How to Detox Heavy Metal Accumulation With Nutrition

5 Foods to  Support Detoxing Heavy Metals From Your Body:

1. Turmeric
2. Seaweed
3. Cilantro
4. Onions
5. Garlic

Supporting Role:

Heavy metals like lead, mercury, and arsenic are ubiquitous in our environment and are known to cause organ damage and increase cancer risk. Fortunately, some common foods and spices can help prevent their accumulation. (See “Weighing Heavy Metals” to learn more.)

In a 2010 study published in the Journal of Applied Toxicology, rats that had been exposed to mercury were given curcumin, the active compound in the orange-colored spice turmeric. Examining the animals’ kidneys and livers, researchers determined that curcumin significantly reduced the concentration of the heavy metal in these organs and reversed damage done to other bodily systems. (Curcumin is a medicinal botanical and is one of the oldest, most-studied, and safest on the planet. See “Curcumin: Health Benefits of Turmeric’s Most Powerful Compound” for more.)

A 2014 study suggests that curcumin may even help prevent liver damage from heavy metals through its ability to bind with metal compounds, potentially helping remove them from the body.

Alginates — carbohydrates found in seaweed — are able to stick to heavy metals like lead and mercury and direct them out of the body through normal excretory processes. Seaweed compounds can also bind to and remove radioactive strontium (a cancer-causing compound) from the body, according to research from Montreal’s McGill University.

Good to Know:

Purchase seaweed from a reputable source that monitors the waters it’s grown in to be sure it’s not contaminated with heavy metals itself, says Rountree.

“Any high-quality seaweed supplier should be able to provide information about the quality of their products on request,” he says, noting that he typically recommends buying seaweed “harvested from areas that are known to be pristine, such as Iceland.” (To learn more about seaweed and explore tips to incorporate more into your diet, see “The Health Benefits of Sea Vegetables.”)

For more whole foods to support your body’s innate ability to detoxify on a daily basis, see “Everyday Detox: Whole Foods to Support Your Body’s Natural Detoxification Processes” from which this article was excerpted.