The first step to prevent the accumulation of heavy metals, and, for some, the way to eliminate them, is through diet. We have already discussed the importance of eating organic food that has not been exposed to toxic chemicals. But there is another step related to diet. There are many foods that are good chelating agents of heavy metals. “Let your food be your medicine, and your medicine be your food,” said Hippocrates, and deliberately including chelating foods into your diet is one way of making food your medicine.
Dr. Yoshiaki Omura, Director of Medical Research of the Heart Disease Research Foundation, observed that subjects had higher than normal levels of mercury in their urine after consuming Vietnamese soup, which has large amounts of cilantro. This is a good sign; for if you have higher levels in your urine that means mercury is being removed from your body. He followed up on this accidental finding and discovered that giving cilantro to patients with mercury poisoning for several weeks successfully eliminated the toxin from the body.
I am lucky to have a beautiful Vietnamese wife who frequently makes a delicious soup with a lot of cilantro. In fact a large section of our garden is dedicated to cilantro which we pick daily for soup, eggs, and salads. If you want to make this soup, I suggest trying my wife’s sisters recipe at the end of this article if you think it is too complicated you might want to try my simple recipe! Another way to enjoy cilantro is to put it on salads or make a cilantro pesto using olive oil and either walnuts or Brazilian nuts in the pesto because both are a good source of magnesium and zinc. Consider having a few pots of cilantro on your windowsill so you will always have a fresh supply!
Dr David Williams published in his newsletter, Alternatives ((Vol. 7, No. 12) June, 1998), that using cilantro to detoxify the body is the most interesting item to come down the pike in years! Cilantro has been found to chelate (remove) heavy metals like mercury, aluminum, and lead from the body. In fact, it is believed to cross the blood-brain barrier and actually remove said metals from the brain. It may be one of the most effective agents in doing this.
Cilantro is a member of the carrot family and is botanically-known as Coriandrum sativum. The plant and leaves are called cilantro, while the seeds (used as a spice) are called coriander. The plant is often referred to as Mexican parsley, or Chinese parsley. The leaves, which resemble flat-leaf parsley, are used for seasoning in Mexican and Asian dishes. Some people have a very strong aversion to the flavor and will object to even the smallest amount in a dish.Those who enjoy this herb agree that the flavor is definitely strong and pungent. Cilantro is sold fresh, by the bunch, in the produce section of most markets. Dried cilantro is pretty much worthless since the flavor and aroma are lost in the drying process. Some people have a very strong aversion to the cilantro flavor, but this can be overcome. One way to overcome it is by making pesto from the herb and using it on pasta, bread, or with eggs.
I met a wonderful organic chief in Naples Florida; his name is Sal Montezinos, and we are collaborating on a Cookbook to Cure Eye Disease. Will have these and other recipes to help you on your journey to wellness and clear vision. Our goal is to have the book finished by summer 2012! I will be giving you teaser recipes through out the year!
