Best way to test for heavy metals?

[- Adam -]

8 hours ago, mmKay said:

on the FB group they just tell you how many counting rules you meet and your likelyhood of mercury toxicity

9 hours ago, mmKay said:

Go do your DMSA provoked urine tests if you want actual  numbers

That's right.

I appreciate your taking the time to have Dr.Gpt analyse my results because it taught me about the counting rules. Unfortunatly you or Chatgpt's image to text got copper and zinc values wrong, but the overal picture still feels right: Almost every essential mineral is low.

 

To your point @Michael569, it's certainly not the only cause for my low fonctionning and will not be my only focus, it's just what I'm waking up to lately. Granted I know next to nothing about holistic health and there's room to doubt my orientation towards chelation, but reading mercury cognitive symptoms had me go "Yes, yes, yes..". there's realistically a good chance I'm moderatly HM toxic, just because the sources of it in everyday consuption are so numerous it's scary. So if there's a chance chelation makes a difference in my ability to think, focus, decide, recall, free associate, emphatize, emote etc, then I'm willing to give it a solid, responsible try. That difference is potentially life transforming, it gives me hope.

And so now that I'm spending money and time towards my health with chelation, I'm less tempted to ruin it with a poor lifestyle. Might also finally seek out therapy for teenage traumas, effort towards having a social life, becoming a full human...  So I think it's part of a positive trend for me.

 

10 hours ago, mmKay said:

OP suspected HM toxicity due to his symptoms and wanted a breakdown of urine test vs hair test, and I feel we have done it

Yes thank you for your contributions! The main takeaway for me is that you have to allow a level of uncertainty, and proceed slowly. Provoked tests are more precise, more reliable but even there, the choice of chelator obviously influences the results.

 

[mmKay]

On 30/4/2024 at 1:15 PM, Michael569 said:

I am not a member of the group but know someone who has been, a close friend I'd say. He gathered that despite the advice is strongly correlated with AC's book, overall there is a trend in the group to neglect holistic health approach - tell me if you this is incorrect. 

 

Absolutely. It's  a book study group. They study Andys books and provide advice strictly on how to do frequent low dose chelation. Anything else is outside of their scope.  They have banned the discussion of any other topics or even chelation protocols to keep any degree of order . They touch on relevant topics but that's it . Their concerns are very niche.

On 30/4/2024 at 1:15 PM, Michael569 said:

There are many factors that influence your ability to absorb and remove heavy metals, your diet and lifestyle being significant factors.

That's an influence yes, but genetics are pretty much everything. The right supplements can help with methylation pathways , glutathione production ( do not supplement glutathione , boost glutathione synthesis indirectly ) and detoxification enzyme activity.

You can do a 23andME gene test and look for variations in the MTHFR gene, particularly the C677T and A1298C mutations can lead to a reduced efficiency of methylation, making you less capable to cope with heavy metals.
 

On 30/4/2024 at 1:34 PM, Michael569 said:

What does the AC group say about biopsy as a possible assessment of HM. Tissue biopsy for example? 

A liver biopsy is a very accurate last restort way of testing for iron toxicity as far as I remember. But heavy metals are stored mostly in fatty tissue , the brain, liver and kidneys. Organic Mercury is particulary lipophilic ( and the brain is mostly fat! .  Lead is stored in the bones and teeth as it mimics calcium and is slowly released throughout the bone remodeling cycles ( thats why aparently chelating with DMSA for lead is only needed one round per month as you wait for the bones to release lead into the blood again ).  
I'd rather go for less invasive methods and not get a biopsy of vital organs 


Blood tests are only "accurate" for measuring very recent exposure or for checking for copper toxicity (  plasma / Red Blood Cells copper test) 
IDK about fecal tests. I guess its good for checking digestive health.

Aparently you can even get an X-ray fluorescence test to check for long term lead exposure in bones.

 

Edited May 1 by mmKay