Two months ago, I had the last of my metal fillings taken out of my mouth. The proper way to remove metal fillings is to wait months in between, as it limits the amount of metal that may get in to the body from the removal process. To this day, many dentists insist that it is safe to use metal fillings, but this is not true.  

Mercury vapors are constantly leaking from the fillings, and are activated by warm temperatures. If you never have a warm beverage or soup than there may be less of a chance of the metals going into your system. I don't know many people that don't drink coffee, tea, or soup, so if you have metal fillings and are drinking warm beverages there is a high chance the metals are getting into your system. It gets a little more complicated, as far as knowing if you should remove your fillings.  

Some people have a natural chelation mechanism that works to rid the body of the metals, this includes a properly functioning parotid gland. If you have many metal fillings, your body may be able to handle getting rid of them. It may be better to keep them in as removing them can cause heavy metal leakage into the body.  

Using nutrition response testing, I can test you to see if the heavy metals are causing weakness in your system, if the individual metal filling is taking, and causing many other problems such as:

• Intestinal problems
• Neurological disorders
• Fatigue 
• Auto-immune diseases
• Skin problems
• Emotional problems
• and others

If you decide to get your fillings removed please make sure you get it performed by a holistic dentist , who has special equipment specifically for heavy metal removal. I can give you a referral to a holistic dentist if necessary.

Mercury is probably the most common metal that the general public is aware of, but other common metals that I find through heavy metal testing are aluminum, lead, tin, cadmium, zinc, arsenic etc.. Organic mercury is found in fish and inorganic mercury is found in vaccines, dental fillings, thermometers, fluorescent light bulbs, skin tightening creams, batteries etc.

There is evidence that there is a positive correlation between mercury complications seen between autistics and complications in mercury poisoned individuals (Bernard et al 2000). The nervous system works with electrical stimuli and gradients, and metals conduct electricity, so if you can imagine having too much metal in your body it would make sense that the body has too much electrical activity that may lead to neurological disorders. The nervous system goes a bit haywire with heavy metal toxicity.

Aluminum is not technically a heavy metal, but is commonly problematic for people. It is found in ground water, antacids, anti-perspirants, anti- diarrhea medication, food and drink cans, cookware, processed cheese, lipstick, etc.. Cadmium expelled from factories into the air, lands on the crops and animals that we may eat. Cadmium is also found in cigarettes. Lead can be found in cigarettes, paint, plastics, ceramics, toy products from other countries, water etc..

Heavy metals enter your body through drinking, eating, inhaling, and skin and eye contact. Once in the body they do damage on the cellular level by causing dangerous free radical production. Free radical production has been proven to be linked to cancer.

 Other ways to test for heavy metals include hair and saliva. I don't think blood or urine are accurate ways to test. I have tested people who show up for metals and the blood or urine don't show it, but hair and saliva does.

Most people that I test for heavy metals go on chelation or metal detoxification supplements, and generally they can be metal free in 6 weeks to 4 months. Many symptoms get much better when the metals are detoxed from their systems.

This is the time of year that many people decide to get a flu vaccine. They are filled with heavy metals that are pumped right into your blood stream. This can be more damaging than beneficial for our immune systems.  

I have been using natural supplements like flu-tone, andrographis complex, the root of echinacea (not the flower or stem) immuplex etc. that have kept the flu away for people who want a natural and effective alternative. Taking a supplement everyday is the best protection to avoid the flu. I can test you for the right supplement for your unique and individual body.

If you do have heavy metal toxicity, I can help you detox safely, gently, and effectively! Here's to a healthy 2012 for all of us!

Healthfully yours,

Dr. Lou Granirer