Arsenic in Apple Juice - Poisoning our children!

As I was checking my email this morning I stumbled on an online article entitled "Arsenic in Juice:  New Study Prompts Action" and I thought this would make a good blog post.  So here it is.

Lately, whenever I do a hair analysis I am finding that arsenic is showing up in more people.  Therefore, there must be a common source for this exposure.  Is it our drinking water? Bottled water? Juice? This article and their sampling seems to believe so.  Dr. Oz tried to bring this situation to light not too long ago, but he was made fun of  for his report.  Personally, I think he is owed an apology, but anyway. 

In the article online, it states that an advocacy group, Consumers Union, is suggesting that the Food and Drug Administration lower its standard for arsenic levels in juice drinks.  10% of juices tested had arsenic levels greater than the FDA's standard for drinking water and 25% of juices also had lead levels higher than the FDA's bottled water limits.  The article goes on to say that "Although federal standards exist for arsenic and lead levels allowed in bottled and drinking water, there are no limits for fruit juices".  "Analysis showed that people who reported drinking apple or grape juice had, on average, about 20 percent higher levels of total urinary arsenic than those subjects who did not".  Consumer Reports recommends that we reduce the amount of juice we drink.  "A Consumer Reports poll also found that 26 percent of toddlers 2 and younger and 45 percent of children ages 3 to 5  drink seven or more ounces of juice a day"

 We are poisoning our children at an early age!  Since children are smaller, levels of arsenic and lead can build up quicker and cause more side effects than in an adult. 

What are the symptoms of arsenic poisoning?  They begin with headaches, confusion, severe diarrhea and drowsiness.  Of course, symptoms will continue to get worse with more exposure and can develop into convulsions and death.  Usually the lungs, skin, kidneys and liver are affected.  Arsenic can also be related to heart disease, cancer, stroke, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes.  Besides contaminated water or food, you can pick up arsenic from copper or lead smelting and wood treatments or application of pesticides.      

            Now, what about the lead?   Symptoms of lead poisoning may be different in adults and children.  Adults usually have headache, abdominal pain, kidney failure, and memory loss.  They may also have weakness, pain, or tingling in the extremities.  Chronic poisoning will produce gastrointestinal, neuromuscular and neurological symptoms.  These include short term memory loss, depression, fatigue, problems with sleeps and anemia.
            Symptoms in children include loss of appetite, abdominal pain, vomiting, learning disabilities, behavioral problems, irritability, constipation, and kidney failure.   Slow childhood development of normal behaviors and mental retardation are both common with lead poisoning.
            We seem to have an epidemic of autism, ADHD, and other learning problems.  These problems can be caused from lead and arsenic exposure.    Not only are kids served juices at home, but at school as well. Poisoned at both places.   Doctors prescribe drugs to try to control these problems.  They need to look to the cause and stop this problem at its source.   
            How do I know if I have arsenic or lead metals in my body?  What about my child?  A hair analysis is the best way to find out.  When your body is exposed to these poisons it pulls them out of the bloodstream and deposits them in the tissues.  A hair analysis is a tissue sample.  Therefore, a blood test will not show the amounts in your body.  Arsenic and lead can be removed from your body with chelation.  Certain minerals will bind with the arsenic and lead and pull it out of your body.   
            One way to minimize your exposure is to buy a reverse osmosis water filter.  This will convert your drinking water to the purest form or water on the planet.  You can buy one at the local home improvement store for about $150.00.  The filters will cost about $100. to replace but you only have to replace them once or twice a year.  This filter will pay for itself shortly, especially if you are buying all of your water.  Unlike bottled water, all of the heavy metals are removed, so you can be sure you are not getting any arsenic or lead, or other poisons for that matter.  
            Here is the link for the article I referenced above if you would like to read the entire article. 
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/30/us-arsenic-juice-idUSTRE7AT23120111130

Stay Strong!