Nutritional Balancing

Did you know that Cadmium is an extremely toxic metal commonly  found in cigarette smoke? In addition, it can be  found  in the water we drink, in foods we eat, and is especially prevalent in  the seafood we consume today.  Cadmium causes more physical illness than any other metal today because it is so toxic. It is even more toxic than mercury  in that it causes cancer.  Mercury impairs the immune system, but mainly causes mental illness, not physical issues.  According to Dr. Wilson, “cadmium is among the most toxic of the heavy metals, with acceptable levels one tenth that of most of the others.”It also contributes to many mental illnesses, particularly violence and other related disorders of behavior and mental attitude.  Cadmium can be so toxic to the brain that it causes what might be called ‘a small rebellion’ in the tissues of the brain, which can result in violent thoughts.

Cadmium  is a soft, silvery-white metal located on the periodic table near zinc and  mercury. It is usually found in relation to zinc. Common sources of cadmium in the environment are found as a byproduct of zinc smelting and burning of fossil fuels. According to Russell Blaylock, author of Health and Nutrition Secrets to Save Your Life, “Cadmium can be associated with mining operations, battery production, incineration of municipal waste, and with sludgebased phosphate fertilizers.

The main source opf exposure for most people who do not work in a cadmium-based industry is from food sources. The average daily intake has increased significantly. Many leafy plants absorb cadmium from the soil, especially when sludge-type fertilizers are used. Organ meats, such as kidney and shellfish also contain significant amounts of cadmium.

CADMIUM SYMPTOMS

Cancer. Cadmium is associated with all of the major diseases today.  It is the main impetus for cancer development in the humnan body today, although there are other reasons for cancer as well.

Other Degenerative Diseases. The other major degenerative diseases include, but are not limited to diabetes and heart disease, among many others.  Cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, arthritis and many others. One reason may be that cadmium replaces zinc in the body.  Zinc is required for over 100 or more critical enzymes. These include enzymes needed for proper immune system activity, digestion, cardiovascular health and much more.

Mental Illnesses. Cadmium is also closely associated with many developmental, behavioral and mental disorders.  These include but are not limited to violence, anti-social behavior and ADHD in children and in adults.

Birth Defects and Developmental Disorders. Birth defects often are related to cadmium, when it replaces zinc and other metals in vital genetic functions in the body.  This causes defective genetic expression, which is not the same as defective DNA, which can also occur with cadmium replacing other minerals in other areas of the cells.

CADMIUM SOURCES

Papers. Cigarette papers used to roll joints of many drugs, and many other applications of paper to which humans are exposed through ingestion or even contact.  This problem is made worse by the presence of mercury in most all paper today.  Mercury is used as a fungicide in paper manufacture.  Cadmium is used to make the paper stiff.

In Utero Transfer. Cadmium passes easily through the placenta in utero and enters developing fetuses.  This is why many children are born with behavioral or developmental disorders today.

Shellfish And Most Fish. Cadmium is found in most foods today, especially shellfish from coastal waters.  These foods should be avoided by everyone on planet earth.  It is unfortunate that many people are forced to live on these foods if they are in poor nations and live by the sea.  They are highly contaminated with industrial pollutants, one of which is cadmium.  Others include mercury, of course, and many others.

Junk or Refined or Prepared Foods. Cadmium is also found in many other foods.  These include, but are not limited to junk or refined foods of all kinds.  It is not that these contain more cadmium.  In fact, the amount greater than unprocessed foods is small.  The reasons, however, for the problem are several.

1.  Refining of flour and sugar removes most of the zinc, selenium and chromium.  This is done for many reasons, including commercial exploitation of these valuable trace minerals, now in high demand in China and elsewhere.  Zinc, however, balances and reduces absorption of cadmium in our bodies.  Therefore, when zinc is removed, much more cadmium is absorbed.
2. Cadmium and zinc antagonize on other levels.  This makes the cadmium problem much worse.
3. Refining also adds a small amount of cadmium in some cases, even from the paper wrappers so many items have. This is another source of cadmium in plastic and paper wrappings.

Coffee and Tea, Especially If Strong. These beverages are the major sources for many people around the world who do not live by the sea or eat a lot of fish and seafood.  The coffee and other beans or leaves of tea contain some, and the water they are made with contains more.

Other Foods. Cadmium has contaminated most water supplies in the United States and other industrialized nations.

Zinc Deficiency. This is the most common source of cadmium problems.  Zinc is extremely protective against cadmium absorption in the intestines.

Zinc deficiency may be due to over a hundred factors.  Here are the most important ones at this time. Diets of refined foods, congenital low zinc (born low in zinc), vegetarian diets, and most of all stress from any source. Others are eating deficient food, which includes most of it.  Organic food is best.

Other reasons for zinc deficiency are foods that deplete zinc.  This includes all sugars, including fruits and juices even more so.  This is the reason we do not recommend much juice in this day and age of zinc deficient foods.  Other sources are zinc depleting habits.  These are alcohol, primarily, although drug use, caffeine use and anything that stresses the body will do this to some extent.

Zinc is a critical nutrient that all need to supplement with, at least by eating some meat which is the best source of zinc.  Vegetarians have a real problem with zinc unless they supplement their diets with pumpkin seeds each and every day.  Even then, the amount of these seeds is excessive for the body and today’s pumpkins are deficient due to soils depleted of zinc.

RELATION TO OTHER MINERALS

Zinc. Cadmium sits just beneath zinc in the periodic table of the elements.  This means their structures are similar.  Cadmium can replace zinc in the tissues and in enzyme binding sites.  An important cause of cadmium toxicity other than exposure is a zinc deficiency.  If zinc is deficient due to the diet, stress, or for some other reason, the body will absorb cadmium from food, water or the air and use it in place of zinc.

Interestingly, a gentleman who manufactures surgical gloves told me if they want the gloves to be more flexible, they add zinc to the rubber mixture.  If they want stiffer, more rigid gloves, they add more cadmium.

Copper. Cadmium drives copper into the tissues.  This can reduce the symptoms of copper toxicity in high-copper individuals.  It may be one reason some people enjoy or are addicted to smoking.  They have a high level of copper and the cadmium in the cigarettes helps reduce the effects of copper toxicity.

Sodium. Cadmium raises the tissue sodium level intensely.  In the medical literature this is called an aldosterone-like effect. (Aldosterone is the adrenal hormone that normally raises sodium levels in the body).

The sodium level in a person’s tissues is a very critical indicator of health.  When it is excessive or diminished, it impairs healing a way that is hard to overcome without balancing the level.

Anything that raises sodium will provide an energy boost, and often a temporary feeling of well-being. This is another reason why smoking, which provides a lot of cadmium, as well as many other drugs and foods, have an addictive tendency.

Calcium. Cadmium and calcium are antagonists to some degree.  Calcium helps remove cadmium by a mechanism similar to chelation.  However, calcium does not automatically do this.  Cadmium must be bioavailable in a way for calcium to bind it.  This does occur with nutritional balancing program that balance the oxidation rate utilizing hair mineral analysis.  It does not occur just be taking masses of calcium.

It is true that calcium and cadmium, to some degree, compete for binding sites for absorption and in the bones and other tissues.  For this reason, calcium supplements alone, if enough is ingested, can help remove cadmium to some degree.  However, calcium in a nutritional balancing program can help tremendously, for which reason we normally recommend some calcium in our nutrition programs.

Iron, manganese and chromium. Cadmium is also antagonistic to iron, manganese and chromium. This is one reason for the accumulation of these minerals in a biounavailable state, as they counter cadmium toxicity in a powerful way.

PSYCHOLOGY OF CADMIUM

Cadmium is associated with toughness and hardness.  These are considered masculine qualities. However, it is a brittle hardness, a toxic hardness that is not true strength.  This is why it is sometimes called pseudo-masculine.  I sometimes think of it as living on stilts – an artificial lift that is very shaky.

Zinc and iron provide a far better kind of strength and toughness.  Because cadmium drives copper back into the tissues, many sensitive, emotional people smoke to calm their emotions.  The emotional quality of high copper is replaced by an apparent toughness and strength.

However, it is a second-rate compensation that does not build real strength.  In fact, it weaken the body significantly and leads to far worse problems later.  However, this is an important consideration, because it can help one to understand the attraction of cigarettes.  Those who have smoked for a while may be so used to the feeling cadmium provides that they feel weak, vulnerable, and emotional without it.

Eliminating cadmium often causes these feelings temporarily, along with great fatigue.  However, if one stays on a corrective program, the feelings will pass.  I liken it to having lived on stilts.  When the stilts are removed one can feel ‘low’ but also more grounded and more steady.

CADMIUM AND HAIR ANALYSIS

Cadmium does not accumulate in the hair, but rather in tissues such as the bones, kidneys and brain. When the energy level is low, the body cannot eliminate cadmium from these organs.  Thus, cadmium often does not show up on the first hair mineral test.

It is necessary to support the adrenals and the sodium level to help remove cadmium.  Balancing the oxidation rate is very important.  Zinc, calcium, selenium, kidney glandular and liver support may also be helpful for cadmium detoxification.  Sweating and the use of the sauna may also be very helpful as cadmium can be removed through the skin.

It can take several months to several years on a corrective nutrition program before the body is able to eliminate cadmium.  When that occurs, one may notice odd smells or tastes, and it will often be revealed on the hair mineral test as it is eliminated through the hair as well as through other eliminative organs.