Heavy metals include mercury, lead, aluminium, cadmium, arsenic and nickel. Toxic levels of heavy metals in the body can displace essential minerals and may affect the development of your baby during pregnancy. Health effects of heavy metal exposure are many and range from bone mineral loss and fatigue, to gastro-intestinal dysfunction and dementia.
If you are planning a pregnancy, then knowing the sources of heavy metals and assessing your exposure should be a pivotal part of your pre-conception plan, as toxicity will affect your fertility. Part of this preparation stage should involve detoxification of heavy metals and other toxins from your body (see Cleansing Before Conceiving for more information). Your naturopath can work with you to perform an environmental toxin assessment. It is important to do all necessary dental work and home renovations several months before you start attempting to conceive.
The detrimental effects of heavy metal exposure will be worsened when nutritional status is below optimal. If you are low in calcium, zinc, iron, vitamin C or manganese you significantly increase your heavy metal uptake. And the reverse is true: if you have enough of these nutrients, then you should be able to counter-act normal daily exposure.
Heavy metal uptake in the body is greatly increased in pregnant women, breast-feeding mothers, women who have had multiple pregnancies, the developing foetus and underweight infants.
It is impossible to avoid all heavy metals, as they have become part of our natural and artificial environment. However, it is crucial to be aware of the main sources of these toxic chemicals so you can take action to reduce your exposure. It is also important to know ways to support your body’s ability to metabolise and detoxify heavy metals since it is now so easy to be exposed.
Aluminium
Found in: Anti-perspirants, aluminium cans, tetra packs, vaccines, soil contamination, foil, cooking vessels, antacids, baking powder, nasal sprays, vaginal douches.
Nutrient antagonists: Vitamin C, vitamin D, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorous, selenium, zinc.
Cadmium
Found in: Air pollution, cigarette smoke, soft water, pesticides, contaminated seafood and oysters.
Nutrient antagonists: Vitamin C, calcium, iron, selenium, zinc, glutathione.
Food antagonists: Eggs, garlic, high protein diets, onion, apple pectin.
Lead
Found in: Canned fish, cigarette smoke, pollution, lead plumbing, car exhaust, and lead-based paints.
Nutrient antagonists: Vitamin B complex, vitamin E, calcium, chromium, copper, fibre, iron, lysine, methionine, quercetin, selenium.
Food antagonists: citrus, eggs, garlic, onion, wheat germ.
Mercury
Found in: Body talcs and powders, contaminated seafood, cosmetics, dental amalgam, fungicides, vaccines, pesticides
Nutrient antagonists: vitamin C, vitamin B5, vitamin B12, vitamin B6 glutathione, methionine, selenium.
Food antagonists: asparagus, Brussel sprouts, eggs, garlic, legumes, and apple pectin.
Tips to avoid heavy metal toxicity
- Eat organic where possible to avoid pesticides and fungicides and wash all fresh fruit and vegetables
- Include plenty of garlic, onion, broccoli, coriander, cabbage family vegetables and legumes in your diet
- Increase fibre intake
- Take a good quality multivitamin/mineral or antioxidant supplement every day and have your iron levels checked regularly
- Avoid all sources of heavy metals listed above
Did you know?
In Australia, fish oil supplements are regulated as medicines and hence have strict standards surrounding them. Maximum levels of contamination by heavy metals are underpinned by law here and are to pharmacopeial standard. The Therapeutical Goods Administration (TGA) sets the upper-limit of 0.5mg/kg of heavy metals such as mercury, lead and arsenic in all Australian fish oil supplements. So you can take your fish oil in pregnancy with confidence if it is bought in Australia. In regards to heavy metal contamination in fish eaten as food, the Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) have released advice on mercury in fish. You may like to read their following link: Mercury in Fish
References available on request