I've starting taking diatomaceous earth (1 Tbsp with distilled water) daily to remove toxins but according to the following info, it does a lot more.
http://wolfcreekranch1.tripod.com/diatomaceous_human_use.html
http://thedetoxspecialist.com/blog/detox/food-grade-diatomaceous-earth-and-its-health-advantages
Home Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth and Its Health Advantages
March 14, 2010 | By Sandy Halliday
Exercise methods, diet recipes or food supplements are believed to be the safe options in staying healthy. Yet, there is a simpler alternative by consuming food grade diatomaceous earth (or DE).
Diatomaceous earth is an all-natural product made from tiny fossilized water plants. Oceans and lakes are rich in diatoms, the microscopic plants diatomaceous earth is made of. After being removed from the vast ocean floor, the processed diatomaceous earth can be used for many purposes. This mineral-based compound contains silicon, magnesium, calcium, sodium, iron and other trace minerals that the body needs to stay healthy. These same minerals will improve bodily functions and provide better over-all health.
The diatomaceous earth has the ability to function both as a digestive aid and as a colon cleanser. When food grade diatomaceous earth is fed in adequate daily amounts, it eliminates most intestinal worms and parasites. This promotes proper absorption of nutrients derived from food, which improves existing indigestion problems while producing regular bowel movements. It is less likely for colon diseases to progress sooner. It isn’t even as aggressive to the intestinal mucosa or barrier wall in spite of its aggressive characteristic in warding off diseases.
Food grade diatomaceous earth has been reported in scientific literature to absorb mercury, e-coli, endotoxins, viruses (including polio virus), pesticide residues, drug residues, and perhaps even the toxins produced by some intestinal infections. This is to remove toxins found in the body.
Entering through the bloodstream, diatomaceous earth has the ability to lower bad cholesterol while raising the good cholesterol. It also regulates blood pressure. Hypertension, predominantly present in old age, can be minimized if food grade diatomaceous earth is taken regularly.
Due to the normal wear and tear or lack of calcium absorption in the bones, people experience bone diseases, but with the help of diatomaceous earth, it reduces sore joints and prevents other symptoms associated with osteoporosis.
Aside from these primary health benefits, diatomaceous earth may even replace some of the basic hair products and skin creams. It gives skin a youthful glow, revitalizes hair, stimulates its growth, and restores the shine. It is known to be safe for ingestion by pregnant or lactating women as there have never been any reported cases of withdrawal or side effects.
As diatomaceous earth works its way through the body, it will start to clean out your insides, enabling you to enjoy a healthier lifestyle.
August 27, 2010 UPDATE
Found this link which gives a BUNCH of benefits from DE.
http://www.earthworkshealth.com/human-use.php
Diatomaceous Earth - Human Use
Diatomaceous Earth is 84% Silicon Dioxide (Silica)
There is no life without Silica !!
In 1939, the Nobel Prize winner for chemistry, Professor Adolf Butenant, proved that life can not exist without Silica.
In the 2003 book "Water & Salt" Dr. Barbara Hendel states: "Silica it the most important trace mineral for human health!"
Silica plays an important role in many body functions and has a direct relationship to mineral absorption. The average human body holds approximately seven grams of silica, a quantity far exceeding the figures for other important minerals such as iron.
Lets look at some of the benefits of Silica:*
Lower High Blood Pressure!
Of the thousands of people that are using Diatomaceous Earth, most that have high blood pressure have reported that it has gone down. It has been so thrilling to talk to people all over the United States and have them tell their stories. We are not just talking a few points---we are talking about LIFE-CHANGING numbers. Doctors are amazed--customers are amazed---You will be too.
Lower high Cholesterol!
Just as Diatomaceous Earth has been lowering blood pressure--it has also been lowering cholesterol!!. I have not talked with one person that has high cholesterol that has not had lower numbers after taking Diatomaceous Earth. Most are reporting 40-60 points lower after only 2 weeks on DE. I know it sounds too good to be true, but it works!
Just recieved this feedback from a user:
"I have been on DE for 6 months now and I just had my lab work done. My triglycerides have been reduced from 495 down to 203. I have so much more energy and my hair and nails are growing so much better. My husband has had High Blood Pressure and since being on the dirt, his BP is now in the normal range. It has also helped with my varicose veins and I no longer have any pain from them.."
Rhonda from Louisiana
My joints feel so much better!!
Osteoporosis is a symptom of the aging process. As calcium in our body system depletes, our bones become brittle and weak. Taking only a calcium supplement can not correct or stop this threatening and crippling disease because the body cannot assimilate and make use of the calcium without the presence of silica. Evidence suggests that, instead of affecting healing, supplemental mineral calcium, on the contrary, accelerates the leaching away of bone calcium and thus hastens the degenerative process of osteoporosis and similar diseases that affect the supportive and connective tissues in the human body.
For osteoporosis, silica can stop the pain and even restore the bodies self repair process. Osteoporosis symptoms attack women primarily after menopause but the degenerative process starts much earlier in their younger days. More women are dying of fractures caused by osteoporosis than of cancer of the breast, cervix, and uterus combined.
Silica is responsible for the depositing of minerals into the bones, especially calcium. It speeds up the healing of fractures and also reduces scarring at the site of a fracture. More and more research evidence shows that through a transmutation process, silica is turned into calcium when it is needed. That is why some scientists refer to silica as a precursor of calcium. Even when calcium is insufficient, the body can turn silica into calcium that the bones need.
Natural Weight Loss!
We have been getting hundreds of reports from all over the United States that DE is helping people lose weight. Everyone is saying that DE taken in the morning helps curb their appetite throughout the day. Just one more reason to take it everyday!!
Nature's Internal Cosmetic!
In Europe and Asia Diatomaceous Earth is used extensively as a health and beauty product for hair, skin, nails, bones, and joints. They have no FDA.
Tissue degeneration accelerates due to aging when connective tissue develops an increasing inability to retain moisture when left unassisted. Silica can help slow the degenerative process of connective tissue. With silica, vitality and life, which are often lost as the years accumulate, can be naturally maintained or even restored to your skin. Collagen, largely made up of silica, is the glue that holds us together. If our body has enough silica glucosaminoglycane, the collagen will make us look younger. Silica helps with skin problems and injuries including itching, rashes, abscesses, boils, acne, callouses, warts, eczemas, burns, frostbite, benign skin sores, insect bites and bed sores.
If you regularly follow a silica regimen, your skin will keep its young look. A good silica supplementation program works far better than other products for maintaining healthier and longer lasting collagen.
Hair That Grows!
Hair is natures greatest beauty enhancer. Hair deserves to be pampered. Hair at 90 micrograms per gram is almost as rich in silica as are healthy bones, which contain 100 micrograms per gram. Silica is a major component of hair. Using a good silica supplement should be part of your ongoing hair care program for revitalizing hair. Silica helps to prevent baldness, stimulates healthier hair growth and assures beautiful shine, luster and strength.
Teeth and Gums!
By hardening the enamel, silica prevents cavities and preserves teeth. Silica also prevents bleeding gums, gum atrophy, and recession that causes the loosening of teeth, which could ultimately lead to tooth loss. Silica effectively fights ulceration and the decay of bones,teeth and also lessens inflammation.
Tough As Nails!
Your nail plates are complex protein structures that grow four to five millimeters per month on average. With silica supplementation, fragile nails become normal within a short period of time. Silica will beautify the appearance of your nails and improve their hardness, making them shinier and less prone to breaking.
The restorative effects of silica will be most noticeable on your hair, skin, nails and teeth. Our skin and hair require silica essentially for the same purpose as do other tissues. As we know, the supporting collagen underneath the skin enhances elasticity and beauty. Collagen owes that quality to silica, which provides a beautiful complexion that is more than skin deep.
More Benefits!
* Silica lowers bad cholesterol and raises good
* Silica fades age spots
* Silica stimulates metabolism for higher energy levels
* Diatomaceous earth has a negative charge and bacteria has a positive charge. It is believed that diatomaceous earth sweeps bacteria out of the body by trapping it in it's honeycomb shaped skeletal form.
* Silica supplementation helps repair and maintain vital lung tissues and protects them from pollution. By maintaining or restoring the elasticity of lung tissues, silica reduces inflammation in bronchitis.
* It acts as a cough decreasing agent. Silica tones the upper respiratory tract (nose, pharynx, larynx) and reduces swelling because of its positive action on the lymphatic system.
* Silica supplementation keeps menopause free of stress and helps to prevent many unwanted side-effects of menopause
* Silica works with other antioxidants to prevent premature aging and to preserve youthfulness.
* Silica can help prevent kidney stones and heal infections of the urinary tract. It is a natural diuretic which can increase excretion of urine by 30 percent, thus flushing the water-excreting system and restoring normal function to these vital organs.
* The presence of sufficient silica in the intestines will reduce inflammation of the intestinal tract. It can cause disinfection in the case of stomach and intestinal mucus and ulcers. Silica can prevent or clear up diarrhea and its opposite, constipation.
* Silica will help normalize hemorrhoidal tissues.
* In regulating and normalizing the bowels, silica has a pleasant side effect; it can alleviate lower back pain, which often troubles the elderly.
* Silica proves effective with female discharge, abscesses and ulcers in the genital area and cervix, as well as mastitis (especially for breast feeding mothers).
* The intake of silica acts as a supportive treatment for inflammation of the middle ear. Because of the beneficial effectiveness on the lymphatic system, silica can be used for swelling of the lymph nodes in the throat.
* Has anti-inflammatory disinfecting, absorbing and odor binding effects.
* Silica can normalize circulation and regulate high blood pressure (hypertension).
* Silica can decrease vertigo, headache, tinnitus (buzzing of the ears) and insomnia.
* Silica can help diabetes by promoting synthesis of elastase inhibitor by the pancreas.
* Silica can help arterial disease by strengthening the blood vessels. Studies confirm that with age, silica disappears from the aorta, the heart's key blood vessel thus weakening its critical connective tissue and resulting in a greater cardiac risk.
* Silica can help prevent Tuberculosis.
* By improving the elasticity of the joints, silica helps rheumatism.
* Silica has inhibitory effects on coronary diseases.
* Silica can help avoiding or alleviating Alzheimers disease by preventing the body from absorbing aluminum and may flush out aluminum from the tissues. Silica can stimulate the immune system.
Dosage:
Daily silica needs of humans are 20-30 mg. In Years past, our bodies would get enough silica from our diet. Unfortunately, many of the foods we now eat have lost their nutritional value due to soil nutrient depletion, food processing, and chemicals. Supplemental use of Perma-Guard Diatomaceous Earth is essential to total body health.
In my studies and searches of the internet, people are taking 1 or 2 heaping tablespoons of Diatomaceous Earth every day. Myself and my family take 1 heaping tablespoon per day. We mix it with grapefruit juice. Others are mixing it with water, soda pop, juice, or whatever liquid they enjoy. Some are even putting DE in protein shakes, applesauce and yogurt. Perma-Guard Diatomaceous Earth is Food Grade and very pure. There is no unpleasant taste. Since it will not dissolve, stirring several times while drinking will prevent settling. Some have experienced higher energy levels, so it is probably better not to take it right before sleeping. No worry about getting too much--any excess silica not needed by the body is automatically eliminated through the blood stream, kidneys and intestines.
JUNE 11 2011 UPDATE
Blogger won't let me post a comment - not sure why! Anyway, here is my comment:
Not sure about RedLake. I bought my via amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/Perma-Guard-Diatomaceous-Earth-Food-Grade/dp/B002XMTXX8/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1307848904&sr=8-4
DECMEBER 1, 2011 UPDATE
From a comment today:
http://www.supremefulvic.com/documents/html/organic-inorganic.html
Here is your explanation of the lead. I hope this helps some readers.
Lead, Arsenic, Aluminum and Mercury…
Vital Trace Elements or Toxic Poisons?
by Dr. William J. Saccoman
Did you know that an apple contains 3-5 mg of aluminum and trace amounts of lead, arsenic and mercury? Micro or trace minerals are essential for good health if they come from an organic or plant source. In contrast, if they come from an inorganic or metallic source, such as heavy metals, they are toxic. For example, iodine in an organic form is necessary for health. Non-organic or metallic iodine in the same amount can kill you.
Why are people frightened of these trace minerals? The reason is well understood.
There have been numerous deaths and birth defects caused by heavy metal poisoning from metals such as lead. People have used arsenic as a poison and pesticide for centuries. The news is filled with grim reports about these substances. However, little is said about the all-critical source. Is it organic or inorganic?
Organic trace minerals are not deposited in the body like inorganic forms of these elements.
Research shows that organic plant-derived trace minerals will actually replace the heavy metals deposited in the body. The heavy metals are then flushed from the body.
There is a huge difference between an organic and an inorganic mineral.
Once a plant source utilizes minerals from the ground, they are digested, making them ionic or electrical in nature. This makes it easier for the body to assimilate and use the minerals at a cellular level. Subsequently, they are not stored or deposited somewhere else in the body. Trace minerals in their inorganic form are not easy for the body to use. They are stored in the tissues and eventually large amounts build up and become extremely toxic.
In the late 1980s an interesting experiment was conducted by Gary Price Todd, MD, author of the book Nutrition, Health and Disease. The study involved individuals with heavy metal poisoning, specifically lead, mercury, cadmium and aluminum. Patients were placed on a program of full spectrum bio-available organic, micro trace minerals.
After 16 months the study demonstrated reduced levels of toxic metals in the patients. They concluded that organic, ionic minerals naturally chelate or remove the inorganic minerals from the body. Furthermore, ionic minerals cannot be stored in the body for longer than a few hours, they are much like the water soluble vitamins; therefore they cannot build up to toxic levels in the soft tissues. (Todd, Gary P. Unpublished Observations, The Institute of Nutritional Science Journal, June 1996, 1:1).
Another study on trace minerals and detoxification was conducted by Dr. Michael Zimmerman, Chief of Staff of the Specialized Clinic for Chronic Illnesses and Therapy Resistant Patients and Biophysicist, Dr. Fritz Albert Popp in Uberlingen, Germany. They concluded that trace minerals were not toxic, but rather assisted the cells' vital functions and enhanced detoxification as well as accelerated the healing process of chronic illness. (Popp, Fritz Albert. Bio-electronic Response of Cellular Stimulation).
Like lead, mercury and other metals, arsenic is toxic when it comes from an inorganic source. However, from an organic source it is an essential micro-mineral needed by the body in minute quantities (The Nutrition Bible, Joan Anderson and Barbara Deskins, 1995). In a recent study where organic arsenic was given to 12 patients with leukemia, 11 went into remission. The treatment apparently stops cancer cells from reproducing and then they self-destruct (New England Journal of Medicine, November 1998).
AUGUST 25 2017 UPDATE
This morning cam across this 2014 article:
Diatomaceous Earth: The Dirt You Can Eat and 5 Reasons Why You Should
The Alternative Daily -
May 30, 2014
If you were like most kids, you probably enjoyed pretending to eat “dirt cakes,” or perhaps even sampled a some of the brown gritty stuff from time to time. While a little dirt is not going to hurt anyone, some types of “earth” are more beneficial than others.
Often called DE for short, diatomaceous earth is a grayish, talc-like substance that is actually comprised of fossilized remains of single-cell marine phytoplankton known as diatoms, that have skeletons made from 84 percent silica and 20 other minerals.
When it is magnified 7,000 times, DE looks like tiny honeycombs. Mined from dried lake beds that are thousands of years old, DE has an unlimited shelf life as long as it is kept dry.
According to the FDA, food grade diatomaceous earth is “generally regarded as safe,” even for children and pregnant and nursing mothers.
Besides oxygen, silica is the most abundant element on Earth. In 1939, Nobel Prize winner Doctor Adolf Butenant demonstrated how important silica is for life – in fact, it may be the most important trace element in human health. At one point in time, food contained plenty of silica, but because our food sources are so depleted, we are only getting about one third of the silica that we need
Besides being very high in silica, diatomaceous earth also has the following properties:
Very strong negative charge; acts like a magnet to attract harmful materials.
It is extremely hard – in fact, it is a 7 on the hardness scale, where a diamond is a 9.
DE is known mostly for its ability to naturally kill insects and pests such as fleas (this includes intestinal parasites). Because it is so strong, and also sharp, it easily punctures the exoskeleton of insects on a microscopic level – this causes them to dehydrate and perish.
Note: Humans and other animals remain unharmed by this. Keep in mind that it is a physical action that kills insects, not a chemical action. This is why it it does not harm us.
The following are five really neat ways to use this natural and economical substance for overall health and wellbeing.
Cleansing: Because it has a very strong negative charge, DE can easily attach to and escort things like toxins, viruses, heavy metals, bacteria and even radiation from the body. This makes it a great complement to any detoxification program. While diatomaceous earth moves through the stomach and digestive tract, it attracts and absorbs fungi, bacteria, viruses, protozoa, pesticides, E. coli, heavy metals and endotoxins.
The toxins are trapped by DE and carried out of the body. If any larger parasites exist, they are easily “cut up” and killed by its sharp edges. However, DE does not kill beneficial gut bacteria. As the DE passes through the intestines, it actually scrubs the walls clean. Some people who go through this cleansing actually have what is known as a “healing crisis.”
This can cause some mild inflammation as the immune system comes back to life. As parasites die off, they release extra toxins which can cause nausea, pain and cramping. Also, parasites often harbor their own parasites, germs and infections, which can cause additional discomfort. One way to avoid this is to slowly work up to a teaspoon to a tablespoon over the course of a few days or weeks
Reducing blood pressure and cholesterol: Because DE has such a detoxifying effect on the body, it reduces foreign matter and along with it, inflammation. Both of these things can contribute to high blood pressure and elevate blood serum cholesterol.
Joint pain: As we age, we lose calcium and our bones become weak. Unfortunately, just taking a calcium supplement will not correct or arrest this process, simply because the body can’t use the calcium without silica. In fact, calcium may actually accelerate the leaching away of bone calcium and hurry along osteoporosis and other diseases that impact the supportive and connective tissues in the body.
Persons suffering from osteoporosis find that silica can stop pain and help the body repair itself. Silica is so effective because one of its primary functions is to deposit minerals into the bones – mostly calcium. Amazingly, silica can also turn into calcium if needed.
Hair growth: Silica is great for your hair, and it has been said to promote scalp health and hair growth. Hair is rich in silica, like healthy bones, so silica is vital to healthy hair. Incorporating DE into your hair care program is a perfect way to revitalize tired or damaged hair. Silica can help prevent baldness, stimulates hair growth and improves both the shine and strength of hair.
Healthy skin: In Europe, DE is used in health and beauty products for skin, hair, nails, bones and joints. When we age, connective tissue has a difficult time retaining moisture. Silica helps to slow this degenerative process and can restore vitality. Collagen is largely made up of silica, and is the glue that keeps us together. With enough silica we have enough collagen to appear youthful. In addition, silica can assist with skin problems such as rashes, acne, eczema, insect bites and also injuries including frostbite and burns.
Other anecdotal reports regarding diatomaceous earth
Helps prevent kidney stones
Decreases vertigo
Helps reduce side effects of menopause
Helps maintain lung tissue health
Helps fight urinary tract infections
Helps reduce symptoms of insomnia
Boosts metabolism
Because silica is water soluble it is easily absorbed by the intestinal wall. It will not accumulate in the body, so daily supplementation is necessary. Stir the DE frequently while drinking, as it will settle to the bottom.
Start out with 1 tablespoon of DE mixed with water each day. If you really hate the taste, try mixing with coconut water and a teaspoon of raw honey. If necessary, increase to 2 or 3 tablespoons. Again, go slow if you start to feel that you are having a detox reaction.
Some people report feelings of increased energy, so it is not advised to take DE prior to bedtime.
Note: Be sure to always take only food grade DE, as other forms are not considered safe for human consumption.
-The Alternative Daily
