Cadmium is a soft metallic element that is very dangerous to your health. Ironically and tragically, it was used as a medication to treat certain inflammatory conditions as recently as the 1900’s. The founding fathers of Osteopathic and Chiropractic knew that cadmium and other metallic based “cures” were toxic and fought hard against their use.

Cadmium has no function in the human body. Any amount in our system will disrupt normal physiologic processes.

Sources of dangerous cadmium exposure include:

• Cigarette smoke
• Fossil fuel burning
• Food grown with phosphate fertilizer or sewage sludge
• Ni-Cad batteries

Cadmium is linked to shortened telomeres, the endcaps of our DNA. The shorter our telomeres, the shorter our lifespan (1). Telomere length testing is available from several companies.

This metal is a nasty player.  

From a cardiology standpoint, high cadmium is linked to a significantly increased risk of:

• Congestive heart failure (2)
• Coronary artery disease (3)
• Conduction defects such as heart block (4)

How often do cardiologists test for cadmium or other metals? Just about never.

Other health risks according to the Environmental Protection Agency (5):

• Decreased kidney function
• Emphysema and other lung disorders
• Reduced sperm number and quality
• Decreased birthweight
• Lung cancer
• Osteoporosis

Here is an action plan to get the cadmium out of the body:

1. Limit exposure
2. Sweat. Get an infrared sauna.
3. Keep your bowels and bladder active. Drink quality water.
4. Drink our Superfood for a daily detox.
5. Consider chelation therapy.

Sources:

1. Am J Epidemiol. 2015 Jan 15;181(2):127-36.
2. BMJ Open. 2015; 5(6)
3. J Intern Med 2012;272:601–10
4. Toxicol Mech Methods 2009;19:308–17
5. http://www3.epa.gov/airtoxics/hlthef/cadmium.html