What About Aluminum?

High levels of aluminum in 80 percent of people tested for toxicity

aluminum-testing(NaturalHealth365) Aluminum, which performs no identifiable function in the human body, is not a nutrient. Yet, most of us consume this neurotoxic substance – or inhale its fumes, or apply it to our skin – on a daily basis.

According to Analytical Research Labs, a whopping 80 percent of people tested have excessively high aluminum levels – a disturbing statistic, given that metal toxicities are associated with a wide range of chronic disease conditions.

We are living in the “age of aluminum”

Aluminum – the third most prevalent element on the planet – already exists naturally, in the environment – but, just to be clear – has ZERO benefit inside the human body.  This cheaply-produced metal has literally dozens of commercial uses – leading concerned natural health experts and environmentalists to dub the present day the “age of aluminum.”

Sadly, aluminum is used in cookware, soda cans and packaging for processed foods – not to mention: aluminum foil.  An ingredient in many over-the-counter antacids such as Rolaids, aluminum is also found in various cosmetics and hygiene products, particularly antiperspirants.

Disturbingly, exposure to aluminum begins almost immediately after birth – aluminum is used as an adjuvant in vaccines given to newborns.  In fact, the number of aluminum-containing vaccines children receive has quadrupled over the past 40 years, with children typically receiving 17 aluminum-spiked injections in the first 18 months of life.

Finally, aluminum is used liberally in the foods we eat, including kitchen staples such as cocoa, salt, flour and baking powder. Aluminum is even found in municipal tap water – which is a very good reason why we should purify our drinking water as a top health priority.

What does all this aluminum do to us?

For one thing, it accumulates in the kidneys, brains, lungs, liver and thyroid, causing oxidative stress and attacking the central nervous system. According to Dr. Edward Group, aluminum competes with calcium for absorption, and can affect the mineralization of bone and slow growth in infants. It also creates inflammation in the brain, thereby contributing to the development of neurodegenerative diseases.

Aluminum toxicity has been linked with a staggering list of specific diseases, dysfunctions and conditions.

A recent study shows that aluminum exposure causes brain oxidation and inflammation – while increasing amounts of the beta-amyloid proteins linked with Alzheimer’s disease. The University School of Medicine in Belgrade reports that drinking water with a high aluminum concentration is associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s.

But the damage doesn’t stop with Alzheimer’s disease. Aluminum’s ability to inhibit the uptake of neurotransmitters such as dopamine, norepinephrine and 5-hydroxytryptamine contributes to mood disorders, anxiety, insomnia and cognitive deficits.

And, aluminum is associated with anemia – an unsurprising finding, as aluminum has been shown to interfere with iron metabolism. It is also linked to other blood disorders, such as hemolysis, leukocytosis and porphyria, as well as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS.  In addition, exposure to this unwanted substance can cause an increase in cavities, as it interferes with bone calcification and competes with fluoride.

And, finally, it is associated with kidney and liver dysfunction due to fatty degeneration.

How do I find out if I have aluminum toxicity?

Early symptoms of aluminum toxicity include headaches, depression, abnormal heartbeat, frequent colds, dry skin and heartburn, colic and other gastrointestinal problems. Later symptoms of toxicity can include paralytic muscular conditions, memory loss and confusion.

Integrative healthcare providers note that blood aluminum levels fail to reflect the total body burden, so accurately measuring aluminum toxicity can be tricky. If you think you have aluminum toxicity, it would be wise to undergo a hair tissue mineral analysis. This non-invasive test is considered the most reliable way to detect aluminum levels. However, look for a laboratory that doesn’t wash the hair before testing, as this can nullify results.

Note: if you are undergoing nutritional therapy for heavy metal toxicity, expect to see a rise in aluminum levels in the hair when it is re-tested – a result of aluminum and other metals being flushed from storage.  It’s also extremely important that you ensure the safe elimination of toxins from the body to avoid harm.

Safe and natural detoxification is essential for optimal health

The first step in detoxifying is preventing additional exposure to aluminum. Avoid the use of aluminum cookware and cans, and carefully check the labels of health and beauty products – especially antacids. Be on the lookout for aluminum-free alternatives – for example, the” Tums” brand of antacid contains no aluminum.

You should also avoid processed foods – which are often packaged using aluminum – and opt for sea salt over table salt. As for drinking water – a water purification system is a MUST and/or drink spring water – from a trusted source.

Natural substances that can help you detoxify include high-dose vitamin C, chlorella and cilantro.  Your healthcare provider may advise melatonin and 5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan as well.  Just make sure that your doctor understands the best ways to detoxify the body safely.

Garlic, onion and other sulfur-rich foods help to manufacture glutathione, the body’s master antioxidant and detoxifier.  N-acetyl-cysteine also boosts glutathione levels, while binding to and detoxifying all heavy metals.

And don’t forget about curcumin, a flavonoid found in turmeric. This natural antioxidant has been shown to have a protective effect against aluminum-induced damage, modulating the extent of oxidative stress and combating the beta-amyloid plaques associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

Although aluminum and aluminum compounds sometimes seem ever-present, it is possible to reduce or even reverse toxicity from aluminum and other unwanted metals, thereby preventing disease, protecting health and help to extend the quality of your life.

References:

https://www.arltma.com/Articles/AlumToxDoc.htm
https://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/concerned-about-aluminum-dangers
https://www.natural-cure-remedy.com/heavy-metal-detox.html

from:    https://www.naturalhealth365.com/aluminum-toxicity-2260.html

Rethinking OTC & Prescription Painkillers

Avoid common painkillers and cold remedies that destroy your liver and more

Thursday, January 02, 2014 by: Paul Fassa

(NaturalNews) Do you know what over-the-counter pharmaceuticals Tylenol, Excedrin, NyQuil, Theraflu and prescription painkillers Vicoden and Percocet have in common? They all contain an ingredient that has forced almost 80,000 ER (emergency room) visits, 26,000 hospitalizations and around 500 deaths annually.

That ingredient is acetaminophen. Ironically, concern over liver damage has influenced some physicians to change patients over to more addictive OxyContin to avoid liver damage from long term use of prescribed painkillers that have acetaminophen as partial ingredients.

Most overdose cases have been accidental, often by using more than one pharmaceutical containing acetaminophen at the same time. Some have been intentionally self-destructive, as in suicidal.

But the fact remains that acetaminophen is a liver toxin. Those with liver conditions, such as hepatitis or fatty liver, should avoid acetaminophen products completely.

Acetaminophen toxicity from supposedly benign pain killers and cold remedies is the number one cause of acute liver failure in America. And acute liver failure is a one-way ticket to the great beyond (http://www.medpagetoday.com).

A Journal of the American Medical Association study has determined that even taking acetaminophen products as directed causes liver damage. With all the toxins in our environment that our livers and kidneys need to handle, we don’t need to damage either. (Source below)

Recently, it’s been discovered that mixing alcohol with acetaminophen pharmaceuticals could be more disastrous. That includes taking Tylenol or Excedrin to remedy hangover headaches the day after drinking too much. Not only is this a whammy on the liver, but it can also induce kidney disease, a double whammy cocktail for sure.

If one is spared from liver or kidney damage, long term use of acetaminophen pharmaceuticals can lead to non-Hodgkin lymphoma and a variety of blood cancers.

Studies have associated steady acetaminophen use with a twofold increased risk of hematologic malignancies (http://www.naturalnews.com).

Acetaminophen antidotes

Hospital emergency rooms are equipped with injectable, or IV, high-potency NAC (N-acetylcysteine) to protect the liver from acetaminophen poisoning by stimulating master antioxidant glutathione production in the liver. (Source below)

Acetaminophen depletes glutathione. If depleted too rapidly, the liver is overstressed to the point of acute liver failure. NAC supplements can be taken orally to increase or maintain your liver’s glutathione production.

If caught early enough, food-grade activated charcoal powder administered orally can remove acetaminophen toxins effectively. Some ER vehicles are equipped with food-grade activated charcoal powder for a variety of poison calls. Food-grade activated charcoal powder is an excellent first aid item to have on hand.

It’s inexpensive and can be used as a chelator for detoxing now and then for a couple of weeks at a time by mixing the powder in water and drinking it, which is more effective than using capsules (http://www.naturalnews.com).

But the best antidote is avoidance. Read those over-the-counter labels carefully. Those name-brand acetaminophen products have a few generics and spin-offs.

Better yet, find natural cold remedies and painkillers by searching Natural News articles by using the search box in the upper right hand corner of the site’s main page.

Sources for this article include:

JAMA study article on acetaminophen as directed liver damage (also links to study abstract):
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com

Alcohol-acetaminophen cocktails:
http://consumer.healthday.com

NAC treatment for acute liver toxicity:
http://emedicine.medscape.com