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Heavy metals and your health
What heavy metals are, where everyday exposure can come from, where they're stored in your body, and how they can get in the way of the nutrients you need.
Heavy metals are elements you might remember from the periodic table at school. Some, like zinc, iron and copper, are minerals your body needs in small amounts. Others, such as mercury, lead, cadmium, arsenic and aluminium, have no useful role in your body and can cause problems when they build up. Even copper can become a problem at high levels.
Where exposure can come from
Small amounts can come from many everyday sources, including old water pipes, some cosmetics and hair dyes, cleaning products, pesticides and herbicides, paint, vehicle exhaust, cigarette smoke and older amalgam dental fillings. Some jobs, like mining and industrial work, can also involve higher exposure.
Where they settle in your body
Your body can't use these metals, so it may store them away from your vital organs, often in fatty tissue. Some can also build up in other organs, like your liver, where they can affect how it works.
How they get in the way of nutrients
Heavy metals can compete with the minerals and vitamins your body relies on. For example, high copper levels can affect zinc, iron, magnesium and several B vitamins. These nutrients play a part in making stomach acid, balancing hormones, converting thyroid hormone and making the brain chemicals that affect your mood. That's why simply eating more of a nutrient doesn't always make up the difference.
Signs to look out for
When these pathways aren't working well, you might notice reflux, constipation or loose bowels, tiredness, anxiety or low mood, changes to your cycle, cramps or restless legs at night, weight gain, hair loss, getting sick often, or allergies.
If you've been exposed to metals through your work or home, or any of this sounds familiar, a practitioner can talk it through with you and help you decide whether testing makes sense. If you're part of a workplace health monitoring program, keep following the advice of the doctor overseeing it.
Where exposure can come from
Small amounts can come from many everyday sources, including old water pipes, some cosmetics and hair dyes, cleaning products, pesticides and herbicides, paint, vehicle exhaust, cigarette smoke and older amalgam dental fillings. Some jobs, like mining and industrial work, can also involve higher exposure.
Where they settle in your body
Your body can't use these metals, so it may store them away from your vital organs, often in fatty tissue. Some can also build up in other organs, like your liver, where they can affect how it works.
How they get in the way of nutrients
Heavy metals can compete with the minerals and vitamins your body relies on. For example, high copper levels can affect zinc, iron, magnesium and several B vitamins. These nutrients play a part in making stomach acid, balancing hormones, converting thyroid hormone and making the brain chemicals that affect your mood. That's why simply eating more of a nutrient doesn't always make up the difference.
Signs to look out for
When these pathways aren't working well, you might notice reflux, constipation or loose bowels, tiredness, anxiety or low mood, changes to your cycle, cramps or restless legs at night, weight gain, hair loss, getting sick often, or allergies.
If you've been exposed to metals through your work or home, or any of this sounds familiar, a practitioner can talk it through with you and help you decide whether testing makes sense. If you're part of a workplace health monitoring program, keep following the advice of the doctor overseeing it.
This video is general information, not advice about your own health. A practitioner can talk you through what it means for you.
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