(NaturalNews) Along with radiation poisoning, heavy metal toxicity is one of the most pressing health issues of our time. Our environment is absolutely saturated with mercury, aluminum, lead and other metals that constantly enter our bodies through the food we eat, the skies we pollute and countless other ways. Unsurprisingly, such bioaccumulation is proven to possess a long-term threat to our mental and physiological health, prompting a growing number of health-minded individuals to seek out ways in which these harmful toxins can be removed from their bodies.

Fortunately, a number of whole foods such as parsley, cilantro and spirulina contain natural chelating agents that help us remove many of these heavy metals. The most potent and effective natural chelator of all, however, is chlorella: a green, single-celled algae that thrives in the sunniest parts of freshwater bodies. When consumed, chlorella binds itself to heavy metal particles and other impurities in our bodies, allowing us to excrete them. While chlorella does not (and could not) remove every heavy metal from our body, it removes far more than any other food known to science.

Below is a step-by-step guide to using chlorella for heavy metal chelation. Since chlorella absorbs everything in its immediate environment -- including pollution -- it is important that the chlorella you purchase for this purpose is organic and grown in clean, outdoor environments. As a general rule, favor chlorella grown in the United States and Europe, and avoid chlorella grown in China.

Removing heavy metals using chlorella

1.) If this is your first time taking chlorella, begin slowly. Approximately 30 percent of people can't handle chlorella, and if too much of it is initially consumed, the reaction symptoms among this unfortunate minority can be alarming (vomiting, sickness, migraines). Ideally, 250 milligrams of chlorella per day for a week or so, preferably with food, is a good starting point for most newcomers.

2.) After one week has passed, you can begin increasing your dosage of chlorella to between 500 and 1,000 milligrams per day. At this point, you should be closely monitoring your body's reaction to the algae. While mild headaches are a common detoxification symptom and a good sign that the chlorella is doing its job, more deliberating issues -- such as persistent constipation and severe stomach cramps -- could be signs of a reaction, so be careful.

3.) If you're not experiencing any reaction symptoms to chlorella after week three, you're probably in the clear and can begin increasing your daily doses of it by an additional 1,000 or 2,000 milligrams. During this period, a lot of people begin to report feelings of nausea and giddiness. This is a sign that the chlorella is releasing heavy metals from the cells. At this point, you have two options: to either continue along the steady path and gradually increase your dose of chlorella every week, or to massively increase your daily dose of chlorella so that these mobilized metals can be eliminated in the quickest possible time. Most detoxification experts recommend the latter option, and at this point it's probably safe to choose it.

4.) Daily consumption of large amounts of chlorella should continue for at least another six months to ensure that most stored heavy metals are removed from the body. Ideally, you should continue taking chlorella (in maintenance doses of around 6 x 500 milligram tablets per day) indefinitely to ensure that environmental toxins are removed the same day that they enter your body. Moreover, chlorella contains a unique complex called Chlorella Growth Factor (CGF) that actually helps your cells to repair the damage caused by these toxins.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.drjomd.com/highways/detox/chlorella/

http://www.naturalnews.com

http://science.naturalnews.com/chlorella.html

About the author:
Michael Ravensthorpe is an independent writer whose research interests include nutrition, alternative medicine, and bushcraft. He is the creator of the website, Spiritfoods, through which he promotes the world's healthiest foods.