Did you know that we are exposed to heavy metals on a daily basis? We find them everywhere: in drinking water, in cosmetics, in our dishes and even in our medicines. Chronic overexposure can cause many everyday aches and pains. Today, we explain how to avoid them, prevent them and eliminate them in order to take better care of your body.
What is a heavy metal?
It is simply a metallic chemical element. For example, zinc, copper, aluminium and mercury are all metals. Of course, the body needs to replenish itself with elements such as zinc or copper. But sometimes we consume far more than we need. This is what makes them toxic to our health.
These heavy metals pass into our system mainly through our food, tap water, pollution, certain medicines or even daily cosmetic or hygiene products such as deodorants.
Where do they live?
Heavy metals are lipophilic, which means they are attracted to fat. They will therefore bind to the fatty tissues of our body. They are found for example in the brain or kidneys.
However, they can also be found in the bones, lungs or liver.
Why are they dangerous?
There are certain risks associated with too many heavy metals in the body.
Oxidative stress
First of all, in large quantities in the body, heavy metals contribute to oxidative stress by multiplying free radicals.
Free radicals are simply oxidants, that is, elements that cause our body to age. Fortunately, our body knows how to defend itself against these elements by producing its own antioxidants. These are a kind of "antibodies" that are specifically designed to fight oxidants.
However, sometimes the amount of oxidants is far too high. Faced with this, our body doesn't produce enough of its "soldiers" to fight them. This is how oxidants have the free field to attack our cells. They therefore provoke their premature ageing, impacting our organs, our skin and our hormonal balance.
Inflammations
Heavy metals are also the cause of many everyday inflammations. These include chronic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatism, digestive disorders and even allergies. They also weaken our immune system, which makes our body more vulnerable to infections and external influences.
Cognitive and hormonal disorders
Heavy metals are found in the brain and impair the ability to concentrate and think. They can also produce anxiety or depression. We then feel irritated, tired, the "brain in the fog" and low energy. Moreover, acting as endocrine disruptors, they very quickly destabilise the hormonal system. This creates disorders such as obesity, diabetes, thyroid disorders and sleep disorders.
Now that we understand the impact of heavy metals on our health, how can we protect ourselves from them?
Our tips
To prevent heavy metal intoxication, healthier lifestyle choices are made:
Scratching your tongue: It may seem trivial, but it is extremely important for the well-being of our body. During the night, the body detoxifies itself and releases waste products that sometimes end up lodged on the tongue when we wake up. It is therefore necessary to cleanse the tongue with a tongue scraper just before brushing your teeth to remove any residue.
Drinking vegetable juice: When you wake up, you start your day with a vegetable juice or a spicy shot. Choose green juices such as ESPOIR, GRATITUDE or a ginger shot L'ABSOLU. You then wait 30 minutes before having your first meal of the day.
Eat ORGANIC: Avoid pesticides, pollution and traces of heavy metals absorbed by food from the ground.
Eat well: Fish often contains a large amount of mercury. It is therefore necessary to limit its consumption, or opt for mackerel or sardines, which have a low concentration of metals.
When preparing food, avoid cooking food in aluminium foil or in the microwave.
Filter your drinking water or drink spring water: Today, aluminium salts are still used to clarify tap water. These metals are harmful and should therefore be avoided as much as possible! A practical and effective filter jug is used at home. Outside, we think about taking a filter flask too, to be ready to hydrate everywhere!
Sort out cosmetic products: deodorants, shampoos, moisturising creams... These products are not exempt either. For example, avoid using toothpaste on large surfaces. It is preferable to choose with a "clean" composition such as Meswak toothpaste from Kerala Nature. The same goes for deodorant, opting for clean brands such as Schmidt's. It is important to read the lists of ingredients in the products you use every day to choose healthy compositions. For example, refer to the INCI Beauty website to find out how toxic the ingredients are and which ones to avoid.
Giving up smoking: It is not for nothing that smoking is not recommended. Its smoke alone contains metals such as nickel, chromium, lead and cadmium. In addition, it releases free radicals, which, once introduced into the body, contribute to the premature degeneration of the organism.