The Poisons Around Us. Toxic Metals in Food, Air, and Water

While excessive amounts of metal in food can clearly be dangerous, strong evidence now shows that some trace elements may be toxic as well.

While some metals, such as copper, manganese and zinc, actually act as nutrients that can be beneficial for health, others have no known benefits. These potentially harmful metals include:

Arsenic
Cadmium
Lead
Mercury
Aluminum
 
These elements can actually act as “anti-nutrients,” which means they hinder the absorption of essential nutrients, a condition that can be particularly dangerous to children and adults.

Lead acts as an anti-nutrient, hindering the utilization of magnesium, zinc and vitamin B1. High lead levels have been linked to a reduction in IQ, negative behavior and increased violent behavior.”

Cadmium accumulates in the body and can stay there for many years. The metal accumulates most often in the bones, liver and kidneys and can cause damage to these areas along with cancer, reproductive risks, brain damage, weakening of the immune system, prostate enlargement, behavioral problems and learning disabilities.

Mercury: The primary way humans are exposed to methylmercury, an organic form of mercury, is by eating fish. One of the primary health concerns is for children, pregnant and nursing women, or women who may become pregnant, as mercury can harm a developing child.


Toxins are so abundant nowadays that it may be impossible to avoid them completely. But why is there toxic metals in food?

Originally posted by SuperSlovak
Toxins are so abundant nowadays that it may be impossible to avoid them completely. But why is there toxic metals in food?

Food is grown within a certain environment, if the soil is depleted and full of toxins, pesticides, and metals so will be the food since it draws from the ground where it is grown. Same with the air. Most food plants are in close proximity to major Hwy's, car pollution has metals in it which get released into the air. Again, a plant absorbs what is in the air.

Food toxicity is a result of environmental pollution and toxicity on one hand and chemicals induced by farmers on the other. It's less a conspiracy than it is our choice of lifestyle.

[edit on 18-2-2010 by thegreatobserver]

We are doomed no matter what. I have written off the world a long time ago.