The Correct Way To Perform A Heavy Metal Detox
Heavy metal detox strategies are all the rage these days, with many different methods being advertised as a way to rid the body of these harmful toxins. However, most of these strategies fail or even worse, cause more problems.
I know this from personal experience as I had to sift through so much false information before I could confidently perform a heavy metal detox decades ago. After putting the pieces of the puzzle together, I was able to remove mercury from my body and brain and finally get my life back. Over the last 20 years, I have taught doctors how to assist their clients through a heavy metal detox.
I know how you feel and believe God has brought us together. If you want to know if heavy metal toxicity is behind your health issues, start by watching my free webinar. Don’t make the mistake so many people make and perform a heavy metal detox incorrectly.
The Wrong Way To Do A Heavy Metal Detox
Many people turn to natural remedies like cilantro and chlorella, but unfortunately, these alone are not enough to fully eliminate heavy metals from the body. This is because they lack the double thiol groups required to effectively bind and excrete these harmful substances.1
True chelators, such as DMSA, DMPS, and ALA, contain double thiol groups that enable them to strongly bind with heavy metals and aid in their removal. While IV chelation therapy is an option, this method also has dangerous consequences if not administered properly.2 3
I experienced the harmful effects of IV chelation personally when I underwent intravenous DMPS therapy to address my mercury toxicity. This treatment proved to be too intense as it removed a large amount of heavy metals from my tissues all at once and caused autointoxication. While IV chelation is certainly effective, it must be administered for several days continuously, making it an option that isn’t viable to most people.
This is why oral chelation therapy is the go-to option, as it can be taken regularly on the half-life of the chelator, preventing heavy metals from reentering the body’s circulation.4
While heavy metal chelation is an important component of detoxification, it is not the entire solution, only a small aspect. Many mistakenly believe that chelation is all they have to do to remove heavy metals from their bodies. The reality is that detoxification is an all-encompassing process that starts with optimizing cellular function.
I want you to realize that detoxifying heavy metals isn’t an overnight process. It is a long and challenging journey, but the results are well worth it.
5Rs – A Heavy Metal Detox Done Right
In order to truly address heavy metal toxicity, the 5Rs will be our guide. This roadmap starts with restoring normal cellular function so toxins can finally exit our cells and ends with gut binders to remove toxins from the body completely.
R1 – Remove Harmful Toxins
Removing sources of toxins is the first critical step in a heavy metal detox. In my case, mercury from silver amalgam fillings and contact lens solution that I used decades ago exposed me to mercury. My first step was to remove dental fillings so they wouldn’t continue to vaporize into my body. If you have silver fillings, they should be removed by a dentist who specializes in this technique before starting on a heavy metal detox program.
R2 – Repair Cellular Membranes
Heavy metals have been shown to disrupt cellular membrane integrity. These metals directly interact with membrane lipids or indirectly affect them by altering enzyme activities responsible for lipid metabolism.
One of the major consequences of heavy metal exposure is oxidative stress, which occurs due to an imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and cellular antioxidant defenses. ROS damages membrane lipids through a process known as lipid peroxidation, resulting in the formation of toxic by-products that disrupt membrane structure and function.5
Moreover, heavy metals also bind to membrane proteins and alter their conformational changes or interfere with ion channels, affecting cell signaling processes. This disruption of protein functions leads to impaired transport mechanisms and nutrient uptake, further compromising cellular health.6
To properly address heavy metal damage, we must repair the damaged cellular membranes that have been affected by years of toxic accumulation. This involves promoting lipid synthesis to produce new phospholipids and incorporate them into damaged membranes.
In addition to incorporating nutraceuticals provided by the Pompa Program, our diet is a crucial component. Specifically, consuming the right types of dietary fat plays a critical role in regenerating cellular membranes. The proper ratio of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids are essential for maintaining membrane function and fluidity.7
R3 – Restore Cellular Energy
Heavy metals disrupt mitochondrial function through various mechanisms. One way is by directly interacting with the proteins present in the mitochondria, interfering with their normal functioning. This disrupts the electron transport chain, which is responsible for ATP production. Additionally, heavy metals also increase the production of ROS in mitochondria, leading to oxidative stress. ROS damages cellular components such as lipids, proteins, and DNA.8
Moreover, heavy metals also indirectly affect mitochondrial function by altering calcium levels in cells. Mitochondria play a crucial role in maintaining calcium homeostasis within cells. Heavy metal toxicity causes an imbalance in calcium levels, disrupting mitochondrial function and ultimately affecting energy production.9
To detoxify on the cellular level, we must enhance mitochondria function and promote the growth of new mitochondria. The Pompa Program incorporates specific nutraceuticals to optimize cellular energy production.
Adequate levels of ATP also play a crucial role in supporting glutathione, a powerful antioxidant that aids in detoxifying cells and preventing oxidative stress. Glutathione is essential for maintaining normal cellular function and optimizing cellular detoxification pathways so we can facilitate the removal of heavy metals from the cells.10
R4 – Downregulate Inflammation
Cellular membrane inflammation caused by toxic heavy metals is difficult to stop once the process is in motion. Even after heavy metals are removed, cellular membrane inflammation persists. This is known as the “NO/ONOO cycle,” which perpetuates inflammation. The use of specialized nutraceuticals is necessary to break this cycle and reset cellular membrane inflammation back to baseline.11
R5 – Reestablish Methylation
Epigenetics refers to changes in gene expression that do not involve alterations in the DNA sequence. These changes are influenced by environmental factors, including exposure to heavy metals. Studies have shown that heavy metal exposure leads to epigenetic modifications, which alter gene expression and cause long-term health effects.12
One of the ways heavy metals affect epigenetics is through DNA methylation. This process involves adding a methyl group to specific regions of our DNA, which turns genes on or off. Heavy metal exposure has been shown to disrupt this process and result in abnormal methylation patterns, which contributes to the development of diseases.13
Another mechanism through which heavy metals impact epigenetics is through histone modifications. Histones are proteins that help package and organize our DNA within the nucleus of cells. Heavy metal exposure has been found to alter the structure of histones, which affect how genes are expressed.14
Furthermore, heavy metals have also been shown to influence microRNA expression. MicroRNAs are small molecules that play a crucial role in regulating gene expression. Exposure to heavy metals has been linked to changes in microRNA levels, which have a significant impact on various cellular processes and contribute to disease development.15
The effects of heavy metal exposure on epigenetic modifications are particularly concerning because these changes can be passed down from one generation to another. This means that individuals who were exposed to heavy metals pass on the epigenetic modifications to their offspring, leading to health issues in future generations.16
By reestablishing proper methylation levels, we are able to turn these genes off and put an end to disease promoting phenotypes.
Combining The 5Rs With Chelators And Gut Binders
The purpose of the 5Rs is to enable cells to finally remove built up heavy metals and toxins. Once these toxins are excreted from cells, this is where chelators bind to them and send them to the liver. At that point, toxins are moved into the bile.17
Gut binders then pull heavy metals and other toxins from the bile so they are not reabsorbed by the body, a recycling process that causes autointoxication. Fortunately, there are effective measures that we take to avoid this issue. By using specific binders provided by the Pompa Program, these toxins are extracted from the bile. Through this method, heavy metals can finally be excreted from the body through the feces.18
As you can see, a heavy metal detox done right is a comprehensive process that involves more than just chelators. We need to upregulate and repair cellular function as well as use gut binders to properly deal with heavy metals.
To learn even more about the heavy metal detox, join me in my free webinar or read more about how heavy metals are linked to brain fog.
References
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3 Nguyen H, Pellegrini MV, Gupta V. Alpha-Lipoic Acid. [Updated 2024 Jan 26]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK564301/
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