July 14, 2025 • 26 mins
What if the unexplained fatigue, mood swings, and hormonal chaos you're experiencing aren't just "normal" health challenges but signs of something more insidious? Heavy metals like mercury, lead, cadmium, and aluminum silently accumulate in our bodies, sabotaging our hormonal systems and creating a cascade of frustrating symptoms that conventional medicine often misses.
This deep dive into metal toxicity reveals how these hidden pollutants disrupt your endocrine system at multiple levels. From thyroid dysfunction (causing weight gain and fatigue) to estrogen dominance (triggering PMS, fibroids, and endometriosis), these metals act as hormone hijackers. We explore how lead and mercury suppress testosterone production, affecting energy and libido in both men and women, while simultaneously putting your adrenal glands under oxidative stress.
Through real clinical examples and personal experience with aluminum toxicity, we uncover the everyday sources of these metals – from antiperspirants and dental fillings to cookware and contaminated food. More importantly, we break down the functional medicine testing methods that can identify your unique toxic burden, including Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) and serum testing approaches.
The good news? Heavy metal detoxification is possible with the right strategy. Learn about evidence-based approaches including specialized binders, glutathione therapy, targeted nutrition, infrared sauna, and lymphatic support that can help your body safely eliminate these toxins and restore hormonal balance. Your unexplained symptoms might finally have an answer – and a solution.
Ready to break free from heavy metal toxicity and reclaim your health? Visit harmonyhubhealth.com to begin your personalized detox journey and experience the transformation that comes when these silent hormone saboteurs are finally shown the exit.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Welcome to Harmony Hub Health, where my mission is
to provide comprehensive,affordable, integrative care
that addresses the root cause ofhealth issues.
At the Hub, the focus is onindividual patient journeys.
I strive to optimize health,vitality and longevity,
fostering a community where eachperson can thrive in body, mind
and spirit.
(00:21):
All right, let's talk aboutheavy metal.
And no, I'm not talking aboutyour favorite rock band cranking
out the jams.
I'm talking about those toxicmetals that silently sabotage
(00:44):
your body system.
But while Metallica may be thekings of loud music, heavy
metals in your body are thesilent villains you don't want
to rock out with.
You know how, when you listento a great guitar solo, you feel
pumped and energized.
Well, heavy metals like mercury, lead and aluminum do the
complete opposite.
They mess with your hormones,and that's one jam.
(01:06):
You don't want to be a part ofthe worst part.
These toxic rock stars sneak inand disrupt everything from
your thyroid and estrogen levelsto your energy and your mood.
So instead of feeling likeyou're headbanging at a concert,
you're stuck in the back row,feeling sluggish, tired and
irritable.
But here's the good news Unlikesome questionable bands that
(01:28):
are hard to get rid of, we cankick these heavy metals to the
curb and reclaim your healthwith the right detox plan.
Today, I want to focus on howthese metals wreak havoc on your
hormones.
I might even do like a separatepodcast on how metals mess with
other parts of your body,because, trust me, there's a lot
more than hormones at play.
But for today, let's just diveinto how heavy metals are
(01:50):
disrupting your body's hormoneconcert.
Have you ever felt like you'redoing everything right with your
health, yet you still strugglewith fatigue, mood swings,
weight gain and irritability.
Maybe your hormones are out ofwhack, but you can't quite
pinpoint why.
It might be time to take adeeper look at heavy metals,
those sneaky little culpritsthat can cause chaos in your
(02:11):
body's hormonal balance.
When heavy metals like lead,mercury and arsenic settle in,
they don't just burden yourorgans, they hijack your
hormones.
If you're dealing with any ofthe following symptoms, it could
be a sign that heavy metals arewreaking havoc on your system
Fatigue that doesn't go away nomatter how much you sleep, brain
(02:32):
fog or difficulty concentrating, weight gain, especially around
the abdomen.
Irregular periods or PMS,symptoms that just feel out of
control, mood swings,irritability, anxiety, low
libido or sexual dysfunction,thyroid dysfunction or hair
thinning, and digestive issueslike bloating and constipation.
(02:55):
These symptoms could be linkedto the toxic impact heavy metals
have on your hormone systems.
When metals interfere with yourhormone production and
regulation, things start to gosouth fast.
Let's dive into how thishappens and, more importantly,
how you can detoxify and restorebalance using functional
medicine.
Here are some effects that heavymetals have on the body that
(03:18):
are beyond hormones.
We have neurological effects.
Heavy metals like mercury, leadand aluminum can significantly
impact the brain and lead tomemory problems, brain fog,
cognitive decline and learningdifficulties, headaches and
migraines, tremors, anxiety,irritability, neurodevelopmental
delays in children.
(03:39):
Then there's the immune systemdysfunction.
So metals like cadmium andarsenic can suppress immune
function and lead to increasedsusceptibility to infections,
autoimmune diseases like lupus,rheumatoid arthritis, chronic
inflammation throughout the bodyand allergic reactions and
respiratory issues.
Then we have the heart effects,the cardiovascular effects.
(04:01):
Toxic metals such as lead,cadmium and mercury can also
contribute to heart problemsthat lead to high blood pressure
, hardening of your arteries,increased risk of stroke and
heart disease and poorcirculation and vascular
dysfunction.
Don't forget about digestiveissues.
You know metals like arsenicand mercury affect your gut and
(04:22):
lead to leaky gut syndrome,which allows toxins to leak into
the bloodstream, bloating,constipation and diarrhea,
increased gut permeabilitymaking it harder to absorb
nutrients, and chronic digestivediscomfort or irritable bowel
symptoms.
Then there's skin problems.
Heavy metals can accumulate inthe skin and cause acne, eczema,
(04:43):
psoriasis, premature aging andwrinkles due to the oxidative
stress.
Who wants that?
Rashes or skin irritation frommetal exposure?
Then we have the effects onyour kidney and liver
dysfunction.
So metals like cadmium andarsenic can impair the function
of vital organs like yourkidneys, your liver, and it can
(05:04):
lead to kidney disease and renalfailure.
It can lead to fatty liver orliver cirrhosis and it can lead
to reduced detoxificationcapacity, causing the body to
struggle with eliminating waste.
You want to do that trashtakeout right?
Then we have the endocrinedisruption, because, affecting
(05:25):
hormones like thyroid, estrogen,testosterone, heavy metals
disrupt also your insulinregulation.
It contributes to type 2diabetes, your vitamin D
metabolism and your bone health.
It increases the risk ofosteoporosis.
Then there's a reproductivesystem.
So metals like lead, cadmiumand mercury have been linked to
(05:46):
reduced fertility in men andwomen, miscarriage or preterm
birth, and sperm quality andmotility issues.
These are just a few of themany ways that heavy metals can
impact your body.
The best approach is to test,not guess, when it comes to
identifying the root causes ofthese symptoms.
Detoxing metals requires a verycustomized approach to ensure
(06:09):
safe and effective removal.
So what I want to focus ontoday is just how heavy metals
disrupt your hormones.
Now, heavy metals are expertsaboteurs when it comes to your
hormones.
First is the thyroid disruptionHeavy metals like mercury, lead
and cadmium love to mess withyour hormones.
First is the thyroid disruptionHeavy metals like mercury, lead
and cadmium love to mess withyour thyroid.
These metals block iodineuptake.
(06:30):
They interfere with thyroidenzymes and impair your body's
ability to convert inactivethyroid hormone T4, into that
active form, t3.
This causes hypothyroidism or asluggish metabolism.
You gain weight, you lose yourhair, you get fatigued.
It's like trying to run yourcar without any gas and nothing
(06:52):
really works right.
Then we have your estrogenimbalance Metals like aluminum
and cadmium.
They are sneaky estrogenimitators.
They mess up your liver'sability to break down excess
estrogen and when that happens,your estrogen levels spike and
it leads to estrogen dominance.
The symptoms are frustratinglyfamiliar PMS, super heavy
(07:16):
periods, breast tenderness andeven conditions like fibroids
and endometriosis.
These metals amplify estrogen'seffects and makes you feel like
your hormones are just anoverload.
Then we have testosteronesuppression.
This is what I actuallywitnessed this past week.
If you're feeling low on energy, poor libido, having trouble
(07:36):
building muscle, lead andmercury might be to blame.
I had an HTMA that came backthat was super high in lead, and
the initial reason this personcame to see me was for some of
these symptoms.
Those metals suppresstestosterone production by
affecting the leydig cells, sothese are the cells that are
responsible for makingtestosterone, and it doesn't
(07:59):
just affect men.
Women can also feel the impactin the form of fatigue, poor
stress, resilience anddiminished motivation.
Let's talk about cortisol andadrenal dysfunction.
Heavy metals put oxidativestress on your adrenal glands,
which are in charge of producingcortisol, your stress hormone.
The more stress these glandsendure from toxins, the more
(08:22):
your cortisol production justgoes haywire.
You can experience symptomslike anxiety, salt cravings and
difficulty recovering fromstress.
Okay, you're constantly in thatfight or flight mode and it
leaves you wired but tired.
(08:43):
I want to take a look at theheavy metals that are most
likely causing hormonalimbalances.
The first one I see most islead, and the toxic metal is a
known disruptor for testosteroneproduction.
It damages the nervous systemand can lead to mood swings,
fatigue and even poor cognitionfunction.
You can get lead sources fromold paint, plumbing pipes,
(09:04):
certain cosmetics andcontaminated soil.
Mercury is another very commonone.
It's known for disruptingthyroid function and inhibits
that T4 to T3 conversion.
Mercury can also suppress yourtestosterone levels, but you
find mercury in that largepredatory fish that are also
bottom feeders, dental fillingsand certain industrial processes
(09:26):
you can find mercury.
Arsenic is another big one.
It messes with your insulinsensitivity and it leads to
weight gain and metabolicdysfunction.
It also plays a role inestrogen dominance and it makes
it harder for the liver to breakdown estrogen properly.
You can find arsenic in somerice, pesticides, contaminated
water and probably one of themost common that I see is the
(09:50):
aluminum.
This is notorious estrogenmimicker, I call it so.
It contributes to estrogendominance and conditions like
fibroids and endometriosis, andthe biggest source I've seen is
antiperspirants, cookware andsome food additives.
But when it comes tounderstanding the role heavy
metals play in your health,functional medicine testing is
(10:12):
very important.
You don't have to guess whethermetals are disrupting your
hormones or causing chronicsymptoms.
With the right test you canidentify toxic metal exposure,
track your body's ability todetoxify and develop a
personalized plan to clear thosemetals out.
I want to talk about two of themost effective functional
medicine testing methods that Iuse.
One is the HTMA, or the hairtissue mineral analysis.
(10:36):
The other one is just serumtoxic metal testing from Access
Labs.
The hair tissue mineral analysisis a very powerful test that
gives insight into long-termlevels of heavy metals in your
body as well as your mineralstatus over the last three to
four months.
It's a very holistic look atyour body's ability to detox and
(10:56):
the underlying imbalancescaused by heavy metal exposure.
Think of it like a snapshot ofyour body's metal history.
So HTMA can tell you chronicexposure.
It identifies long-termexposure to metals like mercury,
cadmium, lead and aluminum,showing you how these metals are
building up in your body overtime.
(11:17):
It does show others as well.
I'm just naming these becausethey're the most frequent that I
see.
It also shows mineralimbalances because metals mess
with your mineral balance.
The HTMA helps to detectdeficiencies or imbalances, for
example, low magnesium or zinc,and that could be affecting your
(11:37):
detox capacity and your hormoneregulation.
It also can highlight youroxidative stress, which is
caused by the buildup of freeradicals from metal toxicity,
and it helps pinpoint sluggishmethylation processes.
And the HTMA can show patternsin mineral ratios, like your
calcium to phosphorus or yourzinc to copper, that reflect
(12:01):
thyroid dysfunction, adrenalburnout and blood sugar
regulation.
So the HTMA is best for chronic, low-grade toxic exposure
clients with fatigue or hormonalimbalances and mood swings, or
anybody with autoimmuneconditions, mthfr mutations or
genetic variants that impactdetox, like ComT, and it's great
(12:23):
for tracking long-term mineraltrends and overall detox
capacity.
It's just a hair sample, soit's affordable.
It's useful for even childrenand animals just a hair sample,
so it's affordable.
It's useful for even childrenand animals and it's so great
for monitoring how heavy metalsaccumulate over time and
identifying those who might besuffering silently from toxicity
.
(12:44):
While the hair tissue mineralanalysis gives you long-term
view of metal exposure, a bloodtest serum toxic metal testing
gives a snapshot of your body'sexposure to metals in your blood
.
This type of test is ideal whenyou suspect acute exposure or
need to assess how effectivelyyour body is eliminating toxins
(13:04):
through, say, chelation therapy.
So for serum tests it can showthe immediate burden of metals
in your body, like mercury, lead, cadmium, arsenic, by analyzing
levels in your blood or urine.
It is very ideal if you've hada recent exposure or suspect
high levels due to environmentalfactors, food or a workplace
(13:27):
exposure, or if you're goingunder you know chelation therapy
then that can track how wellyour body is clearing out a
metal.
Serum and urine tests can alsoprovide good insight into how
well your kidneys are clearingmetals for the system, helping
to assess overall detox capacity.
And it also can check levels ofessential minerals like zinc
(13:50):
and selenium to ensure that yourbody's detox systems aren't
compromised.
So the blood test is great forthat acute exposure to metals,
to look at the effectiveness ofthe removal process, or for
immediate high level exposurefrom industrial or environmental
sources.
So it gives you a very fast,real-time assessment of how much
(14:11):
metal circulating in your body.
But remember, most metal doessettle down in your tissues and
your organs.
So if you do a blood test, it'snot going to be as accurate
because the metal knows how tohide.
It's very smart If you've beenexposed to toxins recently or
need to see the results of adetox therapy.
That's when I would pick theblood test.
But the ultimate approach wouldbe you know, both the HTMA and
(14:35):
serum metal testing, becauseHTMA helps you track chronic
exposure whereas the serum helpsyou assess acute exposure and
detox protocols.
So many like to combine bothtests for a more comprehensive
picture, and that's what I liketo do.
Heavy metals are often theunseen culprits behind chronic
(14:55):
symptoms and hormone imbalances.
And to get ahead of them,functional medicine test helps
you pinpoint the exact metalsaffecting your body.
Understand your body's detoxcapacity you might know exactly
what metal you have, but if youdon't know how your detox
capacity is, it's going to bereally hard to get rid of it,
and we want to really track yourdetox progress and adjust the
(15:17):
protocol as needed.
It and we want to really trackyour detox progress and adjust
the protocol as needed.
So at Harmony Hub Health, Ispecialize in both HTMA and
serum toxic metal testing.
I can guide you through theprocess, helping you assess your
exposure, understanding yoursymptoms and develop a
personalized plan to detoxsafely and effectively.
Before diving into any protocol,it is very important to
(15:38):
identify the source of the heavymetal.
That is the very critical firststep in functional medicine,
because you need to stop theexposure before you can begin
the detox process effectively.
I would say the most commonsources are toxic dental
fillings If you are in theMaryland area, I have the
perfect, perfect dentist if youneed a new dentist.
(16:00):
Environmental exposure, fromair pollution to contaminated
water, dietary sources topersonal care products.
When I do a detox.
You know, binders are substancesthat can safely bind to heavy
metals and help remove them fromthe body through your digestive
tract.
They are used to capture metalsand prevent them from being
(16:20):
reabsorbed during detox.
So some of the most commonbinders are activated charcoal.
That's a powerful detoxifierthat binds toxin in the gut and
helps remove them through stool.
Corella is a green algae thatacts as a binder for heavy
metals, particularly mercury andlead.
I use that with bentonite clay.
(16:40):
It's a clay that binds toxinsin the gut and supports
digestive health.
Zeolite is a mineral with ahoneycomb structure that can
trap and neutralize toxic metals.
Then there's pectin, found infruit like apples.
Pectin binds to metals and aidsin detoxification.
But always, always, always, usebinders under the supervision
(17:00):
of a practitioner, becauseimproper use can lead to
nutrient depletion orreabsorption of toxins.
So you definitely want to makesure someone is watching you.
I love to use the binders incombination with the Vicon
Customs.
That way I know that there willnot be nutrient depletion and
everything will go much moresafely.
The next therapy that I do inpractice is glutathione therapy.
(17:23):
This is one of the body's mostpowerful antioxidants and it
plays a critical role in thedetoxification process.
It helps neutralize freeradicals that are produced
during detox and it supportsphase two liver detox.
Glutathione can be taken asliposomal glutathione.
This is a highly absorbableform of glutathione that
(17:43):
supports liver detox andpromotes the elimination of
heavy metals.
I use Aura Wellness glutathionebecause I know it is the best.
I always carry it in the shelfat Monarch Beauty and Spa.
Then there's NAC, theN-acetylcysteine.
This is a precursor toglutathione and can be used to
(18:04):
support glutathione levels inthe body as well.
I have injectable glutathioneand I also have glutathione
infusions.
That is for a more aggressivedetoxification, especially in
patients with high metal burden.
Iv glutathione can be used todirectly flood the system with
detox support.
It's amazing.
(18:24):
And then there's a chelationtherapy that involves specific
agents that bind to heavy metalsand help remove them from the
bloodstream and the tissues.
It could be taken orally orthrough IV infusion.
So some common ones are EDTA Ican try to say the names, but I
always mess them up it'sethylenedionetroxidic acid I
(18:47):
think I nailed it, but it'scommonly used to bind metals
like lead, cadmium and calcium.
Where DMPS is dimercaptopropane, I can say that one.
Sulfonate, that's a sulfur,containing compound that binds
metals like mercury and arsenic.
Then we have DMSA,dimercaptosuccanic acid.
That is powerful for lead andmercury, often used in children
(19:09):
that have really heavy metalpoisoning.
I do not treat children forpoisoning.
These therapies really need tobe supervised by a healthcare
professional because you don'twant to shake up the system and
throw a lot of these metals intocirculation without balancing
minerals and making sure youalso have binders.
You can have a lot of sideeffects by shaking up these
(19:31):
heavy metals.
Certain nutrients are alsoimportant for supporting your
body's natural detox pathways,especially in your liver and the
kidneys.
These are your primary organsfor detoxification.
So the B vitamins I know Isound like a broken record.
All I do, I feel like, is talkabout B vitamins, but especially
B6 and B12 and methylfolate.
(19:51):
They all support methylationand detox pathways, particularly
for those with MTHFR mutations.
But even if you don't have themutations, you definitely need
the B vitamins.
Magnesium helps with cellulardetox and supports overall
detoxification.
Vitamin C is an antioxidantthat helps neutralize free
(20:13):
radicals and supports liverdetox.
Selenium is such a crucialnutrient for glutathione
peroxidase.
It's an enzyme that supportsdetox.
Then alpha lipoic acid, alsoknown as ALA.
This is another potentantioxidant that can help
regenerate other antioxidantslike glutathione and support the
removal of mercury and othermetals.
(20:35):
Infrared sauna is another greattool for detoxing heavy metals.
It promotes sweating, which isa natural way for detoxing heavy
metals.
It promotes sweating, which isa natural way for the body to
expel toxins.
Sweating through the skin helpsto release metals like mercury
and arsenic, which can be storedin fat cells.
Regular sauna sessions alsohelp increase blood flow and
stimulate lymphatic drainage, sothat supports overall
(20:56):
detoxification.
And supporting that lymphaticsystem is so important in
detoxing metals.
The lymphatic system helpscarry toxins away from tissues
and to the liver for processing.
So key ways to supportlymphatic drainage are dry
brushing.
This stimulates lymphatic flowand helps move toxins out of
your body.
Castor oil packs If you placeover your liver or your
(21:19):
intestines, it can helpstimulate detoxification and
support the lymphatic system.
Anytime I'm doing a large detoxprotocol, I always include
castor oil packs.
And then there's PEMP therapy,the pulse electromagnetic field.
This is a form of therapy thatcan enhance lymphatic drainage
and help mobilize toxins.
One of the biggest tools youcan use is just a detox focused
(21:39):
diet.
This is a form of therapy thatcan enhance lymphatic drainage
and help mobilize toxins.
One of the biggest tools you canuse is just a detox-focused
diet.
This supports your body'sability to eliminate metals and
other toxins.
Key foods to include would becruciferous vegetables like
broccoli, kale, cabbage they allsupport liver detox pathways.
Fiber-rich foods like chiaseeds, flax seeds and whole
grains they help eliminatetoxins through the stool Garlic,
(22:02):
onions and turmeric they allare rich in sulfur compounds
that assist in metaldetoxification.
And then antioxidant-rich foodslike berries, green leafy
vegetables and green tea areused to combat oxidative stress
during the detox process.
Just make sure that if you'reworking with me and we've done
your food sensitivities, thatyou're following along with the
(22:22):
food sensitivities as well.
Next we have stress management,because chronic stress can
impair detox pathways.
So it's important toincorporate stress management
techniques to your detox plan.
This could be deep breathingexercises, yoga, regular
physical activity or mindfulmeditation.
They all help reduce stress tosupport your body's detox
(22:44):
processes and minimize theburden on your adrenal glands,
which are already under stressfrom heavy metals.
Before beginning any detoxprotocol, it is important to
test for heavy metals and assessthe body's ability to detox.
I know there was a good whilewhere I felt my health was on a
never-ending roller coaster, anddespite doing everything right
(23:06):
eating well, exercising andmanaging my stress I couldn't
shake some of the fatigue andweight gain that seemed to
follow me around.
It wasn't until I took a deeperdive into functional medicine
that I discovered I myself wasdealing with aluminum toxicity.
Aluminum had quietly built upin my system over the years and
it was wreaking havoc.
And I also have MTHFR mutations, which means my detox pathways
(23:30):
don't work as efficiently asthey should.
My methylation cycle that's theprocess that your body uses to
detoxify, repair and regulatehormones was not functioning
well.
No wonder I was struggling withenergy, mood swings and just a
sluggish metabolism.
So the first step of my journeyto healing was realizing I
(23:50):
needed to stop the cycle.
I had to find out wherealuminum was coming from so I
could eliminate the source.
Me.
It turned out to be exposurefrom everyday products like
antiperspirants, cookware, evenfood packaging.
Once I identified the sources,I was able to eliminate them and
stop the toxic load fromgetting worse.
Next I had to work on clearingthe aluminum that had already
(24:12):
accumulated.
I used binders like zeolite,charcoal, diametis, earth.
I had to throw it all in tokeep the metals from reabsorbing
and getting stuck in my system.
Another cornerstone of my detoxprocess was glutathione, so this
powerful antioxidant was mygo-to for supporting my liver
(24:35):
and boosting my phase two detoxpathways.
In the process, I even got myhusband addicted to glutathione,
so he's been using it for quitesome time.
I have even moved to injectableglutathione because it really
enhances my body's naturalability to clear up metals and
heal at that cellular level thebottom line.
It is critical to identify thesource of the toxin so you can
break the cycle Without knowingwhere it's coming from.
(24:56):
It's critical to identify thesource of the toxin so you can
break the cycle Without knowingwhere it's coming from.
It's hard to stop the buildup.
Once you address the root causes, things do start to shift.
For me it did.
My energy returned, my skincleared up, the brain fog was
not there.
It's been a game changer in mywellness journey.
In the past week alone, I haveseen new patients dealing with
(25:17):
heavy metal toxicity.
That has caused everything fromerectile dysfunction,
hashimoto's thyroiditis tosevere estrogen dominance, and
this is why I love functionalmedicine.
We don't just guess at theproblem, we test for it.
Then we create a personalizedand individualized care plan
that is customized to eachperson's situation and needs.
(25:38):
So if you're struggling withsimilar symptoms, I highly
recommend getting tested to seeif heavy metals are playing a
role.
Detoxing can sure be a process,but with the right tools and
support, it's completelypossible to reclaim your health.
If you feel like this issomething you're struggling with
and you'd like to get started,you want to jam out all that
heavy metal, come and see me atHarmony Hub Health, where I will
(26:00):
personalize your detox journeyand give you the support you
need to feel like yourself again.
You can see me atwwwharmonyhubhealthcom.
You can see me virtually, oryou can come see me in person at
Monarch Beauty and Spa inManchester, maryland.
You can even email me atmichelle with L M, I, c, h, e, l
E at harmonyhubhealthcom, and Iwould love to help you on your
(26:23):
journey.
The information shared in thispodcast is for educational
purposes only and it's notintended as medical advice.
Hormonal imbalances caused byheavy metals can vary greatly
from person to person.
Always consult with a qualifiedhealthcare provider before
making any changes to yourhealth regimen or treatment plan
.
The views expressed here arebased on research and personal
(26:44):
experiences, but individualresults may differ.
Welcome to Harmony Hub Health, where my mission is
to provide comprehensive,affordable, integrative care
that addresses the root cause ofhealth issues.
At the Hub, the focus is onindividual patient journeys.
I strive to optimize health,vitality and longevity,
fostering a community where eachperson can thrive in body, mind
and spirit.
(00:21):
All right, let's talk aboutheavy metal.
And no, I'm not talking aboutyour favorite rock band cranking
out the jams.
I'm talking about those toxicmetals that silently sabotage
(00:44):
your body system.
But while Metallica may be thekings of loud music, heavy
metals in your body are thesilent villains you don't want
to rock out with.
You know how, when you listento a great guitar solo, you feel
pumped and energized.
Well, heavy metals like mercury, lead and aluminum do the
complete opposite.
They mess with your hormones,and that's one jam.
(01:06):
You don't want to be a part ofthe worst part.
These toxic rock stars sneak inand disrupt everything from
your thyroid and estrogen levelsto your energy and your mood.
So instead of feeling likeyou're headbanging at a concert,
you're stuck in the back row,feeling sluggish, tired and
irritable.
But here's the good news Unlikesome questionable bands that
(01:28):
are hard to get rid of, we cankick these heavy metals to the
curb and reclaim your healthwith the right detox plan.
Today, I want to focus on howthese metals wreak havoc on your
hormones.
I might even do like a separatepodcast on how metals mess with
other parts of your body,because, trust me, there's a lot
more than hormones at play.
But for today, let's just diveinto how heavy metals are
(01:50):
disrupting your body's hormoneconcert.
Have you ever felt like you'redoing everything right with your
health, yet you still strugglewith fatigue, mood swings,
weight gain and irritability.
Maybe your hormones are out ofwhack, but you can't quite
pinpoint why.
It might be time to take adeeper look at heavy metals,
those sneaky little culpritsthat can cause chaos in your
(02:11):
body's hormonal balance.
When heavy metals like lead,mercury and arsenic settle in,
they don't just burden yourorgans, they hijack your
hormones.
If you're dealing with any ofthe following symptoms, it could
be a sign that heavy metals arewreaking havoc on your system
Fatigue that doesn't go away nomatter how much you sleep, brain
(02:32):
fog or difficulty concentrating, weight gain, especially around
the abdomen.
Irregular periods or PMS,symptoms that just feel out of
control, mood swings,irritability, anxiety, low
libido or sexual dysfunction,thyroid dysfunction or hair
thinning, and digestive issueslike bloating and constipation.
(02:55):
These symptoms could be linkedto the toxic impact heavy metals
have on your hormone systems.
When metals interfere with yourhormone production and
regulation, things start to gosouth fast.
Let's dive into how thishappens and, more importantly,
how you can detoxify and restorebalance using functional
medicine.
Here are some effects that heavymetals have on the body that
(03:18):
are beyond hormones.
We have neurological effects.
Heavy metals like mercury, leadand aluminum can significantly
impact the brain and lead tomemory problems, brain fog,
cognitive decline and learningdifficulties, headaches and
migraines, tremors, anxiety,irritability, neurodevelopmental
delays in children.
(03:39):
Then there's the immune systemdysfunction.
So metals like cadmium andarsenic can suppress immune
function and lead to increasedsusceptibility to infections,
autoimmune diseases like lupus,rheumatoid arthritis, chronic
inflammation throughout the bodyand allergic reactions and
respiratory issues.
Then we have the heart effects,the cardiovascular effects.
(04:01):
Toxic metals such as lead,cadmium and mercury can also
contribute to heart problemsthat lead to high blood pressure
, hardening of your arteries,increased risk of stroke and
heart disease and poorcirculation and vascular
dysfunction.
Don't forget about digestiveissues.
You know metals like arsenicand mercury affect your gut and
(04:22):
lead to leaky gut syndrome,which allows toxins to leak into
the bloodstream, bloating,constipation and diarrhea,
increased gut permeabilitymaking it harder to absorb
nutrients, and chronic digestivediscomfort or irritable bowel
symptoms.
Then there's skin problems.
Heavy metals can accumulate inthe skin and cause acne, eczema,
(04:43):
psoriasis, premature aging andwrinkles due to the oxidative
stress.
Who wants that?
Rashes or skin irritation frommetal exposure?
Then we have the effects onyour kidney and liver
dysfunction.
So metals like cadmium andarsenic can impair the function
of vital organs like yourkidneys, your liver, and it can
(05:04):
lead to kidney disease and renalfailure.
It can lead to fatty liver orliver cirrhosis and it can lead
to reduced detoxificationcapacity, causing the body to
struggle with eliminating waste.
You want to do that trashtakeout right?
Then we have the endocrinedisruption, because, affecting
(05:25):
hormones like thyroid, estrogen,testosterone, heavy metals
disrupt also your insulinregulation.
It contributes to type 2diabetes, your vitamin D
metabolism and your bone health.
It increases the risk ofosteoporosis.
Then there's a reproductivesystem.
So metals like lead, cadmiumand mercury have been linked to
(05:46):
reduced fertility in men andwomen, miscarriage or preterm
birth, and sperm quality andmotility issues.
These are just a few of themany ways that heavy metals can
impact your body.
The best approach is to test,not guess, when it comes to
identifying the root causes ofthese symptoms.
Detoxing metals requires a verycustomized approach to ensure
(06:09):
safe and effective removal.
So what I want to focus ontoday is just how heavy metals
disrupt your hormones.
Now, heavy metals are expertsaboteurs when it comes to your
hormones.
First is the thyroid disruptionHeavy metals like mercury, lead
and cadmium love to mess withyour hormones.
First is the thyroid disruptionHeavy metals like mercury, lead
and cadmium love to mess withyour thyroid.
These metals block iodineuptake.
(06:30):
They interfere with thyroidenzymes and impair your body's
ability to convert inactivethyroid hormone T4, into that
active form, t3.
This causes hypothyroidism or asluggish metabolism.
You gain weight, you lose yourhair, you get fatigued.
It's like trying to run yourcar without any gas and nothing
(06:52):
really works right.
Then we have your estrogenimbalance Metals like aluminum
and cadmium.
They are sneaky estrogenimitators.
They mess up your liver'sability to break down excess
estrogen and when that happens,your estrogen levels spike and
it leads to estrogen dominance.
The symptoms are frustratinglyfamiliar PMS, super heavy
(07:16):
periods, breast tenderness andeven conditions like fibroids
and endometriosis.
These metals amplify estrogen'seffects and makes you feel like
your hormones are just anoverload.
Then we have testosteronesuppression.
This is what I actuallywitnessed this past week.
If you're feeling low on energy, poor libido, having trouble
(07:36):
building muscle, lead andmercury might be to blame.
I had an HTMA that came backthat was super high in lead, and
the initial reason this personcame to see me was for some of
these symptoms.
Those metals suppresstestosterone production by
affecting the leydig cells, sothese are the cells that are
responsible for makingtestosterone, and it doesn't
(07:59):
just affect men.
Women can also feel the impactin the form of fatigue, poor
stress, resilience anddiminished motivation.
Let's talk about cortisol andadrenal dysfunction.
Heavy metals put oxidativestress on your adrenal glands,
which are in charge of producingcortisol, your stress hormone.
The more stress these glandsendure from toxins, the more
(08:22):
your cortisol production justgoes haywire.
You can experience symptomslike anxiety, salt cravings and
difficulty recovering fromstress.
Okay, you're constantly in thatfight or flight mode and it
leaves you wired but tired.
(08:43):
I want to take a look at theheavy metals that are most
likely causing hormonalimbalances.
The first one I see most islead, and the toxic metal is a
known disruptor for testosteroneproduction.
It damages the nervous systemand can lead to mood swings,
fatigue and even poor cognitionfunction.
You can get lead sources fromold paint, plumbing pipes,
(09:04):
certain cosmetics andcontaminated soil.
Mercury is another very commonone.
It's known for disruptingthyroid function and inhibits
that T4 to T3 conversion.
Mercury can also suppress yourtestosterone levels, but you
find mercury in that largepredatory fish that are also
bottom feeders, dental fillingsand certain industrial processes
(09:26):
you can find mercury.
Arsenic is another big one.
It messes with your insulinsensitivity and it leads to
weight gain and metabolicdysfunction.
It also plays a role inestrogen dominance and it makes
it harder for the liver to breakdown estrogen properly.
You can find arsenic in somerice, pesticides, contaminated
water and probably one of themost common that I see is the
(09:50):
aluminum.
This is notorious estrogenmimicker, I call it so.
It contributes to estrogendominance and conditions like
fibroids and endometriosis, andthe biggest source I've seen is
antiperspirants, cookware andsome food additives.
But when it comes tounderstanding the role heavy
metals play in your health,functional medicine testing is
(10:12):
very important.
You don't have to guess whethermetals are disrupting your
hormones or causing chronicsymptoms.
With the right test you canidentify toxic metal exposure,
track your body's ability todetoxify and develop a
personalized plan to clear thosemetals out.
I want to talk about two of themost effective functional
medicine testing methods that Iuse.
One is the HTMA, or the hairtissue mineral analysis.
(10:36):
The other one is just serumtoxic metal testing from Access
Labs.
The hair tissue mineral analysisis a very powerful test that
gives insight into long-termlevels of heavy metals in your
body as well as your mineralstatus over the last three to
four months.
It's a very holistic look atyour body's ability to detox and
(10:56):
the underlying imbalancescaused by heavy metal exposure.
Think of it like a snapshot ofyour body's metal history.
So HTMA can tell you chronicexposure.
It identifies long-termexposure to metals like mercury,
cadmium, lead and aluminum,showing you how these metals are
building up in your body overtime.
(11:17):
It does show others as well.
I'm just naming these becausethey're the most frequent that I
see.
It also shows mineralimbalances because metals mess
with your mineral balance.
The HTMA helps to detectdeficiencies or imbalances, for
example, low magnesium or zinc,and that could be affecting your
(11:37):
detox capacity and your hormoneregulation.
It also can highlight youroxidative stress, which is
caused by the buildup of freeradicals from metal toxicity,
and it helps pinpoint sluggishmethylation processes.
And the HTMA can show patternsin mineral ratios, like your
calcium to phosphorus or yourzinc to copper, that reflect
(12:01):
thyroid dysfunction, adrenalburnout and blood sugar
regulation.
So the HTMA is best for chronic, low-grade toxic exposure
clients with fatigue or hormonalimbalances and mood swings, or
anybody with autoimmuneconditions, mthfr mutations or
genetic variants that impactdetox, like ComT, and it's great
(12:23):
for tracking long-term mineraltrends and overall detox
capacity.
It's just a hair sample, soit's affordable.
It's useful for even childrenand animals just a hair sample,
so it's affordable.
It's useful for even childrenand animals and it's so great
for monitoring how heavy metalsaccumulate over time and
identifying those who might besuffering silently from toxicity
.
(12:44):
While the hair tissue mineralanalysis gives you long-term
view of metal exposure, a bloodtest serum toxic metal testing
gives a snapshot of your body'sexposure to metals in your blood
.
This type of test is ideal whenyou suspect acute exposure or
need to assess how effectivelyyour body is eliminating toxins
(13:04):
through, say, chelation therapy.
So for serum tests it can showthe immediate burden of metals
in your body, like mercury, lead, cadmium, arsenic, by analyzing
levels in your blood or urine.
It is very ideal if you've hada recent exposure or suspect
high levels due to environmentalfactors, food or a workplace
(13:27):
exposure, or if you're goingunder you know chelation therapy
then that can track how wellyour body is clearing out a
metal.
Serum and urine tests can alsoprovide good insight into how
well your kidneys are clearingmetals for the system, helping
to assess overall detox capacity.
And it also can check levels ofessential minerals like zinc
(13:50):
and selenium to ensure that yourbody's detox systems aren't
compromised.
So the blood test is great forthat acute exposure to metals,
to look at the effectiveness ofthe removal process, or for
immediate high level exposurefrom industrial or environmental
sources.
So it gives you a very fast,real-time assessment of how much
(14:11):
metal circulating in your body.
But remember, most metal doessettle down in your tissues and
your organs.
So if you do a blood test, it'snot going to be as accurate
because the metal knows how tohide.
It's very smart If you've beenexposed to toxins recently or
need to see the results of adetox therapy.
That's when I would pick theblood test.
But the ultimate approach wouldbe you know, both the HTMA and
(14:35):
serum metal testing, becauseHTMA helps you track chronic
exposure whereas the serum helpsyou assess acute exposure and
detox protocols.
So many like to combine bothtests for a more comprehensive
picture, and that's what I liketo do.
Heavy metals are often theunseen culprits behind chronic
(14:55):
symptoms and hormone imbalances.
And to get ahead of them,functional medicine test helps
you pinpoint the exact metalsaffecting your body.
Understand your body's detoxcapacity you might know exactly
what metal you have, but if youdon't know how your detox
capacity is, it's going to bereally hard to get rid of it,
and we want to really track yourdetox progress and adjust the
(15:17):
protocol as needed.
It and we want to really trackyour detox progress and adjust
the protocol as needed.
So at Harmony Hub Health, Ispecialize in both HTMA and
serum toxic metal testing.
I can guide you through theprocess, helping you assess your
exposure, understanding yoursymptoms and develop a
personalized plan to detoxsafely and effectively.
Before diving into any protocol,it is very important to
(15:38):
identify the source of the heavymetal.
That is the very critical firststep in functional medicine,
because you need to stop theexposure before you can begin
the detox process effectively.
I would say the most commonsources are toxic dental
fillings If you are in theMaryland area, I have the
perfect, perfect dentist if youneed a new dentist.
(16:00):
Environmental exposure, fromair pollution to contaminated
water, dietary sources topersonal care products.
When I do a detox.
You know, binders are substancesthat can safely bind to heavy
metals and help remove them fromthe body through your digestive
tract.
They are used to capture metalsand prevent them from being
(16:20):
reabsorbed during detox.
So some of the most commonbinders are activated charcoal.
That's a powerful detoxifierthat binds toxin in the gut and
helps remove them through stool.
Corella is a green algae thatacts as a binder for heavy
metals, particularly mercury andlead.
I use that with bentonite clay.
(16:40):
It's a clay that binds toxinsin the gut and supports
digestive health.
Zeolite is a mineral with ahoneycomb structure that can
trap and neutralize toxic metals.
Then there's pectin, found infruit like apples.
Pectin binds to metals and aidsin detoxification.
But always, always, always, usebinders under the supervision
(17:00):
of a practitioner, becauseimproper use can lead to
nutrient depletion orreabsorption of toxins.
So you definitely want to makesure someone is watching you.
I love to use the binders incombination with the Vicon
Customs.
That way I know that there willnot be nutrient depletion and
everything will go much moresafely.
The next therapy that I do inpractice is glutathione therapy.
(17:23):
This is one of the body's mostpowerful antioxidants and it
plays a critical role in thedetoxification process.
It helps neutralize freeradicals that are produced
during detox and it supportsphase two liver detox.
Glutathione can be taken asliposomal glutathione.
This is a highly absorbableform of glutathione that
(17:43):
supports liver detox andpromotes the elimination of
heavy metals.
I use Aura Wellness glutathionebecause I know it is the best.
I always carry it in the shelfat Monarch Beauty and Spa.
Then there's NAC, theN-acetylcysteine.
This is a precursor toglutathione and can be used to
(18:04):
support glutathione levels inthe body as well.
I have injectable glutathioneand I also have glutathione
infusions.
That is for a more aggressivedetoxification, especially in
patients with high metal burden.
Iv glutathione can be used todirectly flood the system with
detox support.
It's amazing.
(18:24):
And then there's a chelationtherapy that involves specific
agents that bind to heavy metalsand help remove them from the
bloodstream and the tissues.
It could be taken orally orthrough IV infusion.
So some common ones are EDTA Ican try to say the names, but I
always mess them up it'sethylenedionetroxidic acid I
(18:47):
think I nailed it, but it'scommonly used to bind metals
like lead, cadmium and calcium.
Where DMPS is dimercaptopropane, I can say that one.
Sulfonate, that's a sulfur,containing compound that binds
metals like mercury and arsenic.
Then we have DMSA,dimercaptosuccanic acid.
That is powerful for lead andmercury, often used in children
(19:09):
that have really heavy metalpoisoning.
I do not treat children forpoisoning.
These therapies really need tobe supervised by a healthcare
professional because you don'twant to shake up the system and
throw a lot of these metals intocirculation without balancing
minerals and making sure youalso have binders.
You can have a lot of sideeffects by shaking up these
(19:31):
heavy metals.
Certain nutrients are alsoimportant for supporting your
body's natural detox pathways,especially in your liver and the
kidneys.
These are your primary organsfor detoxification.
So the B vitamins I know Isound like a broken record.
All I do, I feel like, is talkabout B vitamins, but especially
B6 and B12 and methylfolate.
(19:51):
They all support methylationand detox pathways, particularly
for those with MTHFR mutations.
But even if you don't have themutations, you definitely need
the B vitamins.
Magnesium helps with cellulardetox and supports overall
detoxification.
Vitamin C is an antioxidantthat helps neutralize free
(20:13):
radicals and supports liverdetox.
Selenium is such a crucialnutrient for glutathione
peroxidase.
It's an enzyme that supportsdetox.
Then alpha lipoic acid, alsoknown as ALA.
This is another potentantioxidant that can help
regenerate other antioxidantslike glutathione and support the
removal of mercury and othermetals.
(20:35):
Infrared sauna is another greattool for detoxing heavy metals.
It promotes sweating, which isa natural way for detoxing heavy
metals.
It promotes sweating, which isa natural way for the body to
expel toxins.
Sweating through the skin helpsto release metals like mercury
and arsenic, which can be storedin fat cells.
Regular sauna sessions alsohelp increase blood flow and
stimulate lymphatic drainage, sothat supports overall
(20:56):
detoxification.
And supporting that lymphaticsystem is so important in
detoxing metals.
The lymphatic system helpscarry toxins away from tissues
and to the liver for processing.
So key ways to supportlymphatic drainage are dry
brushing.
This stimulates lymphatic flowand helps move toxins out of
your body.
Castor oil packs If you placeover your liver or your
(21:19):
intestines, it can helpstimulate detoxification and
support the lymphatic system.
Anytime I'm doing a large detoxprotocol, I always include
castor oil packs.
And then there's PEMP therapy,the pulse electromagnetic field.
This is a form of therapy thatcan enhance lymphatic drainage
and help mobilize toxins.
One of the biggest tools youcan use is just a detox focused
(21:39):
diet.
This is a form of therapy thatcan enhance lymphatic drainage
and help mobilize toxins.
One of the biggest tools you canuse is just a detox-focused
diet.
This supports your body'sability to eliminate metals and
other toxins.
Key foods to include would becruciferous vegetables like
broccoli, kale, cabbage they allsupport liver detox pathways.
Fiber-rich foods like chiaseeds, flax seeds and whole
grains they help eliminatetoxins through the stool Garlic,
(22:02):
onions and turmeric they allare rich in sulfur compounds
that assist in metaldetoxification.
And then antioxidant-rich foodslike berries, green leafy
vegetables and green tea areused to combat oxidative stress
during the detox process.
Just make sure that if you'reworking with me and we've done
your food sensitivities, thatyou're following along with the
(22:22):
food sensitivities as well.
Next we have stress management,because chronic stress can
impair detox pathways.
So it's important toincorporate stress management
techniques to your detox plan.
This could be deep breathingexercises, yoga, regular
physical activity or mindfulmeditation.
They all help reduce stress tosupport your body's detox
(22:44):
processes and minimize theburden on your adrenal glands,
which are already under stressfrom heavy metals.
Before beginning any detoxprotocol, it is important to
test for heavy metals and assessthe body's ability to detox.
I know there was a good whilewhere I felt my health was on a
never-ending roller coaster, anddespite doing everything right
(23:06):
eating well, exercising andmanaging my stress I couldn't
shake some of the fatigue andweight gain that seemed to
follow me around.
It wasn't until I took a deeperdive into functional medicine
that I discovered I myself wasdealing with aluminum toxicity.
Aluminum had quietly built upin my system over the years and
it was wreaking havoc.
And I also have MTHFR mutations, which means my detox pathways
(23:30):
don't work as efficiently asthey should.
My methylation cycle that's theprocess that your body uses to
detoxify, repair and regulatehormones was not functioning
well.
No wonder I was struggling withenergy, mood swings and just a
sluggish metabolism.
So the first step of my journeyto healing was realizing I
(23:50):
needed to stop the cycle.
I had to find out wherealuminum was coming from so I
could eliminate the source.
Me.
It turned out to be exposurefrom everyday products like
antiperspirants, cookware, evenfood packaging.
Once I identified the sources,I was able to eliminate them and
stop the toxic load fromgetting worse.
Next I had to work on clearingthe aluminum that had already
(24:12):
accumulated.
I used binders like zeolite,charcoal, diametis, earth.
I had to throw it all in tokeep the metals from reabsorbing
and getting stuck in my system.
Another cornerstone of my detoxprocess was glutathione, so this
powerful antioxidant was mygo-to for supporting my liver
(24:35):
and boosting my phase two detoxpathways.
In the process, I even got myhusband addicted to glutathione,
so he's been using it for quitesome time.
I have even moved to injectableglutathione because it really
enhances my body's naturalability to clear up metals and
heal at that cellular level thebottom line.
It is critical to identify thesource of the toxin so you can
break the cycle Without knowingwhere it's coming from.
(24:56):
It's critical to identify thesource of the toxin so you can
break the cycle Without knowingwhere it's coming from.
It's hard to stop the buildup.
Once you address the root causes, things do start to shift.
For me it did.
My energy returned, my skincleared up, the brain fog was
not there.
It's been a game changer in mywellness journey.
In the past week alone, I haveseen new patients dealing with
(25:17):
heavy metal toxicity.
That has caused everything fromerectile dysfunction,
hashimoto's thyroiditis tosevere estrogen dominance, and
this is why I love functionalmedicine.
We don't just guess at theproblem, we test for it.
Then we create a personalizedand individualized care plan
that is customized to eachperson's situation and needs.
(25:38):
So if you're struggling withsimilar symptoms, I highly
recommend getting tested to seeif heavy metals are playing a
role.
Detoxing can sure be a process,but with the right tools and
support, it's completelypossible to reclaim your health.
If you feel like this issomething you're struggling with
and you'd like to get started,you want to jam out all that
heavy metal, come and see me atHarmony Hub Health, where I will
(26:00):
personalize your detox journeyand give you the support you
need to feel like yourself again.
You can see me atwwwharmonyhubhealthcom.
You can see me virtually, oryou can come see me in person at
Monarch Beauty and Spa inManchester, maryland.
You can even email me atmichelle with L M, I, c, h, e, l
E at harmonyhubhealthcom, and Iwould love to help you on your
(26:23):
journey.
The information shared in thispodcast is for educational
purposes only and it's notintended as medical advice.
Hormonal imbalances caused byheavy metals can vary greatly
from person to person.
Always consult with a qualifiedhealthcare provider before
making any changes to yourhealth regimen or treatment plan
.
The views expressed here arebased on research and personal
(26:44):
experiences, but individualresults may differ.
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