Moderate Toxins · Brain health technique
Minimize exposure to heavy metals (lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, aluminum)
Evidence grade: Essential
Toxic metals found in contaminated water, soil, and food. Sources include lead pipes and paint dust, high-mercury fish (e.g., swordfish, king mackerel), old ceramics or cosmetics, and cigarette smoke. These metals accumulate in tissues, disrupt mitochondrial energy use, and increase oxidative stress.
- Practice
- Moderate Toxins
- Principle
- Protection
- Tactic
- Minimize Environmental Toxins
- Evidence grade
- Essential
- Strength of evidence
- High
How to practice Minimize exposure to heavy metals (lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, aluminum)
Avoidable sources include lead pipes, old paint dust, and high-mercury fish. Effects are strongest with chronic exposure, not single incidents.
The evidence behind Minimize exposure to heavy metals (lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, aluminum)
Metals cross the blood–brain barrier, disrupt mitochondria, and increase oxidative stress. Lead and mercury exposure correlate with smaller hippocampal volumes and poorer memory decades later. Modern levels are lower but still detectable in high-risk communities and imported goods.
More Moderate Toxins techniques
Take control of your brain health
BetterBrain gives you a personalized protocol of techniques like these, backed by science and tailored to you.