Understanding Gluten Sensitivities While Avoiding Mercury and Arsenic
Gluten is a protein found in rye, barley and wheat, but many individuals cannot eat this substance because it leads to an allergic reaction. Some of the symptoms from gluten sensitivity include:
• Skin rashes
• Chronic fatigue
• Abdominal bloating
• Diarrhea
• Pain in the stomach
Numerous foods contain gluten, making it difficult for someone to shop at local supermarkets. Fortunately, many manufacturers now label the foods that contain gluten to help shoppers avoid the ingredient if they are allergic to the substance. At the same time, many of the foods that are gluten-free also contain higher levels of arsenic and mercury.
What Is Arsenic?
Arsenic is a chemical that is commonly found in minerals, but it is poisonous when it is ingested in larger amounts. Long-term consumption of arsenic can lead to multiple health problems that can include:
• Cancer
• Nerve damage
• Heart disease
• Skin darkening
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal pain
• Thickening of the skin
• Drowsiness
• Mental confusion
• Headaches
• Convulsions
• Changes in the fingernails
• Strokes
• Diabetes mellitus
What Is Mercury?
Mercury is another metallic chemical that can cause medical problems after it is ingested, and it also is found in many foods. Some of the symptoms of mercury poisoning include:
• Problems with vision, hearing and talking
• Cognitive difficulties
• Numbness in the feet and hands
• Skin rashes
• Poor coordination
• Muscle weakness
Many individuals are unable to consume foods that contain gluten, but researchers know that many gluten-free foods contain high levels of arsenic or mercury. Some of these foods include seafood, meat and some plants that grow in soil that contains mercury or arsenic. In addition, many water sources contain arsenic. If you want to find foods that do not contain mercury or arsenic, then you must follow these important tips.
Tip 1: Avoid Eating Too Much Rice
You might try to make bread or pasta from rice flour, but rice contains higher than normal amounts of arsenic. To avoid eating too much rice, you must find other types of flour that are gluten-free. In most cases, brown rice has more arsenic than white rice because it has less processing.
Tip 2: Monitor How Much Poultry You Consume
Poultry such as duck, geese and chicken are exposed to high levels of arsenic, and that means that the meat from these animals also contains arsenic. Limit the amount of poultry that you consume to avoid ingesting too much arsenic.
Tip 3: Brussels Sprouts Contain Arsenic
While Brussels sprouts are a nutritious vegetable that you can enjoy occasionally, this food also has arsenic. When scientists tested the blood of individuals who ate Brussels sprouts frequently, they learned that the vegetables caused the individuals to have high levels of stored arsenic in their bodies.
Tip 4: Avoid Eating Too Much Fish
Certain types of fish contain high levels of both mercury and arsenic. The most common varieties of fish that have arsenic and mercury include tuna, herring and sardines. Fish is contaminated with arsenic and mercury because the chemicals are in the water where the creatures swim.
Tip 5: Foods Made With High-fructose Corn Syrup
High-fructose corn syrup is added to many foods as a sweetener and preservative, but recently, scientists learned that this substance contains a lot of mercury. If you want to avoid mercury, then read the labels on food packages to make sure that the items do not contain high-fructose corn syrup.