vitamins deficiency symptoms

Minerals we should avoid

There are some minerals that are useful in trace amounts but definitely are dengerous beyond that. Here’s the rundown:

Aluminum

Too much aluminum can cause nerve and brain damage. The average person doesn’t need to worry much about this, but if we’re a heavy user of aluminum-based antacids we could have a problem.

Arsenic

Believe or not, we actually need this in very, very small amounts. Most people get about 140 mcg a day from their food. Doses larger than 250 mcg a day are toxic.

Cadmium

Our body doesn’t have any known use for cadmium, so it’s never developed a way to get rid of it. Unfortunately, cadmium is found in cigarette smoke and air pollution, so we could accumulate a toxic amount over many years. If we don’t already have enough good reasons to stop smoking, cadmium is another.

Lead

This stuff is really bad for us, even though our body normally has a tiny amount of it.
Even small amounts of extra lead can cause nerve damage, anemia, mental impairment, and muscle weakness. Recent research also ties lead exposure to high blood pressure. Most cases of lead poisoning occur from exposure to lead-based paint and air pollution. Young children are especially at risk.

Mercury

This is another mineral that we have naturally in very small amounts. In larger amounts, though, it can do real damage and should be avoided. Mercury is used in a lot of industrial processes, so it can end up in air and water pollution. Fish such as tuna and swordfish that swim in mercury-contaminated water and eat smaller fish also contaminated with mercury may accumulate high levels of it. If we then eat the fish, we’ll also get the mercury that’s in it. Experts suggest eating these fish no more than once a week—less if we’re pregnant or breastfeeding. What about the mercury in our silver dental fillings? You’re not sure if this is really dangerous or not—talk to our dentist.
How can we avoid all these dangerous minerals? To a degree, we can’t in our industrial society.
There are some simple steps we can take, though: have lead paint removed, stop smoking, and avoid contaminated food, water, and air.


May 16, 2009 | Filed Under Minerals we should avoid 

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