Aluminum elimination

Say that five times fast!

I think it's almost common knowledge by now that aluminum can be dangerous to our health. Abnormal levels of aluminum are found in people suffering from Alzheimer's, osteoporosis, colic, rickets, gastrointestinal problems, anemia, headaches, decreased liver and kidney function, and can contribute to softening of the bones, memory loss, speech problems, interference with the metabolism of calcium, extreme nervousness, and aching muscles.

That's a pretty long list of ailments. The question is, where are we getting all this excess aluminum?

The list of where we get too much aluminum is no shorter. Aluminum is found naturally in our air, water and soil. Acid rain leaches aluminum from the soil into our drinking water, hence the biggest source of aluminum comes from our municipal water supplies. Additionally we find it in household goods. It is used in the process of making cooking pots and pans, utensils and foil. Other items such as over-the-counter pain killers, anti-inflammatory products, and douche preparations can also contain aluminum. Aluminum is also an additive in most baking powders, is used in food processing, and is present in antiperspirants, toothpaste (NB: fluoride is also toxic), dental amalgams, bleached flour, grated cheese, table salt, and beer (especially when the beer is in aluminum cans). (from Bella Online)

To ditch the aluminum from our bodies, we should eliminate the following items from our homes:

ALUMINUM POTS & PANS
Throw out your aluminum cookware and instead use stainless steel or cast iron pots and pans, and ceramic pottery bakeware. Note that the longer food is cooked in aluminum pots, the more they corrode, and the more aluminum is absorbed into the food. Aluminum is more readily dissolved by acid-forming foods including coffee, cheese, meat, black and green tea, cabbage, cucumbers, tomatoes, turnips, spinach and radishes.

ALUMINUM FOIL
Self-explanatory, do not use aluminum foil for cooking or storing food. I've found that sometimes little bits of foil get stuck to the food and may get accidentally eaten. Store foods in stainless steel or glass containers.

ANTACIDS
May contain aluminum hydroxide. Some aluminum-free antacids are available, check labels carefully. Better yet is to eat an alkaline diet and eliminate the need for antacids.

ALUMINUM SALTS
Found in antidiarrheal products and commercial douches.

SHAMPOOS
Anti-dandruff shampoos may contain magnesium aluminum silicate. Watch labels carefully for aluminum lauryl sulfate, which is a common ingredient in many popular shampoo products.

BUFFERED ASPIRIN
Buffered aspirin can contain up to 14.4 to 88 milligrams of aluminum hydroxide or aluminum glycinate. Ordinary aspirin is aluminum free as are many other pain killers. Read the labels carefully.

TETRA PAK JUICE CONTAINERS & ALUMINUM CANS
Aluminum-coated waxed containers, especially ones containing orange and pineapple juices, cause juices inside to absorb aluminum. Beer and soft drinks that are stored in aluminum cans also absorb small quantities of aluminum. Opt for glass bottled beverages or make juices fresh or from concentrate.

ANTIPERSPIRANTS
Contain aluminum chlorhydrate. Switch to natural deodorants. Visit your health food store for options, or try natural concoctions.

BAKED GOODS & CHEESE FOOD ADDITIVES
Cake mixes, frozen doughs, self-rising flour, and sliced process cheese food all contain sodium aluminum phosphate. Baking powder uses sodium aluminum sulfate, but you can make your own natural alum-free baking powder. Starch modifiers and anti-caking agents also contain varying levels of aluminum compounds. Processed cheese and cheese product slices like the kind used on cheese burgers at fast food restaurants contain aluminum to make the cheese melt better.

Eating a diet high in fiber will help push toxins out of the body more efficiently. Eating apples is also supposed to help with aluminum in the body, but I'm not sure how...! Nonetheless, it's no surprise that healthy eating, home-cooking, whole foods and natural cooking materials all contribute to naturally better health.

Read more in the HerbTime website, Black Herbals website, and Wikipedia.