Contaminants in Baby Food – why should this concern me?

On Thursday October 17, 2019 CNN released news, “95% of tested baby foods in the US contain toxic metals”, so how does this affect me?

What they found – Tests of 168 baby foods from major manufacturers in the US found 95% contained lead, 73% contained arsenic, 75% contained cadmium and 32% contained mercury. One fourth of the foods contained all four heavy metals.

Where did this food acquire these heavy metals?  Is this the only food that contains heavy metals?  What’s in my food?

Arsenic is a natural element found in soil, water and air, with the inorganic form being the most toxic. (“Inorganic” is a chemical term and has nothing to do with the method of farming.)

Lead in the soil can be naturally occurring, but a lot of it comes from industrial uses and environmental contamination. … Lead can enter our foods supply, because: Lead in the soil can settle on or be absorbed by plants grown for fruits or vegetables or plants used as ingredients in food, including dietary supplements.

Cadmium – From the soil, certain plants (tobacco, rice, other cereal grains, potatoes, and other vegetables) take up cadmium more avidly than they do other heavy metals such as lead and mercury (Satarag et al. 2003). Cadmium is also found in meat, especially sweetmeats such as liver and kidney.

Mercury is a naturally occurring element found in air, water and soil. A highly toxic form (methylmercury) builds up in fish, shellfish and animals that eat fish.

There are common links to all of these, soil and water.  Some of these inorganic chemicals are naturally producing and others are chemical runoffs from factories.  Look at any water quality report and you will find these inorganic chemicals in their/our water tests.

The Cycle – Water used for agriculture is untreated.  Inorganic chemicals in the untreated water become incorporated into the soil.  Plants that use the soil and water for nutrition/growth will absorb these chemicals.  When you eat these vegetables, you will absorb these chemicals into your body.  When an animal eats these plants, they will absorb these chemicals into their system.  When you eat the animal/fish, you will absorb theses chemicals into your system.

Your body can filter some of the contaminants and remove them through excretion, but heavy metals can only be removed through chelation.  Chelation is not a natural body function.  Chelation is not an option for babies, infants and children and is unpleasant for adults.

I was diagnosed with unusually high levels of heavy metals in my system.  How did I find this out, my doctor ran this specific test, because we could not find the cause(s) for why my liver and kidneys were shutting down? Once properly diagnosed, I completed a course of Oral Chelation. Results from my next test confirmed my kidneys and liver had returned to functioning normally.

Where did I get these heavy metals?  Turns out that there were various contributors.  My water (ice) and the foods I normally ate were the biggest culprits.

There have been many studies and reports of links between Mercury, Autism and vaccinations. I suspect that Mercury may be introduced to children from their mother’s food and water consumption during pregnancy.  Additionally, much like my story, their food and water (formula) consumed after birth contributed and any additional known, Mercury is just more risk.  Most infants are 78% water, while adults are closer to 60%, so clean, pure water and food is critical for their development, from conception.

There is another inorganic chemical that we should add to this list, Fluoride.  Fluoride was thought to promote strong bones and teeth in the 1960’s, many water suppliers added this “super mineral” to the water in the 1950-1974.  It is now known that elevated levels of  Fluoride from drinking water impacts on T₃, T₄ and TSH hormones (this is your thyroid) and have suspected cancer risks.  Fluoride is now regulated by the EPA.  Read the back of toothpaste lately?  It warns that if swallowed go to the Emergency room.

At age 33 I was diagnosed with thyroid disease.  The left side of my thyroid had 4 nodules (3 benign, 1 not).  I had it removed and went through chemotherapy.  15 years later, the right side of my thyroid had nodules (all benign) and was also removed.  I now need to supplement my (lack of) thyroid’s function through two medications.  This has been a challenge for the past 24 years and has led to other medical complications. All of my doctors are certain that my thyroid and issues with heavy metals/Fluoride are related.  Did this start with my baby food and formula, or even earlier?

Since we know that these heavy metals are in our water, air, soil and food, what can we do about it?

• Remove the contaminants where possible. Drinking Reverse Osmosis water, ice, cooking and food prep.  Avoid foods that are known to have heavy metal contaminants (tuna, oily fish, sweet potatoes, certain types of rice, carrots and juices).  Read about the various foods that you like and make smart choices.  Foods grown in certain regions have higher heavy metals, than other regions.
• Have a micro-nutrient test – heavy metals. Your insurance will probably not pay for this. Genova Diagnostics is a tester (800)-522-4762, https://www.gdx.net/product/nutrient-toxic-elements-test-blood.  Call them and they can recommend a facility for a blood draw.  They test for Chromium, Copper, Magnesium, Potassium, Selenium, Vanadium, Zinc, Lead, Mercury, Arsenic, Cadmium and Tin.  Once you have your test results, if your have high levels, get them removed.
• Social media – if the wheel doesn’t squeak, no one will grease it. We need to come up with both food, soil, air and water solutions.  This will take time and a lot of money.  We must involve Federal and State government, designing alternative sources of food production and we must stop adding contaminants to our soil, water and air and find ways to clean up what is already there.  If we are going to live in a Global economy, then we must do this Globally.
• New Technology – Hydroponics with contaminant free water, soil, air. Genetically altered food that rejects inorganic chemicals absorption/adsorption.  Great ideas from brighter minds than mine.

I suggest that every house, school, office and restaurant should use/have Reverse Osmosis for drinking water, ice, cooking and food prep.  Reverse Osmosis is less expensive than bottled water (bottled water, is not contaminant free) and this would reduce the 220,000,000,000 plastic water bottles made/used/trashed yearly in the US.