First of all, what is bentonite clay? Is it safe to use daily? What hidden dangers should you be aware of?
All these reasonable questions may occur to you and leave you wondering whether or not to purchase and utilize this natural material.
Nowadays, bentonite clay has created a somewhat controversial reputation for itself - some swear by its beneficial effects, while others try to stay as far away from it as possible. What is the absolute truth in reality?
It's a pretty complicated question to answer, and for this reason, you should decide it for yourself. Let me introduce you to the fundamental facts supported by research work and consumer experience.
Bentonite clay springs into existence when volcanic ashes react with seawater and take up its minerals. Its name originates from its most significant source globally, which is in Fort Benton (USA).
It was first discovered in Montmorillon (France), and this is why its main component is named montmorillonite, which is formed by layers of silica and alumina.
This raw material is bound to many other minerals, for instance, sodium, calcium, magnesium, and aluminum. This implies that another denomination for this substance is calcium bentonite clay. Its most significant producer and trader in the US, followed by China, India, and Greece.
Throughout history, humans used clay to treat minor illnesses such as food poisoning, aches and pains, infections, mineral deficiencies, and cosmetic purposes.
In some recluse societies (such as native African or Australian cultural tribes) that have not lost touch with nature, clays are still used these days for preventative care, remedies, and their curative powers.
Bentonite clay is a natural clay with a finely-grained, soft texture. It forms a thick paste when mixed with water. Some people use that mixture for medical or cosmetic benefits, such as treating rashes, cleansing the skin, or hair masks.
On the other hand, it is also commonly used internally to detoxify the body from accumulated toxins. It has been stated that bentonite clay adsorbs materials by sticking to their molecules and ions. As the clay leaves the body, it takes the toxins and other unwanted molecules. Some doctors, also recommend applying a benodite clay mask to help shrink your thyroid nodules, however, ask your doctor about this first!
Furthermore, it is claimed that bentonite clay treats and has an excellent effect on the following problems: skin infections, pimples, poison ivy allergy, constipation, recurring diarrhea, diaper rash, and high cholesterol levels.
This kind of clay can be modified and converted into synthetic materials. These can be used as improved delivery and slow-release drugs for infections, different types of cancer, mental disorders, glaucoma, and sunscreen protection.
If you choose to use the clay on your skin, it is exceedingly important to do a patch test on a small, hidden area of your skin before trying it on your face. Clay acts like a sponge on your skin as it absorbs dirt and oil, like sebum (which is the leading cause of acne).
Several analyses provide information that bentonite clay may help with dermatitis (eczema), mild acne, and ulcers. The most popular method to utilize the clay is to apply it to the surface of your skin as a face mask.
At the same time, the studies, which ,erudite scientists did show that the lead in clay absorbs across the skin and can enter the bloodstream, which can efficiently conduct to severe infections and dangerous health issues.
In addition, other researches have shown that bentonite is detrimental to immune cells and to regrow endothelial cells when it's placed on wounds or cuts.
It's possible to consume too much of this questionable substance without even noticing it. Bentonite clay and its derivates can have high harmful germs and heavy metals like lead, arsenic, and mercury.
You must contact your doctor before you take bentonite clay or any supplement orally, especially if you're pregnant or take other medications. We would recommend that you steer clear of bentonite clay products altogether.
Yes, you can.
In everyday life, lead-based pots, cookware, and eating out of clay pots can pose a threat and rise to lead poisoning. Studies have demonstrated that amongst children, using clay utensils wasone of the more significant contributors to lead toxicity.
There have been sources that claim bentonite clay will remove detox lead. This, however is in the case of lead ladened water. Bentonite clay will remove lead from water by binding to it, but when you eat clay, it does the opposite.
When you eat clay, your stomach acid pulls most of the lead out of the clay. Then, it goes right into your body.
Bentonite clay is beneficial when it comes to removing lead, zinc, nickel, and cadmium from different substances, like wastewater, because it can bond with these kinds of heavy metals.
However, in the case of eating bentonite, it has more harmful side effects than expedient ones. Inasmuch, when you consume clay, your stomach acid pulls most of the lead out of the bentonite clay, and it absorbs straight into your system.
Therefore, ingestion of large quantities of lead can directly bring about gastrointestinal troubles with symptoms such as dire vomiting, disturbances of the blood and circulation systems, and damage to the whole nervous system.
According to a scientific review, there is no such thing as a safe threshold. Moreover, the WHO (World Health Organization) officially declared that there is no known level of lead exposure considered safe.
Taken all around, no amount of lead is safe for the human organism. It may sound fearsome as people usually can't determine how much lead can be found in individual food groups. The best solution is to take precautionary measures and avoid lead to a feasible extent.
Researches have shown that one gram of bentonite clay bottles up around 37.5 micrograms of lead. As an average oral dose of bentonite clay is usually 2 tablespoons (which is 0.72 ounces or 20.4 grams), this means that your oral lead dose could be as high as 765 mcg. To understand the unit of measurement, Mcg/g is the same as ppm (parts per million).
Most physicians don't recommend eating clay as it could cause a blockage in your intestines and lead to bothersome digestive issues.
Research done by the FDA laboratories evinced that exposure to lead can cause grave damage to the central nervous system, kidneys, and immune system.
In children, chronic exposure to lead, even at deficient levels, is associated with cognitive impairment, growth delays, reduced IQ, hyperactivity, behavioral difficulties, and other serious problems.
In general, high exposure to lead can bring on vague symptoms, for example, exhaustion, numbness and tingling, digestive problems, and aching joint pain.
Recent and continuously appearing evidence suggests that it can also be the cause of high blood pressure, heart disease, depression, kidney damage, anxiety, infertility in males and females, and mental health problems.
Health care professionals advise consumers to desist from using this harmful material as soon as possible because it might cause irreversible effects on their wellbeing and health conditions.
Lead poisoning can be hard to detect, and even people who seem to be healthy can have high blood levels of lead (More about lead poisoning here). If you suspect that you might suffer from lead toxicity, get yourself tested to be aware of your condition and accidental hardships.
A blood test called serum lead is the best way to check the lead levels in your body. This type of test can be ordered by any healthcare provider and executed by any standard referencing laboratory.
It may show that there's no need to worry, but make sure to request an examination by a creditable physician better safe than sorry! Any lead levels above 10L are considered dangerous.
What is the lead side effect of children?
Here are the side effects of lead poisoning in children:
An alternative possibility is a red blood cell test, which is more accurate than the serum lead test. This one covers a 90-day average and works far more precisely. Frequent check-ups are indispensable, even more, if you have previously suffered from lead poisoning.
The main symptoms of lead toxicity for adults include high blood pressure, difficulties with memory, headache, joint, and abdominal pain, and anemia. As in the case of children, the symptoms may involve learning difficulties, loss of appetite, seizures, constipation, and weight loss.
Besides Bentonite Clay and the other sources that we have explored containing lead, there are some unexpected sources of lead in our everyday lives.
Lead usually derives from the tap water and our home's water system, alongside household dust, lead-based paint, and utensils (cutlery, plates, glasses) that contain lead. Besides these common contingencies, we can also be exposed to some flabbergasting lead sources.
Surprisingly, calcium supplements that are derived from bone tissue have often been found to carry excessive amounts of lead. Also, the inorganic calcium extracted from rocks, such as dolomite calcium, can possess a high level of lead contamination.
Besides, even bone broth and collagen can cause lead poisoning when consumed in large quantities. This may occur as a consequence of the fact that lead builds up in bone tissue and collagen.
Livestock (and cows mainly) are prone to lead accumulation. Knowing this, it's recommended to pay attention to what kind of cookware and utensils you employ daily.
Keep this in mind when consuming gelatine, since in the form it can be found in bone broth, it's able to pull the lead out of cookware and thereby raise the risk of lead poisoning.
Beyond that, the meat of wild animals (game meat) can easily be soiled with lead residue.
The process of contamination happens when the animals are shot with lead bullets, and those bullets break down into hundreds of minute fragments that afterward spread over a large area of their meat.
Bentonite clay certainly has its advantages and disadvantages, yet it's still disputed if its effects are helpful or it should be banned from the healthcare and beauty industry.
With all the above-listed information in your possession, it is fully up to you if choose to/ not to use this material.
If you do, please contact a medical professional beforehand and discuss the exact application adequate for your needs. Your health and safety should always be your number one priority!
Also, there are plenty of other ingredients you can use instead of clay, for instance, clean versions of fiber that contain resistant starches.
They do wonders to your immune system and get rid of the objectionable toxins. Additionally, you can mix it with chlorophyll, which is extracted from spinach.
As natural remedies seem to have a deep root (and future) in maintaining body health, it merits doing more profound research on bentonite clay and its impacts on bodily functions.
In the near future, bentonite clay may turn into a stable and dependable ingredient for both skincare and nutritional supplements. In the meantime, please act cautiously regarding this relevant matter and stick to the safer natural medicines such as turmeric!
Enjoy this article? See our article on Olive Oil and learn how to effectively make sure you are getting the right stuff!
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