Category: Heavy metals

While no foods naturally contain tungsten as a nutrient, trace amounts can enter the food supply through environmental contamination. This heavy metal is not an essential element for human life and its presence in our diet is generally considered insignificant. However, increased industrial use has raised questions about potential health impacts from long-term, low-level exposure.

According to animal and cell-based studies, garlic's potent sulfur compounds have been shown to protect against the toxic effects of heavy metals like cadmium. This protective ability stems from its antioxidant properties and potential to enhance detoxification pathways, but the question remains: does garlic actively remove cadmium from the human body?

According to a 2022 report by Consumer Reports, Dove Promises Deeper Dark Chocolate 70% Cacao exceeded California's maximum allowable levels for both lead and cadmium. Given these findings, how safe is Dove dark chocolate for regular consumption and what should consumers know about heavy metals in their favorite treat?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 140 million people across 50 countries are exposed to drinking water with arsenic concentrations exceeding safe levels. This widespread issue raises crucial questions about how to remove this toxic heavy metal from the body and whether simple flushing methods are effective.

Trace element interactions are complex, and evidence shows selenium has powerful antagonistic relationships with several heavy metals and other elements. An antagonist of selenium is a substance that counteracts its beneficial effects, often by interfering with its absorption, metabolism, or functional activity in the body. Understanding these antagonistic relationships is critical for managing both deficiency and toxicity risks.

According to a June 2024 Consumer Reports study, Once Upon a Farm snacks showed remarkably low levels of lead compared to other brands tested. This positive finding has helped address concerns for parents asking, "Is Once Upon a Farm high in metals?"

According to a 2024 study, nearly four out of ten dark chocolate products tested contained potentially unsafe levels of lead or cadmium, raising consumer concerns about safety. If you're wondering what chocolate has the least lead in it, the answer generally points toward milk chocolate due to lower cocoa content, but specific dark chocolate brands also offer safer options.

According to reports from independent testing organizations, some popular flaxseed products have contained concerning levels of cadmium. This raises a critical question for health-conscious consumers: do all flax seeds have cadmium, and what determines this level of heavy metal contamination?

In May 2025, Consumer Reports testing found that over two-thirds of sampled cassava-based products, including chips, contained concerning levels of lead. These findings have prompted new questions regarding the safety of this popular gluten-free snack and lead many to ask: do cassava chips have lead?

While bananas are not a significant natural source of arsenic, studies have shown that artificially ripened bananas can contain traces of the toxic metal. The presence of arsenic in bananas is most often linked to the use of a chemical called calcium carbide to speed up the ripening process. This practice, though banned in many regions, exposes consumers to low levels of the contaminant. Understanding the difference between natural and chemical ripening is key to addressing the question: do bananas have arsenic?