Did you know that one can be born with heavy metals and is actually the leading cause of modern day world toxicity?
While yes, we are constantly bombarded with heavy metals on a daily basis, from pollution, the way our food is farmed, unfiltered water exposure, but little do people know that heavy metals can be generationally carried down, specifically from mother to baby.
This happens in 2 ways:
The mother can be exposed to metals during pregnancy.
Heavy metals were already stored in the mother.
Let’s get deeper into this and how we can be born with heavy metals.
During pregnancy, maternal exposure to heavy metals such as lead, mercury, arsenic, and cadmium can result in their accumulation in the developing fetus through a combination of physiological processes. Heavy metals, once absorbed into the mother’s bloodstream, can cross the placenta via passive diffusion or active transport mechanisms. The placenta, while designed to filter harmful substances, is not completely effective at blocking all toxic elements, especially those that mimic essential nutrients like calcium, iron, and zinc. For example, lead, which is chemically similar to calcium, can be mobilized from maternal bone stores during pregnancy due to increased calcium demand for fetal skeletal development. Once released into the mother’s bloodstream, lead can readily cross the placenta, accumulating in fetal bones, brain tissue, and organs. Similarly, methylmercury, a highly toxic form of mercury commonly found in contaminated seafood, binds to proteins and is transported across the placenta, where it concentrates in fetal brain tissue, interfering with normal neurological development. Arsenic, often present in contaminated drinking water and certain foods, can interfere with placental function, leading to its accumulation in fetal tissues and disrupting normal growth patterns. Cadmium, a heavy metal found in cigarette smoke and industrial pollution, can accumulate in the placenta itself, impairing nutrient transport to the fetus, leading to low birth weight and developmental delays. The accumulation of these metals in fetal tissues occurs because the developing baby has limited detoxification capabilities due to an immature liver and kidneys, which are not fully functional until after birth. As a result, heavy metals can persist in the fetal body for extended periods, disrupting cellular functions, interfering with DNA synthesis, and causing oxidative stress that can lead to long-term health consequences, including neurological impairment, immune dysfunction, and increased susceptibility to chronic diseases later in life. The degree of accumulation depends on factors such as the type and amount of heavy metal exposure, the timing of exposure during gestation, maternal nutrition, and genetic susceptibility. Because the fetal brain undergoes critical periods of growth and differentiation during pregnancy, exposure to even low levels of neurotoxic metals can have lasting effects, making maternal health and environmental safety crucial for fetal well-being.
Conversely, heavy metal accumulation and sharing via mother and fetus can occur if the heavy metals have already been stored in the mother prior to getting pregnant. Heavy metals that are already stored in a mother’s body prior to pregnancy can significantly affect fetal development because pregnancy naturally mobilizes certain nutrients and minerals from maternal tissues, unintentionally releasing stored toxins into the bloodstream. Heavy metals such as lead, mercury, and cadmium can accumulate in maternal bones, fat tissues, and organs over time, often due to long-term environmental exposure, diet, or occupational hazards. During pregnancy, the body increases bone resorption to supply calcium for fetal skeletal development, but this process can also release stored lead into the mother’s bloodstream, allowing it to cross the placenta and accumulate in fetal tissues, particularly in the brain and bones. Since lead mimics calcium as mentioned before, it can interfere with normal bone formation and neurological development, leading to lower IQ, attention deficits, and developmental delays in the child. Similarly, mercury stored in maternal fat or circulating from past exposure, particularly from high-mercury seafood or dental fillings, can cross the placenta and concentrate in fetal brain tissue, disrupting neuronal growth, causing oxidative stress, and impairing cognitive and motor function. Additionally, cadmium, which accumulates in maternal kidneys and liver over time, can reduce nutrient transport to the fetus by damaging the placenta, potentially leading to low birth weight, weakened immune function, and impaired organ development. Because the fetus lacks fully developed detoxification pathways, these heavy metals can persist in fetal tissues for extended periods, increasing the risk of long-term health issues such as learning disabilities, behavioral disorders, and metabolic diseases. The extent of fetal impact depends on the mother’s overall toxic load, nutritional status, and genetic factors influencing metal metabolism. This makes preconception detoxification, proper nutrition, and minimizing additional exposure during pregnancy crucial for reducing risks and promoting a healthier pregnancy outcome.
So what can you do to try and avoid this for your future children?
Best thing to do is to regularly run an HTMA (Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis) to verify your current mineral status, as well as heavy metal load, and utilize minerals as a means to protect yourself from heavy metals.
You can check out our Upgraded Formulas minerals here, but if you’re ready to test and not guess what you need, order your HTMA here today!