Protect Your Family From The Dangers of Cadmium

Many people are exposing themselves daily to cadmium, and don't even know it. A few years ago I had a friend whose 3 year old daughter ended up needing reconstructive surgery on her ear, due to a pair of earrings she was wearing from the Claire's boutique store. Apparently, many of the earrings are manufactured in China where cadmium is still being used, and is used often on imports since the US disallowed the use of lead in goods that are shipped to the US. The cadmium in the earrings literally burned a huge whole in her ear, it looked like a black cigarette burn. My point is, cadmium is TOXIC on the outside, imagine what it does to your body on the inside.

Cadmium is actually a heavy metal that occurs naturally in certain soils and rocks. It’s used in the manufacturing of batteries, photovoltaic cells, infrared windows, tires, metal coatings and electroplating, certain paints, plastics, ceramic glazes, textile dyes, nonstick cookware, and fertilizers.

Cadmium is a KNOWN CARCINOGEN and endocrine disruptor that can build up in the body over time with repeated exposures. Children are most likely to be exposed to cadmium through food, and water.

The largest food-based sources of cadmium are:

• shellfish

• organ meat

• NON ORGANIC green leafy vegetables

• cereal grains

• milk

The contamination comes from the use of phosphate fertilizers and sewage sludge on food crops. Choosing organic varieties of these foods DRAMATICALLY reduces exposure. Cadmium also leaches into your water via galvanized zinc pipes that have cadmium, and from the solder used on copper pipes. I recommendthat you get a reverse osmosis filter because it can minimize exposure to cadmium (and many other cancer toxins like fluoride) in drinking water.

Eating a nutrient dense, low fat plant based diet with plenty of zinc, iron and calcium help protect the body against too much absorption of cadmium. Remember that cadmium is toxic for everyone, although children are far more vulnerable because per pound, they absorb significantly higher levels.