Cadmium Toxicity

Yet another heavy metal that has the potential to cause symptoms in all seven areas of health is cadmium.

Cadmium is an extremely toxic heavy metal and can act synergistically with other toxins to produce symptoms.

It replaces zinc in enzyme reactions, meaning that a multitude of zinc-dependant functions in the body can be affected (there are dozens of chemical reactions involving zinc).

Cadmium is extremely toxic, with acceptable levels one tenth that of most of the other toxic/heavy metals.

As you know, Hompes Method teaches professes that health challenges are due to the presence of too much bad stuff in the body, as well as inadequate levels of good stuff.

Cadmium toxicity is a classic example of this equation because zinc deficiency – which is becoming more and more common – increases the risk of cadmium accumulation in your body.

Low zinc levels in soil, along with vegetarian diets, diets low in seafood and extensive refining of grains into white flour have all contributed to an explosion of zinc deficiency, which then opens the door to cadmium.

Fortunately it’s possible to remove cadmium from your body with careful laboratory testing from the Testing Toolkit, optimization of diet and nutrient status, and safe detoxification protocols.

How cadmium gets into your body:

(adapted from the work of Dr. Lawrence Wilson, MD):

  • All shellfish
  • Food grown on cadmium-contaminated soil.
  • Sewage sludge, fertilizers or irrigation water may contaminate soil.
  • Large ocean fish
  • Refined and processed foods.
  • Contaminated drinking water.
  • Processed meats, cola drinks and instant coffee.
  • Cigarette and perhaps marijuana smoke.
  • Occupational exposure – battery manufacture, semiconductors, welding, dental materials.
  • Solder used in food cans.
  • Motor oil and exhaust fumes from cars.
  • Artists paints.
  • Air pollution – incineration of rubber tires, plastics and paints.
  • Cadmium can also pass into the developing foetus via the placenta.

Cadmium toxicity symptoms:

Cadmium has the potential to cause symptoms in all seven areas of health. It can inhibit enzymes in the body’s energy production cycles, it can affect mood and behaviour, damage nerve cells, cause aches, pains and compromise sex and reproductive function.

Cadmium can affect digestion by replacing zinc in digestive enzymes, and can cause prostate issues, erectile dysfunction problems and reduced sperm production.

Common symptoms of cadmium toxicity

Chronic cadmium toxicity may contribute to:

  • Alopecia
  • Anemia
  • Arthritis
  • Blood sugar problems
  • Bone problems
  • Cholesterol elevation
  • Decreased fertility
  • Hyperactivity in children
  • Inflammation and pain
  • Migraine headaches
  • Reduced sex drive
  • Skin aging

According to Dr. Lawrence Wilson, MD and several other sources, cadmium toxicity is associated with diabetes, heart disease, cancer and serious mental and emotional disorders such as schizophrenia.

Testing your cadmium level

It’s impossible to determine with 100% accuracy how much cadmium has built up in your body, but you can certainly gain a good understanding using the Hompes Method Testing Toolkit.

There are four types of laboratory tests for the detection of cadmium and other toxic metals in your body:

  • Blood
  • Urine
  • Hair
  • Stool

These tests are not all appropriate for assessing cadmium levels and it takes a great deal of skill to read the test results properly:

There is also a second urine test, called a porphyrins test, which can tell you whether cadmium or other heavy metals are exerting toxic effects on your body.

Apart from the blood test, all these laboratory tests can be performed in your own home, which makes them extremely convenient.

If you’d like further information on each specific test, please click on one each of the four links, above, or download my special report entitled What You Need to Know About Heavy Metal Testing.

Which tests do you need?

I’m often asked this question and, to be honest, in order to get a full understanding of your heavy metal levels, it’s ideal to run as many of the tests as you can.

We don’t generally test for cadmium levels alone – the heavy metal tests look for mercury, lead, arsenic, aluminum and cadmium (plus others) at the same time.

It’s therefore useful to gain as much information as possible on levels of each heavy metal.

You cannot get an accurate picture of your mercury levels without combining the tests, because each test profile provides information that must be interpreted in different contexts.

For example:

  • The blood test tells you more about your recent or ongoing arsenic exposure.
  • The hair test tells you about how much arsenic is being pushed out of your body in your hair over an approximate 2-3 month period.
  • A urine test with supplements to actively pull arsenic out of your body begins to give you an idea about your total body load, or burden (which can’t be assessed any other way).
  • The porphyrins test tells you whether arsenic is causing specific blocks in your metabolism.

However if budget is a concern, a less financially demanding testing regimen can be designed for you. I’ve found the following tests most useful:

  • Blood
  • Hair
  • Porphyrins

If you can run these together it’s a great starting point.

Please note that blood and hair tests also determine your nutrient element levels (e.g. zinc, calcium, potassium, selenium, magnesium, etc.), which are obviously very important.

In other words, a well-designed testing regimen looks at both toxic metals and “good” minerals at the same time, which gives you the biggest bang for your buck.