undertaking detox efforts, we can mitigate the dangers of toxins like arsenic. Regardless of what the world throws our way, taking control of our health begins at the cellular level.
