Hi,
I got back results showing higher that I have lead levels (top of the range considered acceptable locally). Where I am, the acceptable range for adults is 0-0.5 micromols/litre. Do I need to know more about the form of lead to know how to treat it?
I gather that the US talks about blood levels in micrograms/deciliter (mcg/dl), and officially considers under 10 micrograms/deciliter to be OK, though there is evidence that risks for serious problems increase at much lower levels (eg over 2 micrograms/deciliter). Googling has found me some interesting studies from the US, but I don't know how to convert units.
My children have been tested, and have much lower levels than me (though higher than I'd like - 0 would be good). I guess thanks to their resistance to eating excessive vegetables.
I may have had other exposures, but it is likely that a lot has come from my garden. I'm seriously regretting the year I spent drinking daily green smoothies with lots of various fresh leafy greens from my garden, in the hope of improving my health. Also regret eating and feeding my children my home grown free range eggs for years. When I found out a few months ago that there might be a contamination problem, I stopped eating greens and roots from the garden, and cut back on eating the fruit. My reading so far suggests that fruit picks up a lot less of the lead, and is likely much safer (as long as they are peeled or very thoroughly washed.
I also have a mouthful of mercury amalgam fillings, so that adds to the heavy metal burden. Haven't found any references to any local dentists who use appropriate safe methods for removing and replacing the amalgam fillings. Not sure that either my health or my wallet can take the hit of having them removed.
I know there are others trying to figure out mercury issues. Are there significant differences in dealing with lead?
It wouldn't surprise me if these two metals contribute significantly to metabolic and my migraine issues.
My understanding is that:
- it is good to get lead and mercury out of the system, where they do continuous damage,
- that the body has some capacity for eliminating them, but less if metabolism is slow
- mobilising the metals in the process of getting them out is risky in itself, and can cause more damage than letting them stay put
- if you do anything to mobilise them, it is important to have a way to remove them
- slow elimination is generally safer than fast
- the side effects of the chemicals commonly prescribed for severe lead poisoning can have significant negative effects, and the medical system usually only things it is worth doing if the lead poisoning is severe.
So what to do? I'd appreciate your thoughts on the likely effectiveness and safety of following possibilities, and any other suggestions for improving detox, and protecting myself from colateral damage.
- Keep trying to improve general metabolism with diet and supplements etc, as I have been (described in my main migraine thread).
- Try to improve detoxification using:
Garlic?
Increasing coffee (is the caffeine important)?
Increasing fibre - esp carrot salad
More regular activated charcoal - is it good at adsorbing heavy metals, or is mostly good for removing organic molecules? Risks may be warranted if it helps remove the metals?
Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
I got back results showing higher that I have lead levels (top of the range considered acceptable locally). Where I am, the acceptable range for adults is 0-0.5 micromols/litre. Do I need to know more about the form of lead to know how to treat it?
I gather that the US talks about blood levels in micrograms/deciliter (mcg/dl), and officially considers under 10 micrograms/deciliter to be OK, though there is evidence that risks for serious problems increase at much lower levels (eg over 2 micrograms/deciliter). Googling has found me some interesting studies from the US, but I don't know how to convert units.
My children have been tested, and have much lower levels than me (though higher than I'd like - 0 would be good). I guess thanks to their resistance to eating excessive vegetables.
I may have had other exposures, but it is likely that a lot has come from my garden. I'm seriously regretting the year I spent drinking daily green smoothies with lots of various fresh leafy greens from my garden, in the hope of improving my health. Also regret eating and feeding my children my home grown free range eggs for years. When I found out a few months ago that there might be a contamination problem, I stopped eating greens and roots from the garden, and cut back on eating the fruit. My reading so far suggests that fruit picks up a lot less of the lead, and is likely much safer (as long as they are peeled or very thoroughly washed.
I also have a mouthful of mercury amalgam fillings, so that adds to the heavy metal burden. Haven't found any references to any local dentists who use appropriate safe methods for removing and replacing the amalgam fillings. Not sure that either my health or my wallet can take the hit of having them removed.
I know there are others trying to figure out mercury issues. Are there significant differences in dealing with lead?
It wouldn't surprise me if these two metals contribute significantly to metabolic and my migraine issues.
My understanding is that:
- it is good to get lead and mercury out of the system, where they do continuous damage,
- that the body has some capacity for eliminating them, but less if metabolism is slow
- mobilising the metals in the process of getting them out is risky in itself, and can cause more damage than letting them stay put
- if you do anything to mobilise them, it is important to have a way to remove them
- slow elimination is generally safer than fast
- the side effects of the chemicals commonly prescribed for severe lead poisoning can have significant negative effects, and the medical system usually only things it is worth doing if the lead poisoning is severe.
So what to do? I'd appreciate your thoughts on the likely effectiveness and safety of following possibilities, and any other suggestions for improving detox, and protecting myself from colateral damage.
- Keep trying to improve general metabolism with diet and supplements etc, as I have been (described in my main migraine thread).
- Try to improve detoxification using:
Garlic?
Increasing coffee (is the caffeine important)?
Increasing fibre - esp carrot salad
More regular activated charcoal - is it good at adsorbing heavy metals, or is mostly good for removing organic molecules? Risks may be warranted if it helps remove the metals?
Thanks in advance for your thoughts.