How concerned should we be???
Some chocolate products have been found to contain trace amounts of heavy metals such as lead and cadmium.
These metals can occur naturally in the environment and can be present in the soil where cacao plants are grown. They can also be introduced during the manufacturing process.
HERE’S WHY I’M NOT CONCERNED ABOUT THE LATEST HEAVY METAL FINDINGS IN CHOCOLATES.
- Chocolate isn’t the only food that has heavy metals in it; it’s rampant in our total food supply
- How much chocolate are you really, actually eating??
- What’s more concerning is the heavy metals in all of the other products we slather on our bodies, use to wash our hair, bodies, clothes, and dishes, nail polish and makeup that we don, the petrochemicals in our mattresses and the water we drink.
- Lead is carried into our homes on the bottom of our shoes!
While it’s been studied that long-term exposure to high levels of heavy metals can be harmful, especially for children and pregnant women, the levels of heavy metals in chocolate products are generally low and do not pose a significant health risk to most people when consumed in moderate amounts.
Instead of making chocolate the evil one, strengthen your body’s internal detoxification system:
- Eat more cruciferous vegetables
- Dry brush
- Sweat in a sauna
- Eat chelating foods (like cilantro) and take binders
- Move your body
- Take steps to ensure you are ‘eliminating‘ every day
Note/disclaimer: It’s also important to note that not all chocolate products contain heavy metals and some chocolate products may have lower levels than others. Choosing chocolate products from reputable brands and checking the labels for information on where the cacao used in the product was sourced from can help reduce the risk of consuming high levels of heavy metals.