Most people are told that eating a whole food, plant-based diet, including fish is the healthiest way of eating. Pescatarian, Mediterranean, Mayo Clinic, and DASH are several diets that are variations of the same core recommendation which promotes consuming fish. To be effective for the individual to achieve a long and healthy life, the diets should be tailored to the person’s specific need for protein, fats, carbohydrates, and nutrients. The issue with advice on these diets, is that they are assumed to be healthy for everyone. But we must be aware that there are foods that we are eating in these healthy diets that are toxic and cause disease.

Amazon Prime is streaming the documentary Eating Our Way to Extinction which features the story of celebrity Tony Robbins who has a following of millions of people around the world. In the movie, Dr. Maharaj interviews Tony who describes how he suffered from mercury poisoning. He was a vegan for many years but then he decided to follow what he thought was a healthier diet, by eating fish every day. He started developing symptoms including memory problems and severe fatigue. He would be on stage and he couldn’t remember his lines. He had tests done and one of these identified toxic elements in his blood. What they found was that the level of mercury in his body had reached toxic levels. His blood level was over 6 times greater than the normal mercury concentration. Mercury toxicity causes symptoms in the nervous system such as memory loss, numbness or pain, tremors, trouble walking, blindness, or seizures.

Metals, such as mercury, lead, cadmium, and arsenic which contaminate many foods, can suppress the immune system because they are poisonous heavy metals. Mercury has been found to decrease production of white blood cells, including T cells. There are several studies demonstrating that lead exposure can increase the incidence of allergy, infectious disease, autoimmunity and cancer. Cadmium toxicity leads to a decreased immune response due to its detrimental effect on T cell production and it also causes damage to the kidneys and liver.

Arsenic induces DNA damage in cells and alters the functions of human innate and adaptive immune cells. It is important to note that immune system suppression can occur with exposure to low dosages of these metals. The immune system is our body’s way of fighting off invading pathogens, so when our system is not functioning optimally, we are more susceptible to infections and other diseases.

The truth of the matter is we are unknowingly eating food that damages our immune systems, decreases our health span and accelerates aging. Every human is different and needs a diet based on their individualized needs. We need to be proactive and have our blood examined for levels of normal micronutrients as well as toxins. Toxic levels of heavy metals damage our body’s natural defense mechanism, and once identified they need to be removed and we must make changes to reduce them in our environments and in our food. We need to be proactive and identify what foods contain high levels of heavy metals and toxins to prevent the diseases caused by these toxins such as mercury before it is too late.

Please call Dr Maharaj at 561 752 5522 to see how he and his team can help you maintain your healthy immune system. Office 10301 Hagen Ranch Rd. Suite 600, Boynton Beach FL 33437.