Heavy metals are a frequent topic among natural health advocates and functional medicine doctors. Heavy metals occur in both food and water, and you may face exposure in other ways as well.
Overexposure to heavy metals can result in significant stress on the body leading to serious symptoms. You are right to be concerned, but there are other factors to consider such as dosing, carbon bonding, ph, oxidation state, and sourcing.
The concerns regarding heavy metals
The fear surrounding heavy metals is understandable, although it tends to be overly broad. Our bodies need some heavy metals in various ratios and forms in order to function properly. For instance, we need some iron and zinc for overall health. Any metal is also a mineral, and the human body needs essential bioavailable minerals to maintain good health.
When you ingest a plant-based, organically-bound heavy metal that has been altered through a microbial process, it isn’t necessarily toxic. How your body processes it, and whether it is organic or inorganic, has an impact on how the metal will affect your body.
Classification and types of heavy metals
Metals come in different forms, typically organic or inorganic, and essential or nonessential. These classifications do not denote whether a metal is safe or unsafe. We need to look at a metal further to determine its toxicity.
Heavy metals are dangerous when they become ions and actively try to steal electrons from nearby sources. In addition, a change in its oxidation state can make a metal safer or more dangerous. The oxidation state determines whether it is toxic or non-toxic.
The iron in spinach is safe because it’s a covalent bond bound to a carbon. But simply ingesting iron shavings is dangerous because they are free ion not connected to anything. If a metal is not interacting with hydrogens and carbons, it is inorganic. Heavy metals not transformed by microbial processes are called “free-form” heavy metals.
The classification of heavy metals can be complex with variables associated with chemical reactions. Each oxidation state has a different vibrational frequency. As the metal gains more electrons it becomes more oxidative and then creates free radicals.
Government standards for heavy metals
Everything grown in the earth has some level of heavy metals. Thus, our fruits, vegetables, and other plant-based foods all contain some form of heavy metals. The government has different heavy metal standards for food, water, and supplements.
Water and food are the highest sources of heavy metals. The FDA also has an enforced standard for water specifically because people consume much more water than food or even supplement capsules. In consulting the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the standards for bottled water are set for different chemicals and metals, with the amount of lead set at 0.005 mg/l. For food, the FDA has set an IRL, or interim reference level, for lead at <12.5 mcg per day (<0.0125 mg/d) for adults.
The FDA treats supplements differently. Each company must establish its own guidelines to “ensure the quality of the dietary supplement.” This means you need to read labels very carefully and become educated about what guidelines your supplement supplier has adopted. And, you will need to consider the dosing and mathematical conversion, such as converting PPM (parts per million) to PPB (parts per billion). One PPM equals one mg/kg, and one PPB is one mcg/kg. This will significantly impact the dosing levels.
Factors to consider for heavy metal toxicity
When you investigate a supplement for use, you will need to keep in mind some complex factors to determine if the heavy metal is toxic.
1. Oxidation state of the heavy metal
Heavy metals are considered dangerous depending on the free radicals they can create and their oxidative state. Oxidation states reflect energy states, and energy is a function of the movement of charged particles.
Oxidation state is the number of electrons available for donation at a specific time. The energy level determines whether a metal is dangerous. In addition, oxidation state determines whether a metal is reactive and can create reactive oxygen species in the body. Thus, it’s crucial to consider the oxidative state of a metal. If it’s not attached to anything, it’s free-floating and toxic.
2. Carbon molecule bonding
A metal ion bound to carbon creates a strong covalent bond, making it more difficult to separate it into a dangerous free ion. When a plant-derived heavy metal is attached to a carbon molecule, the metal is essential, organic, and non-toxic for the body to process. A carbon molecule bonding is safer and more stable than ionic bonding.
3. Source of the heavy metal.
Food and supplement sources that have been through the microbial process differ from free-floating heavy metals in water. First take into account the source of the heavy metal.
Plants absorb minerals and inorganic heavy metals through the soil. The heavy metals are soluble. The body can utilize them and enable core molecules to produce structures in the body. It’s about energy. Plants can change the state of pollutants or metals. After absorbing metals through their roots, they can alter which metals become bioavailable. These heavy metals are safe and non-toxic to humans when they have gone through this process, which gives them balance and safety.
4. pH of the heavy metal
The surrounding pH environment can make a metal more or less reactive. The human body may tolerate a metal better at a lower pH than it can at a higher pH. A lower pH means more energy available, making elements and metals more bioavailable.
In a study on pH and toxicity done on fish, the test fish tolerated metals much better at lower pH values than at higher ones. As the pH went from basic to acidic, the fish were able to deal with and process metals better.
Why your body needs the right forms of heavy metals
Your body needs some heavy metals. It needs the right forms. Some metals are crucial for proper body functions, and the appropriate distribution of these metals within organs, cells, and tissue needs to be properly maintained. An overload or a deficiency can cause health problems. But, it’s more than just that. How the metals are structured and formed is highly important.
Essential metals for the body
Nickel
- Breaks down urea to prevent urea toxicity
- Enhances the activity of hormones
- Metabolizes lipids
- Prevents iron deficiency
Potassium
- Balances fluids in the body
- Helps to maintain a steady heartbeat
- Makes muscles contract
- May benefit bones and blood pressure
Sodium
- Balances fluids in the body
- Helps send nerve impulses
- Helps make muscles contract
Zinc
- Bolsters the immune system
- Helps blood clot
- Helps make proteins and DNA
- Helps wound healing and cell division
Calcium
- Activates enzymes throughout the body
- Allows nerves to send messages
- Assists in blood clotting
- Builds teeth and bones
- Helps regulate blood pressure
- Promotes muscle contractions
Cobalt
- Helps make red blood cells
- Maintains the nervous system
- Works as an essential component of vitamin B12 production
Copper
- Assists with metabolizing fuel
- Cleans up free radicals
- Helps make red blood cells
- Regulates neurotransmitters
Iron
- Activates certain enzymes
- Helps make hemoglobin and myoglobin
- Makes amino acids, collagen, hormones, and neurotransmitters
Manganese
- Helps form bones
- Helps metabolize amino acids, carbohydrates, and cholesterol
The correct dosing for heavy metals
Moderation is key. Work with your functional medicine doctor to help determine the right balance and regulation. Begin with lower doses and adjust from there.
The dose is an important indicator if a heavy metal is dangerous or not. Become educated about heavy metals. We see warning labels required by regulators, and we assume all are harmful. It’s really a matter of what the different measurements look like and the standards that must be met for safe and effective products.
Final thoughts
Heavy metals are appropriate in some forms. Some pose a risk, whereas others don’t. The body needs them in the right forms and the right amounts. Stating that all heavy metals are bad is erroneous because multiple factors are involved in that determination:
- What is the source of the heavy metal?
- What is the oxidation state?
- Is it bound to a carbon?
- What is the pH of the heavy metal?
The purpose of many heavy metals is to promote drainage, detoxification, and support the body at the cellular level. Work closely with your functional medicine doctor to establish the right supplements for your particular needs.