Toxic Elements and Hair Analysis

Toxic elements permeate our society and every person is constantly absorbing microscopic amounts of a wide variety of toxins that contribute to numerous health problems. Toxins are in our medications, household products, hygiene products, foodstuff, cosmetics, air, water, and a myriad of other sources. Even name brand toothpaste possesses a warning to “Contact your Poison Control Center if swallowed”!

Constant toxic exposures produce one of two possibilities. First, if our body possesses sufficient levels of protective nutrients required to eliminate a particular toxin, we will not experience adverse affects. Secondly, elimination is impaired because of an insufficient level of a protective nutrient and the body sequesters the remainder into storage sites throughout the mind and body.

Many health problems are associated toxic elements and the following is an example of three toxic elements common in our society and their inferred tendencies for health problems. Inferred tendencies result from the complete disruption of important nutrients.

• Mercury – anorexia, anemia, hair loss, birth defects, brain damage, depression, retinitis, fatigue, hearing loss, hyperactivity, insomnia, kidney damage, memory loss, migraine headaches, mood swings, nervousness, dizziness, schizophrenia, tremors, impaired peripheral vision, numbness, excessive salivation, pain in limbs, muscles weakness, impaired immunity and ataxia.

• Lead – arthritis, anemia, anorexia, ADD/ADHD, convulsions, hearing impairment, dyslexia, encephalitis, fatigue, insomnia, MS, muscular dystrophy, Parkinson’s, vertigo, arteriosclerosis, abdominal discomfort, liver dysfunction, constipation, impotence, infertility, sterility, tooth decay, anxiety, depression, hallucinations, memory impairment, joint pain, learning disabilities, decreased IQ and schizophrenia.

• Cadmium – hair loss, anemia, ADD/ADHD, atherosclerosis, arthritis, arteriosclerosis, cancer, elevated cholesterol, cirrhosis, diabetes, enlarged heart, hypertension, hyperactivity, hypercholesterol, emphysema, hypoglycemia, inflammation, lung disease, migraine headaches, osteoporosis, schizophrenia, strokes and vascular disease.

The following is an example of their antagonist affects upon nutritional elements.

• Mercury antagonizes iron, selenium, copper, zinc, and sulfur.

• Lead antagonizes calcium, magnesium, copper, zinc, chromium, selenium, manganese, sulfur, and iron.

• Cadmium antagonizes calcium, magnesium, copper, iron, manganese zinc, selenium and sulfur.

Common sources include:

• Mercury – tuna, fungicides, algaecides, insecticides, grains, a wide variety of medications, skin lightening creams, dental amalgams, mercury filled thermometers, red tattoo ink, florescence lights, Methiolate (Thiomersol or Thiomersal), Mercurochrome

• Lead – hair dye, cigarette smoke, metal polishes, pesticides, ceramic glazes, older copper water lines solder, lead water lines (pre 1940), agriculture soils, pottery, candles, cosmetics, lead crystal containers, smelters, battery production, stained glass, indoor shooting galleries

• Cadmium – food from contaminated soil, large ocean fish, dental materials, processed meats, coloring agent in some paints, horse feed, burning of petrochemicals (tires and plastics), tobacco, fertilizer

Toxic Safety Guidelines – are provided by various regulatory agencies for toxic element exposure and as seen in the media, remain quite controversial in many areas (vaccines, dental amalgams, etc.). The paradox of safe exposure limits is the basic assumption each person in our society possesses sufficient amounts of nutritional elements required to eliminate each toxin to which we are continually exposed. This is not the case and may help explain why some people are more susceptible toward adverse reactions and health conditions from any particular toxic exposure or pharmaceutical.

As an example, you will see in the graphics section (first two pages) in the “Sample Report” that iron (Fe) is very close to the ideal level in the Nutritional Elements graph and that lead (Pb) in the Toxic Elements graph is within the “Acceptable Range”. However, in the Toxic Ratios graph you will see the regulatory agencies “acceptable” level of lead is potentially affecting the nutritional element iron (Fe/Pb ratio). This ratio does not necessarily suggest that consuming more iron will improve the ratio because the complete biochemistry must be taken into account to improve any ratio.

Detoxification – Many detox programs are widely available and many work well for their intended purpose, however, the only program that will mobilize deeply stored toxins throughout the various tissues of the mind and body is a targeted nutritional program. The body must heal from within through proper nutrition and during this healing process; it will self-regulate the mobilization and removal process of deeply stored toxins. This is a natural chelation process.

Additional Toxic/Nutrient Affects
For example, we just seen that mercury interferes with iron that is responsible for 100’s of enzymatic actions throughout the mind and body.

Mercury’s affect on iron will disrupt iron’s synergistic relationships with calcium, chromium, copper, manganese, zinc, phosphorous, cobalt and further increase the potential adverse affects of the toxic elements lead and cadmium. Consequently, we can see that an iron imbalance affects 7 additional nutritional minerals and their 1,000’s of enzymatic actions.

In addition, mercury’s antagonistic affect on iron will affect the synergistic relationship of iron with vitamins E, C, A, B1, B2, B3, B6 and B12 and increase the antagonistic relationship of vitamins B12, E (biphasic effect) and D. Although vitamins are considered co-enzymes to minerals, they require synergistic relationships in order to fulfill their functions.

Many people are familiar with amino acids and may not realize the importance of their synergistic/antagonistic interrelationships. Mercury’s affect on iron also affects the amino acid lysine, an essential amino acid (concentrated in large muscle tissues) that cannot be manufactured by the body.

Lysine metabolites are found throughout the endocrine glands and responsible for a plethora of mind/body functions that range from the immune system, HGH, bone matrix, cartilage, brain neurotransmitters, connective tissues and on and on. Lysine is also a precursor for several other important amino acids (such as carnitine, citrruline, caproic acid, etc.) additionally responsible for hundreds of other important functions.

Lysine requires vitamins B2, B3, B6, C and the mineral iron for absorption and utilization. Did you notice these are the same B vitamins affected by an imbalanced iron? A lysine deficiency is also associated with a plethora of disorders (as is each vitamin and mineral) and includes: fatigue, irritability, hair loss, anemia, poor appetite, impaired concentration, and enzyme disorders.

Because it is beyond the scope of this page, we hope that by this point you are beginning to realize the potential every toxic element possesses on every nutrient required for the health of the mind and body.