Dr Hector Perera           London

Aluminium is the most widely distributed metal on the planet and it’s used in the production of many every-day products. Cookware is made from aluminium, soda cans are aluminium, and aluminium foil is found in most kitchens. Aluminium is also found in antacids, aspirin, vaccines, and even flour. This overwhelming infestation of aluminium means that your risk of exposure is through the roof, which is also made of aluminium. Unlike vitamins, minerals, and trace elements, the body does not need aluminium. And aluminium is no innocent or benign participant. Aluminium accumulates in the kidneys, brain, lungs, liver and thyroid where it competes with calcium for absorption and can affect skeletal mineralization. In infants, this can slow growth. Animal models have linked aluminium exposure to mental impairments.

Why is aluminium Exposure Harmful?

Just as cigarette smoke damages lung function and overexposure to UV rays will degrade your skin, aluminium is an attacker and its target is your central nervous system. There are far too many references about the dangers of aluminium to health but only a few are mentioned below. According to Michalke B, Halbach S, Nischwitz V. JEM spotlight: metal speciation related to neurotoxicity in humans. Studies show that toxic metals contribute to brain diseases by producing oxidative stress and aluminium is one of the worst offenders. Kumar V, Gill KD. Aluminium neurotoxicity: neuro-behavioural and oxidative aspects. The prevailing belief around the world is that aluminium is linked to degenerative brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Even the society of Alzheimer disease argues that there is no link of Aluminium to this disease but again there are evidences which cannot be ignored.

Aluminium: Bad for Your Brain

According to Washington DC’s Department of the Planet Earth, United States and Canadian regulatory agencies are interested in aluminium as a potential risk factor in elderly cognitive impairment. It makes sense, research shows aluminium can produce toxic, oxidative stress in the brain. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, recognizes aluminium as one of several metals known to affect the neurological system as stated by Pohl HR, Roney N, Abadin HG.  As far as aluminium is concerned, the supreme brain-health concern is Alzheimer’s disease.

Aluminium and Alzheimer’s

Many of the formal inquiries into aluminium toxicity are specifically concerned with its association to Alzheimer’s. Consistently, experts agree that aluminium exposure is something to worry about. The idea has been backed up by so many researchers from all over and a few are as follows.

The position of the Department of Neurology and Psychiatry at Saint Louis University is that aluminium may cause liver toxicity and lead to degenerative symptoms, including Alzheimer’s. Researchers at The School of Studies in Zoology at Jiwaji University in India describe aluminium as a potent neurotoxin associated with Alzheimer’s. The University of California, Irvine’s Department of Medicine has reported that aluminium causes inflammation in the brain. No surprise, Alzheimer’s disease is often associated with elevated inflammation. The University School of Medicine in Belgrade published information showing that drinking water with a high aluminium and low fluoride concentration is associated with Alzheimer’s risk. ^[Unfortunately, this is evident in New Guinea and Papua Islands where drinking water contains aluminium ions and ALS or Parkinson’s disease is collectively found. The concern about aluminium pollution in drinking water has even reached as far away as Egypt.

Aluminium as an Occupational Hazard

Exposure to aluminium, unfortunately, is common with some occupations like mining, factory work, and welding. Welding can be especially worrisome because it produces vapours that, when inhaled, send aluminium directly into the lungs in a super absorption” status where it is released to the blood and distributed to the bones and brain. Researchers have repeatedly examined the consequence of inhaling aluminium vapours and the results are grim. Effects on memory and concentration have been cited.^] An Italian study that compared 64 aluminium dust exposed workers with 32 unexposed controls found significantly higher levels of aluminium in the exposed employees and findings suggested aluminium to be to blame for early neurotoxic effects.

Reduce your aluminium Exposure

Aluminium is one of the most abundant metals on earth and it has permeated mainstream products to the degree that it’s virtually impossible to completely avoid exposure. However, you can take certain measures to reduce your exposure but cannot totally avoid. In that case one cannot drink tea, coffee, eat bread and biscuits because in all these things Aluminium is found in one way or the other. The question is how much is still a good question. Use glass and stainless steel cookware instead of aluminium. Would you expect all hotel, restaurant and takeaway food are cooked and prepared in stainless steel cook ware so no Aluminium gets into food? The best thing is you decide. Avoid hygiene products (antacids, deodorant) with aluminium hydroxide, natural substitutes are available. Avoid processed and frozen foods, their containers can contain aluminium. Instead opt for fresh, organic fruits and vegetables, and foods with responsible packaging. If toxic metal exposure is of concern to you, consider performing a toxic metal cleanse. We can say these things but practically impossible to avoid this particular metal in contact with our food.

How do you remove aluminium from your body?

Stop aluminium from building up in your body with vitamins is a question. Some doctor’s advice to take calcium, magnesium and iron supplements this will prevent aluminium from gathering up in fatty deposits in your body where they are stored.

These 3 metals calcium magnesium and iron are good for your bones, calcium is actually absorbed better with vitamin D and magnesium. Your comments are welcomed perera6@hotmail.co.uk