Iron, zinc, and copper aren’t just for jewelry, decor, piping, and tools. In small amounts, they’re actually good for our health, as they keep our cells energized and working their best. However . . . not all heavy metals belong in our bodies. Some dangerous heavy metals include lead, mercury, and cadmium, which can be toxic. And, unfortunately, these dangerous metals are in many everyday products.
Thankfully, our bodies come equipped with a natural detox system that helps remove these metals. The liver, kidneys, gut, and lymphatic system all work together to filter out harmful substances. But when things like stress, inflammation, hormone imbalances, and poor sleep get in the way, that system can slow down.
So, today we’re diving into simple, natural ways to support your body’s ability to detox. That way, you can release heavy metals and other toxins to get back to feeling your absolute best.
Want more information about detoxing? Curious about parasites and heavy metals?, Listen to this episode of The Him & Her Show featuring Chervin Jafarieh, the founder of one of our favorite supplement brands, Cymbiotika:
What Is Natural Heavy Metal Detox?
Natural heavy metal detoxification is a gentle, lifestyle-based approach to help your body eliminate harmful substances. Simple habits like an intentional diet, regular movement, and quality sleep can have a big impact by helping clear out toxins that may be lingering and holding you back.
In this post, we’ll cover where heavy metal exposure comes from, how it affects the body, and how you can naturally support your body’s detox process. Here’s what you need to know:
What Causes Heavy Metals in the Body?
- Contaminated food and water: mercury in fish, lead in water pipes
- Air pollution: from industrial areas or heavy traffic
- Household products: certain paints, cosmetics, and cleaning agents
- Pesticides and herbicides: used on non-organic crops
- Dental fillings: older amalgam fillings containing mercury
- Occupational exposure: jobs in construction, mining, or battery manufacturing
- Vaccines and medications: may contain trace metals as preservatives
- Tobacco smoke: contains cadmium and other toxic metals
- Contaminated cookware and utensils: aluminum or low-quality non-stick pans
- Imported toys and jewelry: may contain lead or cadmium
- Traditional and herbal remedies: may contain mercury, arsenic, or lead
- Contaminated soil: exposure through gardening or playing in polluted areas
- Hobbies and crafts: activities like painting, welding, or electronics recycling
- Older buildings: lead paint or plumbing still present in some homes
- Unfiltered well water or copper pipes: potential for copper or arsenic exposure
What Do Heavy Metals Do to the Body?
Chronic Fatigue
High levels of heavy metals damage cell membranes and displace key nutrients. Plus, enzymes important for cellular energy bind to heavy metals, preventing that energy from being produced. The result? You feel tired and drained all the time.
Brain Fog and Memory Problems
Another symptom of heavy metal toxicity is brain fog. Some metals, like mercury and lead, are actually neurotoxic, meaning they can get from your blood into your brain. This can cause confusion, memory issues, and trouble focusing.
Mood Issues
The cognitive effects of heavy metals go beyond brain fog. They mess with your balance of serotonin and dopamine and increase oxidative stress in the brain. This can all lead to mood issues like anxiety, irritability, and even depression.
Poor Gut Health
When your body detects heavy metals, it triggers inflammation to neutralize those toxins. That means long-term exposure to heavy metals can cause chronic inflammation, harming the gut lining and killing beneficial bacteria. And, when the gut isn’t working properly, here comes bloating, constipation, nausea, and poor nutrient absorption.
Headaches and Body Pain
Inflammation isn’t just in the gut. It can also show up as headaches, joint pain, and muscle aches—some common symptoms of heavy metal poisoning! If you feel like you’re constantly sore all over your body, it may be time to consider doing a cleanse.
Skin Problems
Did you know your skin is a detox organ? It’s one of the reasons skincare is so important. When your liver and kidneys can’t handle the toxins, your body may try to, essentially, expel them however it can. And what does that typically result in? Acne and rashes. That said, skin irritation can definitely be one of the tell-tale side effects of heavy metal toxicity.
Tingling or Numbness
Neurotoxic metals like mercury and arsenic can damage nerves, causing tingling and numbness, or even that awful pins and needles feeling. This is especially true in the hands and feet.
Weakened Immune System
Heavy metals can mess with your immune system by weakening white blood cells and damaging immune tissues. In return, you may get sick more often or feel like it’s much harder to fight off illnesses. A longer (and harder) recovery time—no matter how often you’re taking daily vitamins and supplements—can be a sign of heavy metals building up in your body.
Irregular Periods
Metals like cadmium and mercury can mess with your hormones by mimicking or blocking signals. They can throw off your thyroid, stress your adrenals, and even affect your ovaries, sometimes causing changes in your cycle.
Can You Detox Heavy Metal from Your Body Naturally?
YES! It takes some strategy and commitment, but you can naturally detox heavy metals from your body. You just have to support your body’s built-in detoxification system to help it flush things out more effectively. Give the liver, kidneys, gut, and lymphatic system some love and you can see big improvements in your health and daily symptoms.
You can hear more about how it works in the Chervin Jafarieh podcast with TSC! But, if you want a clear guide ASAP, here’s how to remove heavy metals naturally:
How to Detox from Heavy Metals Naturally
Eat a nutrient-rich diet.
A balanced diet is the foundation of a healthy body. To specifically support the detox process, make sure to include plenty of foods high in antioxidants and fiber. Leafy greens, garlic, cilantro, broccoli, and cauliflower are all great for flushing heavy metals from the body!
Want more on how to eat well and feel better? Listen to the episode of TSC podcast with Bobby Parrish. He’s an ingredient investigator and talks food labels, healthy swaps, and his “Bobby-Approved” grocery list in the episode. You can also check out this post on the Superhuman diet from Gary Brecka.
Use natural chelators.
“Chelators” are substances that bind to heavy metals and help remove them. You can do your own “chelation therapy” by adding natural chelators to your diet—cilantro, chlorella, spirulina, garlic, and other fiber-rich foods.
Stay hydrated.
Water is one of the best natural detox tools out there. However, be sure to drink the right water to keep your gut healthy and support your liver and kidneys effectively. Chervin Jafarieh says leave the alkaline water and grab spring water instead.
Here’s him discussing water and detox on the Him & Her Show:
Support gut health.
A healthy gut lining acts like a filter. It keeps toxins from getting directly into the body, and instead, lets them pass right through. Probiotics and fermented foods to maintain a balanced gut microbiome. Some may even bind to heavy metals right in your digestive tract to help move them out!
Sweat it out.
Sweat is another one of the body’s natural ways of eliminating toxins! So, sweat those heavy metals out with regular exercise and sauna time. Research does show that higher levels of dynamic exercise are the best for toxin removal—but any sweat is good sweat here. Just aim to get your body moving!
Practice stress management.
Feeling stressed out all the time can actually hurt your body, hindering your liver, kidneys, and gut from working properly. Practices like meditation and deep breathing can actually support detoxification! The more relaxed you feel, the easier it becomes to eliminate toxins and start feeling better.
Get quality sleep.
Getting enough good sleep is so important for your body to recharge and detox—especially your brain. While you sleep, your lymphatic system kicks in to help clear out waste and keep things running smoothly. For more on the importance of sleep, listen to these TSC podcast episodes:
- Matthew Walker, PhD. How To Master Sleep, Cure Chronic Sleep Issues, & Make Your Life Better
- Andrew Huberman On Mastering Sleep, Stress, Anxiety, Hormones, & Improving Eyesight For Optimal Health Benefits
- What Women Need To Know About Stress With Gracie Norton & Lauryn Bosstick
Use natural salts.
Celtic salt is rich in trace minerals that can help maintain your body’s mineral balance and reduce heavy metal absorption! This is one of the many reasons we include it in our Beauty Salt. (Which should 100% be part of your morning routine). But, if you’re wondering about other natural salts, here’s why Celtic salt is better than Himalayan salt.
Give yourself a lymphatic drainage massage.
Your lymphatic system is like your body’s natural detox highway. Lymph fluid picks up toxins, including heavy metals, and helps escort them out of the body. To keep things flowing smoothly, manual lymphatic drainage massage can be a great support! Tools like the TSC Face Massager (or any gentle massage tool) can help stimulate lymph flow and get things moving.
Start dry brushing.
Another great way of encouraging lymphatic drainage? Dry brushing! You simply take a special dry brush (like the TSC Butter Brush) and make upward strokes—it’s that easy! This process stimulates lymph flow, boosts circulation, and encourages the release of heavy metals and other toxins.
There are lots of ways to naturally rid your body of heavy metals!
Heavy metals can mess with your energy, mood, skin, and overall health. But the body knows how to detox—it just needs the right support. Clean food, good sleep, hydration, and a few simple daily habits can make a big difference. So, sit down, write out your plan, and start feeling your best with natural detoxification!
Want more ways to elevate your health and wellness? Listen to these episodes of The Him & Her Show: