Above all, aluminum is one of the most evasion heavy metals found in our daily lives. Where is it found? Better yet — where is it not found? It is in the air we breathe, in the water we drink, in the soil, in aluminum cookware and utensils, in some sugar, salt and flour; in vaccines, medication and antacids; in antiperspirant and in processed (American) cheese. And the most obvious , it is in aluminum foil. In other words, aluminum is everywhere.
Aluminum is a drying agent, cheap and flexible — used to dry things: flour, sugar and the underarm as antiperspirant sweat suppressant. But it dries up other things we don’t want dried up, like our energy and stamina, our glutathione antioxidant, our dopamine and serotonin, 5-Htp, reducing enzymatic activity. Since it crosses the blood, brain barrier (BBB), it is a prime suspect in reduced brain function and dementia.
Getting rid of aluminum may not be as easy as one thinks. It can sometimes take years even if you are doing everything right, with the right ingredients. If you have aluminum toxicity, then this means you probably or automatically have mercury toxicity. If you have mercury toxicity, might as well we add tin toxicity, lead, thallium, cadmium, nickel, arsenic and cesium.
So aluminum affects the brain more than any other system of the body, impairing memory and cognition. It replace nutrient minerals in enzyme binding sites. When this occurs, the metal alter thousands of enzymes meant to feed the mitochondria — thus starving the cells of nutrients and functionality. We then need to talk about not autophagy, but mitophagy: the cells’ necessity to destroy mitochondria in hopes of replacing them with new and better ones.
Generally speaking, to get rid of heavy metals, you need a chelator — something that grabs the heavy metal. And you need a binder, something that directs the heavy metal out of the body.
I am currently using IP-6 and modified citrus pectin to accomplish both, at night on an empty stomach. IP-6 (aka phytic acid) must be taking away from foods and supplements because it depletes said, on contact.
How to know if you have heavy metal toxicity?
Perhaps the most convenient plus effective way to test for aluminum toxicity is a 24 hour urine collection test. Aluminum is primarily excreted by the kidneys.
Another test is the Serum Aluminum (blood test). This may not be reliable for chronic aluminum toxicity, since aluminum quickly leave the blood and accumulate in the bone and brain.
Another test is the Hair Mineral Analysis test, which may be inaccurate if the aluminum is externally adhered to the hair from air, water or cosmetics.
How to get rid of aluminum toxicity?
Since aluminum is mostly excreted through the kidneys, a proper functioning kidney is essential. Herbs such as astragalus and dandelion root will help ensure proper kidney function and excretion, respectively.
Any metal toxicity means the individual is mineral deficient. The two best minerals to help detox aluminum from the body are blatantly silica and magnesium! Interestingly, silica and magnesium are also two main minerals needed to reverse osteoporosis. Magnesium is essential for proper calcium absorption and bone health, potentially helping to balance the effects of aluminum on the skeletal system. Some studies have suggested that silica helps with bone regeneration and might help balance calcium metabolism
Silica, in its absorbable forms (silicon dioxide and orthostatic acid) may bind to aluminum, preventing it from entering cells and tissues, especially the brain. This binding effect may lead to improved excretion of aluminum through the kidneys.
Magnesium and aluminum are both metals that compete for the same receptor sites of cells. Increasing magnesium may enhance the outcome of it becoming a dominant competitive inhibitor to these sites. A decrease or depletion of magnesium increases aluminum’s chances for taking over these cellular receptive sites. Bottomline, to reduce the effects of aluminum, increase magnesium.
What about chelators?
To gently help excrete heavy metals from the body, turmeric (with black pepper or coconut oil) has been the legendary go-to for that. Turmeric is an anti inflammatory and a chelator. It also contains a moderate amount of magnesium.
Turmeric is poorly absorbed, that is why black pepper or some type of oil should be included to increase its absorbability.