Heavy Metal Toxicity: Would You Know If You Had It?

Heavy metals can be catastophic our bodies. But you avoid mercury-laden fish, you haven’t been chewing on pencils, and munching on paint chips isn’t your thing. So why would there be risk for exposure? Here’s why:

Six-months ago I started to feel and look awful and I had no idea why. I was weak, pale, my body ached, my eyes looked dull, my brain was foggy, the list went on. One of the worst things that was happening to me was the hair loss: It was falling out everywhere. I couldn’t eat a meal without it falling all over my food. Areas of my scalp had almost no hair left. The pic below was me in December, 2017. I even tried to clip in hair, but that didn’t work. Zoom in on my scalp.

There were two times in my life that I’d experienced hair loss: First, when I had low ferritin (it should be over 90, mine was 14). Then a few years after that because of thyroid problems. Both instances were easily diagnosed and nowhere near this severe. But, this time my blood tests were all normal. I didn’t have extra stress, my weight hadn’t changed, and nothing else was different. So I turned into full-on McGruff and looked to everything I’d been doing differently. Most significantly, I looked at possible changes in my diet (I always think we’re like plants: feed them well, they grow; dry them out, they wilt). The only change I had made was adding protein powder to my diet, which I’d started doing a few months back.

Like a dummie,¹ I thought I needed extra protein in my diet,² so I’d have a few servings of protein powder every day. Before that, I had never used the stuff. It was tasty and I thought I was doing something good for my body. Turns out, however, that although we’re told to bulk up on the protein, Americans eat on average twice the amount of protein they need.³ Cue Dr. Atkins passing away from a heart attack at an obese weight (and the odd conspiracy that tried to cover it up).⁴

Back to the sleuthing… The protein powder that I was using listed organic, sprouted, brown rice grown in Canada as the first ingredient. Knowing that rice can contain arsenic,⁵ I researched it before buying. What I read seemed reasonable. ⁶ Once I realized the protein powder was the only new variable in my life, I stopped using it. Wanna guess what happened? (Spoiler Alert: Sh*t got way better…)

• Within one week, the body aches began to subside and I had a bit more energy.
• After two weeks, I was able to work out again, my eyes seemed to get brighter, and my skin appeared less sallow.
• In four weeks, my face looked healthier, my energy level was back to normal, and the hair loss was subsiding. I could brush it without wanting to cry. 
• By seven weeks, the hair loss almost completely stopped and it actually started growing back… See the sprouts?

The ‘after’ photo below was taken in February, 2018 — not even three months into Operation: Remove Heavy Metals from My Bod. These two photos were taken at same restaurant— same booth even. (I know this because I had martini during the first one to drown my sorrows, and a martini during the second one to celebrate my improvements.) Now, I’m no doctor (that’s Husb’s job), nor did I have my blood tested for heavy metals. But, I don’t think it’s coincidence that these symptoms came and went along with a known source of arsenic.

Obv, heavy metal toxicity can be detrimental. There are full studies on the hair loss effects alone, ⁷ not to mention those that cover more severe effects, like organ failure.⁸ I’m sure rice in moderation is fine. But, I was eating a concentrated source of it daily. Moreover, while some leafy greens and veggies may have trace amounts of heavy metals, the levels in other food can be exponentially higher, such as organic bone broth.⁹ Moreover, because lead is now leaching into the feed and manure of livestock in the US, the heavy metals in chicken and meat is increasing. But what if Pa’ goes out and shoots himself an elk? Even that meat is toxic because of the high levels of lead leaching out from the bullet exploding inside the animal.¹⁰ And to my boozy friends, you’re safer with liquor than wine.¹¹

My last example is prolly TMI, but we know each so well by now. (Although Dad, stop reading here.) Years ago, I had an IUD made of copper. Within months of getting it, same kinda thing happened: I felt like crap. Husb and my doctor told me I was nuts — they’re probably right in most regards. But, I know my body. After it came out, I felt better. Placebo effect? Perhaps. But get this: Fast-forward years later when I get engaged with a lovely rose gold ring… that turned my finger black because I realized I had an allergy to copper/nickel! Take that, Husb and docs. Metals aren’t meant for our bods.

You: Great, Marisa. WTF am I supposed to eat then? I’m saying know your food and know where it’s coming from. Everything in moderation is not the way to go here. Look at my photos! Those are undeniable. If you’re suffering with ailments you didn’t always have, look to your diet. Avoiding heavy metals at all cost. Here are great resources  by a doctor from Cornell, with way more info than I can give you. Don’t start chowing down on extra protein because someone said that a caveman did it. Those are just my two (lead-free) cents.