We all try to avoid putting poisons in our bodies but there are just some poisons we actually do come into contact with every day without any idea! Some of them are even inside of us! These poisonous substances can affect your brain, nervous system, bones, teeth, internal organs, joints and immune system, as well as other things! These are known as heavy metals. Here's what you need to know about them, what they can do to you, and how you can minimize the harmful effects of them.

1. Aluminum

This can be found in cookware, food, soda and beer cans, aluminum foil (obviously), buffered aspirin, bleached white flour, margarine, anti-perspirants, baking powder, and antacids.

Aluminum is harmful to your nervous system and can cause problems sleeping, nervousness, emotional instability, memory loss, headaches, and impaired thinking and memory.
It can impair your body's ability to properly use calcium and phosphorus, which can cause prevention of bone growth and also reduce bone density. Aluminum can also cause conditions that can actually force calcium out of your bones.
The toxicity can also result in aching muscles, speech problems, anemia, digestive problems, lowered liver functions, colic and impaired kidney function.
Aluminum can also bind with brain cells and is known to be associated with the plaques found in Alzheimer's.

2. Mercury

Mercury is most commonly found in dental amalgam fillings. It's also found in fungicides and pesticides, cosmetics, tattoo dyes, flu shots, laxatives, paper products, home thermometers and fish such as shark, swordfish, tuna, mackerel, and sea bass.

It can cause damage to your cells and their functions which can be drastic and eventually lead to organ failure (lungs, kidneys, brain and nervous systems).
Mercury expose in excess can cause mental dysfunction, fatigue, depression, neurological and muscular disorders, decreased sense of touch, hearing and vision, kidney and gastrointestinal problems, as well as infertility and heart disease. Effects can include coma and death in some cases.
Mercury actually is an immunosuppresant in the body, which weakens your immune system and encourages the development of autoimmune conditions.

3. Lead

Lead can be found in glazes on the ceramics, cosmetics, hair dyes, newspaper prints, roadways, glassware, gasoline, and paints.

Lead competes with and makes important minerals such as zinc and iron inactive. It displaces calcium from your bones and makes you more susceptible to mineral deficiency conditions.
In adults though lead poison is especially danger so the the brain and nervous system, as well as the stomach, kidneys, thyroid and liver. It can also cause high blood pressure and other health problems.

4. Cadmium

The biggest source of cadmium is cigarette smoke. Whether ou smoke it or not doesn't matter, we all breathe in air contaminated with cigarette smoke, but obviously smokers get it far more than non-smokers. It can also be found in plastics, certain paints, fertilizers, soda, processed foods. Cadmium is found in many plastics and batteries and is released when coal is burned.

In 2000 Cadmium and Cadmium compounds were upgraded by the US government to the status of "known human carcinogens," with an increased risk of lung cancers in workers exposed to Cadmium. Cadmium accumulates in your kidneys and compromises your liver's ability to produce detoxifying enzymes. It can also encourage premature aging and lead to inflammation and disease.

5. Arsenic

Aresenic can be found in pesticides, herbicides and fungicides, some shellfish, pressure treated woods (commonly used in children's swing sets and home decks) and in certain calcium supplements made from sea shells.

Aresenic has been found to be associated with skin cancer, lung, bladder, liver, colon, and kidney cancers as well. When you're exposed to high levels of arsenic if can cause significant effects to the skin and nails, including something that resembles warts but is called "hyperkeratosis." It is very harmful to the nervous system, can cause tremors, headaches, and tremors. Other effects can include blood vessel damage, high blood pressure, anemia, upset stomachs, and liver damage.

Obviously you can't avoid all heavy metals. You can however help to reduce them or even counteract their effects on you:

Quit smoking.

Cook with stainless steel or cast iron instead of the aluminum cookware or bakeware.

Use composite materials in any fillings and have any fillings replaced with silver.

Have your levels tested by a doctor.

Consider Chelation therapy to clear heavy metals from your body.

Make sure to intake enough vitamins and minerals on a daily basis. This will help to rid yourself of heavy metals. When your nutrient levels are low, heavy metals can affect your body harder.

Make sure to have adequate fiber. Fiber binds to heavy metals and helps sweep them out of your body with your bowel movements.

Consider probiotic supplements. They will also help to counteract the heavy metals in your immune system.