Help With Autism

The link between early exposure to mercury and the onset of autism is well established, but it’s not always easy to pinpoint where and when such an exposure occurs. Mercury occurs in nature and is found in varying levels in fish and shellfish. As a result, many expecting mothers tend to shy away from eating any of these foods at all. The reality is that fish and shellfish are rich in protein and omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential to brain development.

It may seem like a paradox, then, that fish contain both a substance that boosts brain development – omega-3 – as well as one that can significantly stunt mental faculties – mercury. As is often the case, moderation is the key to enjoying the benefits of seafood without suffering the detrimental effects. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends that pregnant women eat up to two meals a week of low-mercury fish and shellfish, which includes canned tuna, salmon and shrimp. On the other hand, pregnant women are urged to avoid eating shark or swordfish because of the high mercury levels inherent to these fish.

Mercury intake is not limited to naturally occurring methylmercury in fish and shellfish, unfortunately. The birth defects mercury poisoning causes have also been found in connection with vaccinations that contain the heavy metal as a preservative.

It’s hard to believe, but the human body requires certain heavy metals to function properly. No, not that kind of heavy metal – you can make it through the day just fine without cranking up some Black Sabbath. Rather, humans would be unable to survive without various amounts of copper, zinc, iron and other metals. Iron deficiencies prevent blood from clotting, and they also afflict sufferers with a ghostly pallor.

Toxic metals, on the other hand, play no part in sustaining human life. Instead, they prove dangerous and volatile.

Mercury falls squarely into this second camp. When humans come into frequent or prolonged contact with mercury, the results can be catastrophic. Signs of mercury poisoning include excessive peeling skin, discoloration, rapid heartbeat, muscle weakness and others. It has even been linked to the onset of autism in some cases. Mercury poisoning is highly treatable if caught in the early stages; a careful investigation should be performed of one’s surroundings in order to locate and remove the problem’s source.

While short term exposure to mercury can cause effects such as bloating and redness of the skin, the long term effects can be much more damaging. Mercury is an extremely volatile substance, and if even a small amount of elemental mercury were to enter the blood stream, the result could be fatal. Long term exposure to mercury, which most often occurs with organic mercury that is found in plants and fish, can cause side effects including kidney failure, nervous system damage, and even autism. While the exact cause of autism isn’t known, it’s long been suspected that environmental factors, such as exposure to mercury, can increase the risk of autism in children. Exposure to organic mercury might not be the sole cause autism, but it is certainly a contributor. The effects of mercury poisoning are severe, and it’s important for pregnant women to avoid foods that contain mercury and avoid exposure to mercury.

Mercury is found in all kinds of household items in larger quantities including fluorescent light bulbs and certain thermometers. Mercury is also contained in the preservative thimerosal, which is used in childhood vaccines. Mothers should be extra careful when vaccinating their child.

When we think of mercury poisoning, most people imagine someone coming into physical contact with the substance known as elemental mercury.  This can cause swelling, redness, and certain internal conditions.  However, much more dangerous than coming into physical contact with elemental mercury is exposure to organic mercury over a lifetime.  Organic mercury is most prominent in fish, including swordfish, shark, king mackerel, and white tuna.  Mercury becomes absorbed into these fish as they consume smaller fish, and the concentrations of mercury then become even greater.  It’s recommended that pregnant women and women who are nursing avoid eating the above listed fish, and limit their intake of all other fish and shellfish to about 12 oz. per week.  Eating fish can cause children to develop serious health conditions, and mercury poisoning symptoms at birth often relate to limited or poor nervous system and neural development.

There are also vaccine preservatives that contain mercury, like thimerosal, which have been linked to mercury poisoning and autism in children.  It’s important for all mothers to be aware of the dangers of mercury poisoning before having a child.  

When a child is an infant, it’s often a fun but sometimes stressful time for parents.  Parents love to witness their child discover new things, mirrors, rattles, and of course, how to make loud noises and draw their parent’s attention.  But it’s also important to be a little cautious with infants, as it is this stage of life that is crucial to future development.  Infants require constant attention and constant care from their parents, including proper nutrition, social interaction, and immunizations.  It’s also important for parents to be aware of the dangers that certain accepted practices can pose to their children.  For example, certain childhood vaccines might cause birth defects mercury poisoning due to preservatives in the vaccines that contain mercury.  It’s best to check with doctors and physicians beforehand about what is being injected into an infant, and to recognize the dangers associated with all substances that come into contact with the infant’s body. 

It’s possible to remove toxins from the body with treatment like chelation therapy, probiotics, and PCA-Rx.  These treatments target heavy metals, like mercury, and purge them from the body.

The most natural method to detoxify our bodies is through physical activity.  When we sweat, we can help draw harmful toxins out of the body, which then surface in our perspiration.  For a thorough detox, exercise for about 30-60 minutes, and then sit in a sauna for another 30 minutes, followed by a cool shower.  The shower is crucial because it washes away the toxins that are expelled through perspiration.  Exercise followed by a bit of time in the sauna on a regular basis can help the body feel cleaner and expel much of the harmful toxins.  In addition to this method, some toxins can contaminate the body in large amounts over time.  These toxins, which include mercury, arsenic, and cadmium, are harmful to the body and can cause permanent damage.  Every once in a while, it is necessary to perform a heavy metal detox, which involves a chelation agent taken through ingestion.

Regular exercise combined with the occasional chelation therapy keeps dangerous toxins out of our bodies, and helps us to feel cleaner and increase our overall wellness. 

There are three different types of mercury: elemental, salt, and organic.  Elemental mercury is what is found in thermometers.  This type of mercury is often regarded as the most dangerous because it can cause significant neurological damage when inhaled, ingested, or absorbed into the skin.  Mercury poisoning is most often caused by elemental mercury when a child or adult comes into contact with the substance and is unaware of what it is or its effects.  Mercury salts are used for several industrial purposes, and when inhaled, tend to wreak havoc on the kidneys rather than the neurological system.  Organic mercury is what is found in plants, fish, and shellfish.  Plants produce mercury that is then released into the water.  Organic mercury can also cause damage to the nervous system. 

All forms of mercury are especially dangerous to pregnant women because mercury can cause birth defects if the level of exposure is high enough.  Infants exposed to mercury while still unborn have been known to develop several disorders including autism.  

Mercury is a natural substance that occurs in the environment.  Mercury is released into the atmosphere from the earth’s crust and oceans, and by human activities such as burning coal.  Fish often contain the largest amounts of mercury because fish absorb mercury in the water through their gills, and then predatory fish that eat other fish are exposed to higher levels of mercury.  Most if not all fish contain trace amounts of mercury, and the FDA regulates the acceptable levels of mercury in commercial fish.  The effects of mercury poisoning from prolonged ingestion of fish are mostly neurological; victims of mercury poisoning can die or become severely ill.

In general, it’s okay to eat commercial fish, but it’s important to know where the fish came from as well.  Mercury poisoning is linked to a host of serious conditions that involve the nervous system, including autism. 

The most often recorded physical contact with mercury occurs in children.  Mercury is used in certain household items like fluorescent bulbs and thermometers, and it is when one of these items breaks that children come into contact with elemental mercury.  Mercury is a dangerous substance that can cause a number of symptoms and lead to serious health conditions.  Mercury poisoning symptoms include itching or burning pain at the area of contact, edema, peeling skin and a number of internal conditions like heightened blood pressure and kidney dysfunction.

If you suspect your child has come into contact with mercury, it’s important to immediately consult a physician.  Mercury poisoning is treatable, but if left untreated, it can have numerous harmful effects on the body.  It’s important for parents to be aware of the symptoms of mercury poisoning if your household has any of those items that contain elemental mercury. 

The terminology referring to heavy metals is often loosely defined, but in general it refers to those metallic elements that have toxic properties.  These metals include iron, aluminum, beryllium, mercury, and several less common other metals.  In addition, there are semimetals like arsenic that can have toxic properties as well.  These toxic metallic elements sometimes make their way into food, soil, and even the air.  Inhaling or ingesting heavy metal elements can be fatal, but if recognized, heavy metal poisoning can be treated with heavy metal detox.

It’s common to find mercury in a number of standard substances, arguably, mercury poisoning is the most common heavy metal poisoning.  Mercury is found in trace amounts in fish, and also is used as a preservative in certain vaccinations.  To purge mercury from the body, a heavy metal detox is necessary.