Heavy Metals and The Dangers of Kale

This week Harper’s Bazaar published an article saying that “people are getting seriously sick from eating kale,” because of its thallium content, a heavy metal that is naturally occurring in soil.

So should we all stop eating this favorite veggie, darling of professional chefs and smoothie lovers? Keep reading to get the real story. Spoiler: Don’t ditch your favorite leafy green just yet.

Top 5 things you need to know about heavy metals.

Metals are natural. Metals are found naturally occurring in soil because they are part of the earth’s crust. A heavy metal is defined as a chemical element with a specific gravity that is at least five times that of water.
Metals are essential. Zinc, B12 (which contains cobalt), Iron, Manganese and Molybdenum are metals and are all essential for the function of human metabolism, red blood cell formation, energy production and liver function.
Some metals are dangerous. High levels of Mercury, Lead, Arsenic, Thallium and other heavy metals can cause symptoms as varied as nerve damage and pain, nausea, vomiting, headaches, fatigue, thyroid dysfunction, and even kidney failure and cancer. Click here for a list of metals and their associated symptoms if they accumulate to toxic levels.
The real issue probably isn’t the metals. More and more of us, our poor diets, bad digestion, and inflammatory, sedentary lifestyles are leading to the accumulation of low levels of metals causing early, low-grade biological stress and dysfunction, rather than actual toxicity.
Who should NOT detox from heavy metals? Pregnant women, the elderly and people who are very ill or frail.

The most common sources of heavy metal exposure.

It usually takes significant exposure to get severe symptoms but low-grade chronic exposure can lead to immune dysfunction, hormone imbalance, fatigue, brain fog, and even high blood pressure in the case of lead. Sources of heavy metal exposure include:

Arsenic

Rice, especially brown rice, and seafood, which have been contaminated with Arsenic, are a growing problem. Note that both the inorganic and organic forms of Arsenic are naturally occurring, and the inorganic form is much more toxic, but also less prevalent.

Mercury

Exposure to industrial sources of mercury in an occupational role, or in older fillings in teeth that have mercury as a component. There is also concern as to whether the use of Thimerisol, a preservative in certain vaccines and other medical treatments, which contains 50% mercury by weight, is a source of mercury toxicity. People who consume lots of fish that have bioaccumulated Mercury in the fatty tissue of larger fish, such as tuna, swordfish, and grouper.

Aluminum

This is most commonly found in deodorants and other medications and personal care products.

Lead

Paint in old houses, leaded fuel emissions in the air (on the decline but still present in industrial settings, and lead in glass and other manufactured products are some of the major sources. Lead is also in the soil and while generally not absorbed into plants, can be found in very low quantities on the surface of root veggies like carrots and in leafy greens like lettuce.

Thallium and Cesium

Some, but not all, cruciferous vegetables, like Kale and Cabbage, may accumulate these metals but there is no way to know if the veggies you are eating are high in these metals without testing the vegetables themselves. Where and how they are grown – soil, water and fertilizer specifically – will determine their levels.

How do you get rid of heavy metals naturally?

Get tested.
Detoxify gently.

Work with a doctor or a trained functional medicine health coach on gentle detoxification. Most people can successfully detoxify with these steps and do not need aggressive or IV based detoxification

Eat a high fiber (30-50grams per day) diet
Eat a diet that is low in sugar and anti-inflammatory
Heal your gut so you if you have an intact intestinal lining and no “leaky gut”
Support methylation, a biochemical process essential to detoxification and repair.
Move and sweat regularly, including regular sauna treatments if advised by your doctor.
Deal with stress in a healthful, non-toxic way (aka meditation, not donuts and wine)
Keep your gut moving and stay well hydrated so that you can take advantage of your basic detox mechanisms, pee and poop.
Take advantage of certain supplements, like antioxidants, fiber, and phytonutrients that support detoxification.