Women with any type of chronic conditions that are seeking alternative or integrative medicine should be evaluated by their health provider for heavy metal toxicity.
Hormonal imbalance, thyroid conditions and other chronic conditions affects millions of women on a regular basis. Heavy metal toxicity plays a vital role in many medical conditions today.
Although some metals are necessary minerals our body needs, most heavy metals in the body are toxic and cause thyroid problems, learning disabilities, hormone imbalances, neurological problems, and can cause cancer and many other health problems.
Heavy metals can be found in the air we breathe, the food we eat, clothes, machinery, tap water, in buildings, cooking utensils, and dental fillings, to name a few.
Essential nutrients cannot be absorbed by the body since heavy metals are not metabolized by the body but build up in the tissues.
They can aggravate chronic inflammation and a breakdown of the immune system which can lead to chronic diseases such as cancer and arthritis.
Heavy metal toxicity common symptoms are digestive problems, high blood pressure, fatigue, headaches, muscle pain, brain fog, constipation and hormonal imbalances.
The basic building blocks of life are amino acids which can be derived from dietary protein that is broken down into individual amino acids by the body.
The amino acids that have been broken down are then reassembled by the body into new and vital structures essential in producing protein structures for enzymes, hormones, body fluids, genes, and neurotransmitters.
Deficiency in amino acids negatively affects the protein synthesis. Exposure to chemicals, agricultural pesticides, and pollution are just some of the contributors to a deficiency in amino acid.
Amino acids for heavy metal antioxidants such as L-cysteine and N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) act as antioxidants and liver protectants. Taking vitamin c with these amino acids will maintain their powerful free-radical suppressing effect.
Cysteine and NAC
L-cysteine amino acids for heavy metal antioxidants is a conditionally essential amino acid which is one of the three sulfur-containing amino acids which acts as an antioxidant and has a key role in endogenous, inducible detoxification mechanisms in the body. Exposure to metals reduces our supply of cysteine.
N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC)
These amino acids for heavy metal detoxification are the combined form of L-cysteine which is more effectively absorbed and used by the body.
It is a precursor of intracellular cysteine and glutathione and works in the extracellular environment.
This amino acid for heavy metal has also been used as a liver protectant as well as bronchial mucus and pulmonary break up.
It has been shown to be a safe and effective prevention agent and therapy for various conditions even in cases of very high doses involving glutathione depletion and alterations of the redox status.
One of the other amino acids for heavy metal detoxification is Glycine, which is one of the conditionally essential amino acids that is found in plants and animal protein.
Glycine is the most simple and most common amino acid that seems to be present everywhere.
This amino acid for heavy metal combines with many toxic substances and converts them to harmless forms which are excreted from the body.
It also has a calming effect on the brain and may also be a growth hormone release.
List of Foods High in Amino Acids
There is undeniably a long list of foods high in amino acids. Due to the fact that there are plenty of them, only a few will be discussed further below.
Remember that the body cannot produce protein block- builders, it can only be obtained through diet.
It plays such a vital role in the immune system as it strengthens the muscles, transmit brain signals and many more.
Poultry
Typically the members of Galliformes such as chickens and turkeys, poultry is among the list of foods high in amino acids.
It also includes Anseriformes like waterfowl mammals such as ducks and geese.
The meatiest portion of a bird is actually its flight muscles located on its chest called breast meat.
There are also the walking muscles on the first and second segments of its legs commonly known as the thigh and drumstick.
In both turkeys and chickens, its flight muscles are not adapted for constant utilization because it has less oxygen- carrying myoglobin that is why it is light in texture.
This is now where the distinction between “white meat” and “red meat” has been derived from.
Dairy
A facility for the extraction and processing of animal products for human consumption, dairy farms have a variety of produce that are part of the list of foods high in amino acids. It includes cream, butter, milk, casein, cheese, whey, yogurt and powders.
The processing is initially done by bringing a large number of cows to a barn for milking.
However, letting the cow stand for a long time is not good for her because she needs periods for paddock and grazing as much as possible.
It should be restricted to only twice- daily to a maximum of an hour and a half.
In the present day, there is already what is called industrial manufacture where companies make use of bulky machines to generate a large class of dairy products.
This is also to achieve a big number that can be supplied to certain groceries and markets for selling.
Vegetable
A culinary term that has no scientific values, vegetables are among the large group that is part of the list of foods high in amino acids.
It includes a lot of variety such as the ones with leaf, stem, roots, flowers and bulbs.
Botanical fruits such as cucumbers, squashes, pumpkins, avocados and capsicurns are also part.
Vegetables are consumed in the number of ways that can be part of any meal be it appetizer, main course or dessert. Its nutrition value and content also differs from one another.
Except for pulses, it provides only a small amount of protein and fat. It contains water soluble vitamins such as A, B, C and D together with carbohydrates and minerals.
Camille McClellan, MD, DNM, MBS
Naturopathic practitioner
McClellan Natural Health, Wellness & Nutrition
Free Naturopathic/Homeopathic Consults Available
