Q: I would like to ask if you have tested for any toxic metals in all animal parts (muscle, organ or bone) in various small farms that sell grass-fed meats? I cannot assume grass-fed means toxic metal free.
A: I do not have a home laboratory, so I have never personally tested for toxic metals in animal source foods. The fact is, we all live in a heavily compromised modern world where literally everyone is being exposed to heavy metals, regardless. No one gets off Scott-free. Now, whether or not the presence of a heavy metal in you is likely to devastate your health or not is largely dependent on whether you happen to be immune reactive to that particular heavy metal or not. But all of us have them. They are frankly an unavoidable consequence of modern life. Obviously, avoiding anything grown or raised in China is always a good idea, but the sad fact is that heavy metal and toxic chemical/radiation/EMF contamination, etc. are pervasive throughout our air water and food supply. I will say that I am generally more comfortable with meat that is pastured in places like Tasmania and New Zealand, simply because environmental contamination is less pervasive in the Southern Hemisphere (and places like New Zealand do not readily use GMO’s).
I have frequently commented that in a world that is filled with so much compromise and a whole variety of detrimental issues we seemingly have no control over, it is incumbent upon each of us to take control of what we can. I propose doing this through making careful dietary and lifestyle choices. We all need to be consuming food that is of uncompromising quality (i.e., organic/fully pastured, etc.) that is also in alignment with our evolutionary and genetic heritage. I also make a fairly exhaustive case for adopting a more fat-based, ketogenic metabolism based on a low-utilizable carbohydrate (i.e., sugar/starch) intake that is moderate in protein and sufficient in extremely high quality fat from a variety of natural sources—including quality animal source foods. I also take human longevity research into account when applying ancestral dietary principles, and I also endeavor to take into account the world that we live in today. As such, I also recommend an extremely wide variety of fibrous vegetables and greens prepared in a variety of manners (including cultured/fermented forms, lightly cooked, raw and sprouted) as a means of providing additional beneficial phytonutrients, antioxidants and fodder for our embattled internal wildlife (as long as this is well tolerated, along with nuts and a few seeds). This also helps provide additional bulk that can add to meal satisfaction. I refer to this unique combination of foundational dietary recommendations now as being Primalgenic® (in part as a means of distinguishing myself from the increasingly commercialized and compromised Paleo and Ketogenic genres).
All we can do is the best we can do. If a person has a particular concern about heavy metals, then I recommend the Cyrex Labs Array 11 as a means of determining whether immune reactivity to the substances is an issue or not. If it is, then steps are warranted for addressing that. There are number of non-compromising steps that can be taken and I go into this at some length in my Primal Restoration® educational module on detox. But I do not recommend chelation therapy for anything other than emergency (i.e., acute heavy metal poisoning) circumstances.
I’m not sure whether this is the answer you had in mind or not, but I hope it is helpful to you nonetheless.
Warmly,
~Nora
PS. I do not have any financial ties to Cyrex Labs
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