Dr. Flora Stay asked:




For years we have been warned about the risk of aluminum in deodorants. A recent study reported by WebMD Health News indicates there may even be a link of aluminum in deodorant and other personal care products to breast cancer.

Dr. Philippa Darbre of the University of Reading in England has found evidence that aluminum-based active ingredients in deodorants can mimic estrogen in the body.

She goes on to state, "If the aluminum salts in antiperspirants enter the body and mimic estrogen, it stands to reason that constant exposure over many years may pose a risk."

Most commercial antiperspirants contain aluminum. For years the discussions about risk of aluminum centered around Alzheimer's. This degenerative form of dementia mostly affects persons over 65 years of age.

Some studies have found there are higher than normal concentrations of aluminum in the Alzheimer's brain cells. Other studies have either not been able to conclude this or are still questioning the results. However, it is known that large amounts of aluminum can contribute to nerve toxicity and therefore possibly Alzheimer's disease.

The question becomes, can small amounts over time cause harm or is the danger only with one large exposure?

It is easy to see how we can accumulate aluminum in our bodies, since deodorant isn't the only product that contains it. It is also found in many other sources including antacids, aluminum tubes used with some brands of toothpaste, baking powder, nondairy creamers, table salt, drinking water, and processed cheese. Aluminum cookware, of course, is also a consideration.

It makes sense that small exposures on a daily bases could result in accumulation in tissues over many years, just as Dr. Darbre reports.

Our bodies do not require aluminum. We also know what we rub on our skin, we do absorb into the body and bloodstream.

Although there are no studies to this date that conclusively point to aluminum as a major cause for breast cancer and Alzheimer's, the results are not all in yet.

If you are not a gambling person, you may want to choose your personal care products very carefully to avoid aluminum. Remember, cigarettes used to not be considered unhealthy. Today, we know better.

Home Alarm

John Gaydon
asked:




Most of us who grew up in the 60s were fed out of Aluminum Cookware. We had frypans, pots and pans and Woks, all made from light Aluminum.

At the time, we thought they were a cheap and effective way of cooking food. What we didn't know is that too much Aluminum can cause major health concerns.

Remember the pitting you saw on your mum's Aluminum cookware. Well this is where small flakes of Aluminum have come off the surface of the pot and into your food. Over years and years, this means those of you who used this type of cookware, probably have high levels of this poisonous metal.

Now, I know we require a little aluminum. Problem is, those using the cookware received more than just a little. You may ask, why is this so important and how can it affect me?

Before we go into this, there are some other common sources of excess Aluminum. Aluminum foil, antiperspirants, deodorants, bleached flour, regular table salt, tobacco smoke, processed cheese, cream of tartar, douches, canned goods, baking powder, antacids, buffered aspirin, and most city water. Processed cheese is high in it, for the aluminum helps it melt when heated. Phew, there are lots of sources!

Way back in 1984, I went to China. The country had just opened up to individual tourists and it was a really fascinating time. At the hotel in Hong Kong was an environmental Scientist - a rare breed in those days. He had just done research on the effects of Aluminum Cookware on health. His conclusion, don't touch it, it is linked to Alzheimer's disease.

We now know that Aluminum can be a factor in Thyroid problems. Alzheimer's, Osteoporosis, gastrointestinal problems, colic, rickets, extreme nervousness, headache, anemia, poor kidney and liver function, speech disturbances, memory loss, weak and aching muscles, and softening of bones.

Ridding the body of toxic materials such as excess Aluminum can be quite a challenge. Most recommend a cleanse or avoiding more exposure. Antioxidants are another common suggestion. What if there was a safe way to remove nasty metals and toxins directly from the body that was totally safe. Would that interest you?

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Lynn Alex asked:




Aluminum toxicity can lead to various health problems in the long run including speech problems, memory loss, headaches, anemia, kidney dysfunction, liver problems, extreme nervousness, rickets, gastrointestinal problems, softening of the bones, colic, negative impact on the metabolism of calcium, etc. In extreme cases symptoms of aluminum toxicity are quite similar to Alzheimer's disease.

Aluminum can easily get absorbed into the blood stream. Because it is not excreted easily through urine, it remains in the body. In case the amount of aluminum exceeds the body's capacity to flush it out, the excess of aluminum can get deposited in various parts of the body, including the heart, the brain, the muscle tissues, the spleen, the bones and the liver. If the aluminum gets accumulated in the brain it can negatively impact the mental alertness in a person. It can also lead to seizures.

Deficiency of important minerals like calcium makes this problem worse.

Studies conclude that on average a person consumes about three to ten milligrams of aluminum every day. It is one of the most abundant metallic substances ever produced by the earth. It can find its way into the human body through the digestive tract, the skin, the lungs and gets accumulated in the various tissues of the body. Traces of aluminum are also found in the environment, that includes air, water and soil.

Proper caution should be taken to limit our daily exposure to aluminum. One of the most common ways the aluminum enters the body is through cooking utensils. Aluminum utensils when used for cooking give out small amount of aluminum that gets mixed with the food. This is the reason why using aluminum cookware is not advisable. Aluminum is also used in the preparation of antiperspirants, bleached flour, table salt, grated cheese and beer.

Some preventive measures that one can take to reduce the aluminum exposure are:

- Limiting the use/consumption of products that contain aluminum.

- Including fiber rich vegetables and fruits in a daily diet.

- Using glassware or enamel-coated utensils for cooking purposes.

In case symptoms like memory loss, headaches, anemia, liver problems, nervousness and others develop, the Hair Mineral Analysis test can help determine if there are toxic amounts of aluminum accumulated in the body. There are some detox formulas in the market that can help clean the body of aluminum excess.

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