| Our modern life-style means we have to protect | | | | and consume it before it deteriorates. |
| ourselves from the natural effects of exposure | | | | * Many water authorities add aluminum to the |
| to a vast array of chemicals; for instance by | | | | water supply to clean it, so drink filtered or |
| eating organic foods. Many health problems are | | | | bottled water - ideally from glass, not plastic |
| caused by an over-load of anti-nutrients - which | | | | bottles |
| are those that stop nutrients being used, or | | | | * Aluminum is often present in packaging such as |
| promote their excretion. In addition to a healthy | | | | aluminum foil and cans. Many cooking utensils are |
| diet what other measures can we take? | | | | made from aluminum and it is particularly harmful |
| When the body's ability to detoxify itself is | | | | to cook fruit and vegetables in aluminum pans as |
| exceeded, toxins accumulate in fatty tissues and | | | | the cooking water will become acidic and take up |
| may cause chronic health problems. If your job or | | | | more aluminum. |
| lifestyle has exposed you to such toxins you are | | | | Vitamin C (in fruit and vegetables, or readily |
| recommended to have a hair mineral analysis | | | | available as a low-cost supplement) fights toxic |
| (HMA) to check your levels. In this article I'll be | | | | metals. The nutrients in wholesome food can help |
| looking at some of the toxic levels an analysis | | | | protect you from toxins and aid detoxification if |
| may reveal, what problems they may be linked | | | | needed. |
| to and what you might do to reduce your | | | | Iron deficiency enhances the uptake of aluminum |
| exposure. | | | | from the diet. Aluminum is soluble in water and |
| If you have a disease or illness, which has not | | | | more readily absorbed by man in acidic conditions. |
| responded to conventional treatment, you may | | | | If iron is deficient there will be less hemoglobin |
| wish to explore other possibilities and an HMA is | | | | made and the blood will be more acidic so more |
| an excellent place to start. So if you are suffering | | | | ready to take up aluminum. People who are |
| from 'unexplained' problems such as headaches, | | | | anaemic often have raised levels of aluminum. |
| backaches, weakness or tremors, an HMA may | | | | Iron supplements could make you constipated, so, |
| help you to get to the bottom of it. | | | | a better way is to get iron naturally, from the |
| The section detailing anti-nutrient and toxic mineral | | | | food you eat, than from a supplement. The |
| levels is a vital part of the hair analysis report. If | | | | following foods are just some that contain iron: |
| toxic minerals are found to be in excess, there | | | | parsley, dates, almonds, prunes, cashew nuts, |
| are many ways in which a nutritional approach can | | | | raisins, Brazil nuts, walnuts, pork, cooked dried |
| help. | | | | beans, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, pecan nuts. |
| Of course it makes sense to do as much as you | | | | What steps can you take to prevent the |
| can to protect yourself from exposure in the first | | | | ingestion of aluminum from your food? Calcium |
| place. One very common substance is aluminum | | | | and zinc reduce the uptake of aluminum from the |
| which has been linked with Parkinson's disease by | | | | diet so eat plenty of leafy green vegetables, nuts, |
| some researchers. Aluminum has also been found | | | | seeds, Brewer's Yeast and seafoods. Avoid as |
| in tangled fibers in the brains of Alzheimer's | | | | many as possible of the sources above. The |
| sufferers. Aluminum may be responsible for | | | | importance of eating organically grown foods to |
| symptoms such as poor memory and | | | | minimize the risk of ingesting other toxins from |
| concentration, skin irritation, hair loss and slow | | | | pesticides, cannot be emphasized strongly enough. |
| metabolic rate. | | | | Can you remove aluminium from your body? |
| Common sources of aluminum in our daily lives | | | | Fibre and pectin (a soluble form of fibre found in |
| * Aspirin, some deodorants, antacids and | | | | carrots, apples, the pith of citrus fruits and |
| toothpaste tubes. | | | | bananas) help remove toxic metals from the |
| * Consumables such as processed cheese, table | | | | body, as do foods which include sulphur containing |
| salt (for smoother pouring), baking powder, | | | | amino acids (the building blocks for protein). |
| instant coffee, tea bags, powdered milk. Aluminum | | | | Others are eggs, onions and eggs. It is important |
| is added to foods (E173) as an emulsifying, | | | | to include in your diet, plenty of vitamin C, which |
| bleaching or anti-caking agent and to flour to | | | | you will find in fruit and vegetables. |
| bleach it. Many food additives are harmful, but are | | | | Finally, if a Hair Mineral Analysis shows an excess |
| still added to enhance appearance and shelf-life - | | | | or imbalance of aluminum, the recommended |
| hence profitability. Check the labels and avoid | | | | supplement program that comes with your |
| additives where possible. Buy fresh, organic food | | | | report, will be designed to correct the imbalance. |