Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Chelating Green Smoothie


I recently got a heavy metal test on my hair and found that I have 3x the high level of mercury. That means there is a level that is considered high (most people apparently have traces of heavy metals) and I am 3x over that limit.   It was recommended that I chelate (remove) the mercury and they gave me some natural ways to do it.   My level of lead was also a tad bit high.  I was surprised when they suggested the herb Cilantro, which is used in salsa and other Mexican dishes.  I did some research and was surprised at all the benefits of this herb.  The benefits of cilantro can be found here.

I had heard about the green smoothie fad that's been going around with Kale being one of the main ingredients. Read more about the benefits of kale here  The Murph and I had talked about buying kale and creating our own smoothie concoction with it.  The Murph drinks his smoothie concoction every day and I have my standard one when I'm training long and need additional calories and protein.  However, none of these smoothies had anything green in it.  When I found out about my high mercury levels I immediately decided to do something about it.

Yesterday I created my own personalized green smoothie using Kale, 1/2 Banana, Cilantro, small slice of Avocado, Apple slices, Pear slice, Cranberry juice, 1/2 scoop Protein powder.


I have to say it wasn't that tasty.  I used way to much Cilantro and threw the stems and all in the smoothie.  Not good.  Today I put less cilantro and made sure I only included the leaves not the stem and I added a small amount of Turmeric and Cinnamon.  I added a full scoop of protein powder and some cranberry juice with 1/2 banana and pear slices and a slice of avocado.


You can also put spinach and different seeds (flaxseed, chia seed) in the smoothie. The Murph always puts flax seeds in his smoothie, as well as chili powder and ginger root.


Then Dr. Oz had his green smoothie recipe in last months People magazine.  There was an entire article on his 2 day detox program which included two different kinds of smoothies, green and berry, as well as a recipe for detox vegetable soup.  He used pineapple in his green smoothie.


Here's my final product and it was delicious.  Well, delicious for a green smoothie with a strong herb such as cilantro.  I am going to keep doing this at least 5 days a week minimum in hopes that it will chelate the mercury in my body.  I am also thinking about removing the silver filling in my tooth and replacing it with the white ones.  I only have one silver one left because all the others I got as a child have been replaced with white ones.  I am not really sure how I got such high levels of mercury in my body or how long it's been that high.  That's something I will probably never know.  Three times over the high limit is way too high not to take action though.


We just ordered some Chlorella, a green algae super food, that aids the cilantro in heavy metal removal and  NAC- N acetyl cysteine,  which also helps remove toxins from the body.  Using NAC was suggested in my hair report.  Chlorella I came across on my own.  I am also taking a garlic supplement because I read an article that says it is suppose to aid the cilantro and the chlorella in the removal of the  heavy metals.

Now I just have to get the Boy to drink one of these things.  He doesn't eat enough green vegetables and has trouble swallowing multi-vitamins.  This is a great way for him to get his daily servings of fruits and vegetables and I can customize it for him any way he likes or whatever I think he needs.  I've done this before when he was really stressed out in high school.  I added some botanical stress relief drops from GNC, a powder multi-vitamin from GNC to make sure he was getting enough B vitamins and vitamin C, some fruit- banana and strawberries,  protein powder and yogurt.  He really liked it.  I hope he will drink a smoothie that has leafy greens in it.

I feel better already after only two green smoothies. It's a great way to get nutrients.  My skin looks better and I have more energy.  I hope I am removing some of the high levels of mercury in my body as well and that the NAC will help my asthma and lung health as it is chelating!

Either way, eating more green, leafy vegetables is probably not a bad thing.


Disclaimer - I am not a doctor or nutritionist or even close, but I self diagnose all the time.   I don't even like doctors very much right now after what happened to me last week.   This post is just my ideas and opinions on what I like and use.  You're on your own if should decide to try any of these smoothie/supplement ideas. Please don't hold me responsible in any way.   Good luck!

May cause gas or green skin.  Does not taste as good as cookies or donuts.

9 comments:

  1. Now you've got me wondering if I need some chelation.
    I have to try this...I'll use local honey to sweet it.
    Self-diagnosing? I do that with J, the dog, me. So far, so good.

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    1. You could do a hair test but it's expensive and then you still don't know where the metals came from. I added mint and a little basil to my smoothie today and it killed the heavy cilantro taste. It was actually delicious! A squeeze of lime also helps. I didn't even need to sweeten it with anything. The fruit , cranberry juice (for kidney health) and mint are enough.

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  2. This sounds like such a good idea. Maybe if I can make it sweet enough I can get my boys to drink it too. My youngest definitely needs some greens.

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    1. It is very good. I still haven't been able to convince my son to drink one though.

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  3. Hey there, Just wondering what your results were from your self chelation. I recently found out that I have high Mercury levels and have had symptoms of this for the last 4 years with them getting progressively worse in the last year. I do not want to take the DMSA that the Doctor prescribed and just got a Vitamix. I love green smoothies and am looking for not only a good tasting recipie, but also one that works. I'd love to know your results. Did your Mercury level go down? How long did it take?

    Thanks, Heather

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    1. I have not been retested for my mercury levels yet because it was very expensive and I haven;t found any other cheaper options to do it. I have been regularly drinking the green smoothies at least 3 times a week as well as taking chlorella pills and N acetyl cystein pills at night. I am curious to know whether my levels are down and hope to get it checked by the end of the year. I will do a follow up post when I do. I LOVE my Vitamix! Good luck!

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  4. Hi There, I am wondering what your results were from this. Were you retested? How long did you drink the drinks for before you retested? What were your results? I recently found out that I have high Mercury levels and have ordered a Vitamix as I do not want to take the DMSA that was prescribed by my doctor. Thanks in advance for sharing : )

    -Heather

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  5. Hi,
    I am interested in getting a heavy metal test and wondering who this test was through and how you ordered it.
    Thanks so much,
    Molly Huang

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    1. Hi! The company I used was called the Carlson company. You have to send your hair off to them. I think If I get my hair rechecked to see is the detoxing has worked, I am going to find someplace close to home that does detoxing too.

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