Mercury Filling Removal: Detox Support

With all the controversy over mercury fillings I have been reading about lately, I would like to take a moment to just briefly summarize the basics of safe mercury amalgam removal, as well as how to support the natural elimination of mercury from your body.

I tend to be very conservative in my thinking as a naturopathic physician, and hope that my patients and readers go about having their mercury amalgams replaced sensibly, and slowly over time. The rationale for this, is that you are likely exposed to much more mercury in the removal process than what is released from chewing your food or grinding your teeth. Read more

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The Healing Power of Mexican Food

Happy Cinco de Mayo everyone!

Since many of you are going out for Mexican food today, I thought I would talk about all the great super foods abundant in traditional Mexican fare.

Mexican food can be extremely healthy if prepared properly, try to avoid the greasy dishes in lieu of the lighter ones with veggies.

Fajitas and burritos are much better choices than nachos and tacos, and just as delicious. Especially AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE those nasty things that are deep fried (um… can someone tell me how to spell chimichanga?)

Keep in mind that tonight you may also want to avoid drinking your calories. The average margarita or daiquiri runs around 1000 calories!

If you have two of those that is the amount of calories you need for the whole day! Yikes.

Let’s not drink our calories. I know strawberry daiquiri’s are delicious but before you decide to have one ask yourself whether or not you want to be drinking all that sugar, food coloring and calories. Save making drinks like that at home with REAL fruit. Read more

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Detoxification Diet

Although “treating the cause” of an illness is fundamentally most important, next up is to “remove the obstacles to cure”. Eating a clean diet allows your body a vacation from it’s usual duties and thus the time and energy to restore to a more optimal state of functioning. The more you clean up your diet and lifestyle the better state of health you will experience in the long run. The following is a basic detoxification diet. Be sure to check with your physician first to determine if a detox is the right choice for you.

BEVERAGES
Include in diet – mint, spearmint, comfrey, licorice root, eucalyptus, dandelion, chaparral, red clover, chamomile. Coffee substitute: Pero, Cafix.

Avoid – alcohol, cocoa, coffee, milk, soft drinks and decaf coffee.

BREAD
Include in diet – millet, rye, buckwheat, whole wheat, bran, corn, 7-grains, soya tortillas, only whole grains, freshly ground or sprouted, free of all preservatives.

Avoid – white bread and blended bread made out of white flour

CEREALS
Include in diet – millet, oatmeal, brown and wild rice, buckwheat groats, barley, cornmeal, cracked wheat and 7-grain, freshly ground if possible.

Avoid – processed cereals which are puffed, flaked, etc., NO WHITE RICE.

DAIRY PRODUCTS
Include in diet – no dairy products. Tofu (soy cheese) is OK. Milk substitutes: soy, sesame or diluted tahini milk, rice milk, use nut milks sparingly, no eggs in any form.

Avoid – eggs, milk, cheeses

FATS
Include in diet – most cold-pressed, unsaturated oils such as, safflower, sesame, walnut, corn, soy and soy lecithin spread

Avoid – butter, shortening, margarine, saturated oils & fats, cottonseed oil. Rancid and continually heated oils.

PROTEIN
Include in diet – cold water fish (baked, broiled, poached) tofu, all legumes

Avoid – beef, pork, poultry and veal

DESSERTS
Include in diet – fresh, whole fruits, fruit cocktails, stewed fruits, natural fruit gelatin, whole tapioca. Sweeteners: honey, sorghum and maple syrup (in moderation)

Avoid – Canned or frozen fruits, all pastries, custards, sauces, ice cream & candy

FRUITS
Include in diet – fresh fruits organically grown if possible. Apples, apricots, bananas, berries, cherries, currants, grapes, guavas, grapefruit, lemon, mango, melon, nectarine, oranges, papaya, peaches, pineapple, pears, plums, persimmons, tangerines

Avoid – sprayed and sulfured fruit, canned or frozen fruit.

JUICES
Include in diet – only fresh unsweetened juices if possible. Fruit: apple, berry, cherry, grape, grapefruit, lemon, orange, pear, pineapple, prune. Vegetables: beet, carrot, cucumber, celery, garlic, onion, peppers (red or green), radish, red cabbage, turnip. Peel sprayed vegetables or wash thoroughly.

Avoid – all canned and frozen juices

NUTS & SEEDS
Include in diet – limited amounts of nuts, particularly fresh, raw walnuts, almonds, pecan and peanuts. Raw nut butters, freshly made only. Seeds: sunflower, chia, sesame and pumpkin.

Avoid – roasted and/or salted nuts and seeds. Cashew, brazil and pine nuts are too high in oil.

SOUPS
Include in diet – home made soups made from listed ingredients. Brown rice, barley or millet can be added. Miso soups with vegetables.

Avoid – canned and creamed soups, fat stock, bouillon or dehydrated consomméé

POTATOES, PASTA & GRAINS
Include in diet – baked or steamed potatoes with jackets and mashed. Potato salad seasoned with salad dressing. Millet, brown rice and all kinds of pasta & macaroni made from buckwheat, whole wheat, soy and vegetable flower without eggs.

Avoid – French fries, potato chips, grilled potatoes, white rice, white flour noodles and macaroni.

SEASONING
Include in diet – chives, garlic, parsley, sprouts. Herbs: Laurel, marjoram, sage, thyme and savory. Kelp, vegetables and herb seasonings (that contain no sodium chloride “table salt”). Salt substitutes: “Spike”, “Vegit”, “Veg Sal” and soy sauce.

Avoid – spices, pepper and table salt

VEGETABLES
Include in diet – raw or freshly steamed, organically grown if possible. Artichokes, asparagus, beets, carrots, celery, chives, corn, cucumbers, endive, green and wax beans, green peas, lentils, lima beans, onions, peppers, potatoes, tomatoes, yams, watercress, kale, beet tops, radish, red cabbage, etc.

Avoid – sprayed, canned or frozen vegetables.

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Hidden Sources of Mercury

While you and your doctor are considering the possibility of Chronic Mercury Toxicity or while you are looking for ways to remove mercury in your immediate environment, avoid the items below. All items listed contain various amounts of mercury. Using them without precautionary measures could intensify chronic mercury toxicity symptoms.

Foods
Tuna – canned or fresh
Shellfish – shrimp, lobster, crab, oysters, etc.
Other large saltwater fish – swordfish, salmon, cod, etc.
Carrots-non organic
Lettuce
Grains treated with methylmercury fungicides – especially wheat
Kelp and other seaweeds

Cosmetics
Some hair dyes – read contents
Mascara – waterproof type especially
Skin lightening creams

Medications
Preparation H
Toilet paper made from recycled paper
Calomel – body powders and talc
Mercurochrome
Merthiolate
Laxatives containing Calomel
Psoriasis ointment
Calamine lotions
Contact lens solutions
Vaginal gels – especially those that are contraceptives

Miscellaneous
Latex and solvent – thinned paints
Fabric softeners
Floor waxes and polishes
Air conditioner filters
Wood preservatives
Cinnabar – used in jewelry
Felts
Adhesives
Tattooing
Batteries with mercury cells
Sewage disposal
Fungicides for lawns, shrubs and trees

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