Tested high for heavy metals?

This was collaborated with functional Nurse Practitioner, Jessica Bunkelman, and is not medical advice. 

Tested high for heavy metals? Step 1: eliminate the culprit

• Don't change everything at once. If you overhaul multiple things simultaneously, you won't know what actually caused the problem or what changes were unnecessary.

• Start by identifying the source. If you're unsure where to begin, contact your local health department; they can help assess your home and environment, including paint, toys, soil, and more

• Helpful resources:

  • USPIRG publishes an annual report highlighting common household items with high lead levels

  • Trouble in Toyland is a resource specifically focused on identifying toys that may contain high levels of lead

    
    

Supporting the Body's Recovery from Heavy Metal Toxicity

Removing the culprit can be enough if levels are on the lower end. For higher levels, supporting the detox process is also beneficial - this is often done through chelation.

Reference ranges: 

0-5mcg/dL concerning

5-10mcg/dL big concern

10+mcg/dL alarming 

45+mcg/dL hospitalization and medical chelation therapy

If you have concerning levels, consult with your trusted provider.

Natural chelation support:

• Iron

• Vitamin C

• Multi-mineral

• Omega-3

• NAC (N-acetyl cysteine)

• Allicin (from garlic)

Homeopathy:

• Homeopathy can be helpful, working on the principle of "like cures like"

• Plumbum metallicum is the lead remedy and can help detox the system in a very gentle way

Modified citrus pectin:

• Decreases heavy metal levels in the blood

• Increases mobilization of metals into the urine

Thoughts on Zeolite

Zeolites have a porous, “cage-like ”structure that can bind certain heavy metals and toxins. Lab studies have shown they can trap substances in a test tube, but most evidence suggests commonly used forms like clinoptilolite are not meaningfully absorbed into the bloodstream and are largely excreted in the stool. This means any potential binding effects would primarily occur within the digestive tract vs throughout the body.

Some zeolite sprays claim to use nanosized particles, which theoretically could be absorbed more readily because certain nanoparticles can cross biological barriers that larger particles cannot. However, most commercial products do not provide verified particle size data, the safety of nanosized zeolite is not well understood, and it remains unclear whether zeolite would effectively bind toxins once inside the body.

While zeolite might seem like a handy option in a pinch, it's not something we typically recommend (unless recommended under the guidance of your trusted provider). We'd rather focus on supporting the body's natural detox and elimination pathways overall, rather than zeroing in on metal binding alone. And since zeolite is itself a mineral, it feels a bit counterintuitive to address a mineral or heavy metal burden by adding yet another mineral-based substance into the body.