Page 34 - Spring2015

Given the fact States were paint and gasoline fumes. While exposure to environmental toxins.
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that we all banned at that time, it persists in our environ- Since we all have toxins in our systems, the
ment to this day. Anytime an old house, office, testing method I recommend is looking at what
have toxins in or apartment is renovated the dust that is released we are excreting. The body has three main ex-
our systems, contains lead, due to its use in white paint. The cretion avenues to rid itself of its burden. First is
the testing research focus on lead should be shifted from through the skin, second through feces, and third
what the effects are into detoxification strategies through urine. Urine analysis generally provides
method I including, among others, chelation therapy. the most helpful results, although in the case of
recommend is screening for heavy metals, fecal testing is also
looking at MERCURY very useful.

Mercury is one of the most toxic of all
Urine testing is beneficial in determining
what we are heavy metals; mercury exposure and its effect the level of exposure to petrochemicals and
excreting. on chronic illness is an ongoing issue. We have their by-products, and in many cases, the source.
extreme exposures such as those at Minimata There are two commercial laboratories in the
Bay in Japan between 1953 and 1960, where U.S. that do an excellent job of testing urine for
a large number of deaths and congenital birth toxins: U.S. Biotek (usbiotek.com) and Genova
defects were documented. This is an example Diagnostics (gdx.net).
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of a high-level exposure, but there have been Over the years I have used the U.S. Biotek
numerous other studies showing that low levels test extensively because of its ease of use. Using
of this toxic metal, especially methyl mercury, your first morning urine, you dip a dry strip into
have wide ranging effects on fetal development, the collection, allow it to air dry for a few minutes
cardiovascular disease, cognitive function and then put the dry strip into a bag of desiccant and
other chronic illnesses. The authors of this into an envelope for mailing. Within a few weeks
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study, led by Karagas, warned that while there you get the results for the markers for styrene,
is some evidence on low-level effects, more re- benzene, toluene, trimethylbenzene, parabens,
search is needed. In my personal opinion, much phthalates and monoethyl phthalates. A compre-
like with lead toxicity, the evidence should point hensive interpretation is also available which will
us primarily towards the treatment of mercury provide you with safe and scientifically validated
toxicity and further research into its effects on detoxification protocols along with listings of
chronic illness. potential sources of exposure.
There is one more test that is quite impor-
HOW TO DETERMINE YOUR TOXIC LOAD tant. It is the LEAP-MRT from Oxford Biomedi-
Since 1996, I have been looking at differ- cal (nowleap.com). Xenobiotics (toxins) are a
ent testing protocols to determine toxic loads leading cause of inflammation which in turn
in people. For many years, fat biopsy and blood triggers many chronic illnesses. They are also
tests were the gold standard, and to many, they the main reason why people react badly to foods
still are. I feel that this approach is no longer and food additives. If we take the path of detoxi-
necessary as it is expensive and painful. Why, fication, we also need to address any underlying
you might ask? It is because we all have a large inflammatory reactions until we are clear of the
number of toxins in our bodies as we have seen toxins.
in this article. LEAP-MRT is a blood test that looks at
Unfortunately, in today’s medical environ- inflammatory reactions to food and food addi-
ment, little thought is given to finding the causes tives. When my daughter took the test at age nine
of chronic illness. Instead, the main focus is on and followed the recommended diet, her seizure
management of the disease once it has appeared activity dropped by eighty percent within five
in an individual. This ill-advised strategy is one days. Since then, I have seen countless people
of the main reasons why our healthcare system show dramatic improvement in their health after
is overwhelmed and expensive. Seven out of detoxifying themselves and removing inflamma-
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ten deaths are due to chronic illness, often due tory foods from their diets.
to lifestyle choices, but in many cases are owing
32 Wise Traditions SPRING 2015 Wise Traditions

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