I am starting to feel at a loss as to what to eat. Today I had Two home grown organic duck eggs with red onion and wilted homegrown kale, sorrel and rocket.

Is this a good detox breakfast?

Sometimes I have oats with rice milk and maybe a grated apple.

I am really worried I am being effected by my 12 years of being a vegetarian.

When I went to the naturopath years ago for my mercury detox protocol she said it's not recommended to be done on a vegetarian diet. She said some believe it can't be done.

I feel so sick and anxious at the moment, I feel like I am going out of my mind and it's scaring me to bits. The more I think about mercury the worse it's getting.

The thought of eating meat makes me feel ill. I cannot kill an animal for my own gain. I don't know what to do.

Has any other vegetarian gotten through this?

I read about copper overload and it can be caused from a vegetarian diet. The very food I eat!! So now the food I am eating is creating ionic metals! I feel so alone.

Yes I have heard that it is NOT good to eat a vegetarian diet while detoxing for mercury. The scientific reasons for this I am unsure of to be honest. I think it has to do with the sulfur bearing amino acids found in meat. These amino acids help to move the mercury out of the body.

Dr. Cutler may talk about this in his book. Let me do a quick search for you.

I tried to go vegetarian (after reading an excellent book called The China Study). I really couldn't. I had such severe candida that I just couldn't tolerate rice or fruits at all. I couldn't eat any fish because of the mercury. I was allergic to everything. I couldn't eat eggs, soy, gluten, casein, yeast. I tried miso (macrobiotic) - it nearly killed me. I did not react to meat so I had to eat what I could - meat and vegetables. I did eat beans and lentils as well. But after amalgam removal and chelation, my allergies are fading away. So I am eating less meat and more fruits and quinoa. I can eat eggs now. My long term plan is to go mostly vegetarian and a lot more raw when I have chelated enough to tolerate a wider variety of foods.

Wormwood have you done a hair analysis? If you have, did yours show deranged mineral transport?

Dr. Cutler talks about how copper toxicity has similar symptoms to mercury poisoning. This is on page 66 if you have the book. He says that some people believe they have amalgam illness when it is actually copper toxicity.

To reduce copper he says to take 10-30 mg of zinc and 250-1000mcg of molybdenum. These block absorption of copper. He also says to look at your supplements to see if any of them have copper in them. My multivitamin I specifically get without iron and copper. I guess that was a good call on my doctor's part.

I don't really see much in the book about dietary protein while detoxing. There is however, so much information in here that it can be easily glanced over. He says to avoid sulfur foods if you are sensitive to them.

Eggs are good. Most of us don't have easy access to duck eggs, so we eat chicken eggs instead. Oats and apple are not good for fighting candida though. You could try eating some low carb vegetable instead to get fiber, then eat some nuts to make up for the missed calories.

Being a lacto-ovo vegetarian isn't so hard(being vegan is much more difficult since they won't eat eggs or dairy). The key is getting enough good protein(try to have at least two good protein sources at each meal). Egg protein is very complete, while soy protein is also quite complete. Vegetable sources of iron are usually poorly absorbed, but eating it with vitamin c supplements help. Imo vegetarians should take iron and B12 supplements, especially if they are females of childbearing age. Iron bisglycinate does not irritate the stomach and is non constipating. That is the form of iron supplements I suggest. For B12, I suggest the use of a sublingual(dissolves under tongue) supplement in addition to the B12 in swallowed pill form.
vegetarians also need to use other supplements like zinc.

One can get plenty of sulphur from eggs, broccoli, and garlic. They can also take msm supplements. Many vegetarians(especially vegans) don't get enough high quality protein. This website gives nutrient analysis of each food, and suggests which proteins to eat together so they are morefully utilized.

http://www.nutritiondata.com/tools/nutrient-search

Nuts and seeds are a good source of protein, calories, fiber, and minerals for a vegetarian. They are also low carb, so they are good for an anti candida diet.

Dagon I forgot about Copper! I drink beer (Yeah get on me in here I like it lol) and I take Algin as well which depletes ZINC in your body, no wonder I might have high copper if Zinc is low in the body. Thanks for the post, I didn't know Copper could mimmick Mercury, I know Aluminum can as well. I am going to take a very highly absorbable Zinc for a while and see if it helps. This Moybdenum stuff, what does it do for you? I have read ALOT about it in here for Candida and in other places and it's benefits, sounds good! I might have to start taking those both.

Did you read my post on 'home test kit'? I came up positive to copper.

I am thinking I have a copper overload. At least the sauna will help sort that too, when I get it.

COPPER TOXICITY SYNDROME


Do you know anyone who suffers from headaches, fatigue, insomnia, depression, skin rashes, spaciness, learning disorders or premenstrual syndrome? These can be symptoms of a copper imbalance.
Copper, an essential trace mineral, is vitally important for both physical and mental health. It has been studied for years, including at government laboratories. However, its importance for health is still largely unappreciated. The following is but an introduction. The author is deeply indebted to Dr. Paul C. Eck, an avid copper researcher.


COPPER'S ROLE IN THE BODY

Copper is critical for energy production in the cells. It is also involved in nerve conduction, connective tissue, the cardiovascular system and the immune system. Copper is closely related to estrogen metabolism, and is required for women's fertility and to maintain pregnancy. Copper stimulates production of the neurotransmitters epinephrine, norepinephrine and dopamine. It is also required for monoamine oxidase, an enzyme related to serotonin production.
It is possible to become copper-toxic or copper-deficient, and there is a condition called biounavailable copper. In the latter, copper is present, but cannot be utilized. Toxicity and biounavailability are seen most often. This article uses the words copper imbalance when more than one situation is possible.
Physical conditions associated with copper imbalance include arthritis, fatigue, adrenal burnout, insomnia, scoliosis, osteoporosis, heart disease, cancer, migraine headaches, seizures, fungal and bacterial infections including yeast infection, gum disease, tooth decay, skin and hair problems and female organ conditions including uterine fibroids, endometriosis and others. Mental and emotional disorders related to copper imbalance include spaciness, depression, mood swings, fears, anxiety, phobias, panic attacks, violence, autism, schizophrenia, and attention deficit disorder. Copper deficiency is associated with aneurysms, gout, anemia and osteoporosis. Interestingly, the symptoms of premenstrual tension are identical to the symptoms of copper imbalance.


SOURCES OF COPPER

Today, many children are born with excessive tissue copper. It is passed from high-copper mothers to their children through the placenta.
Stress from any cause contributes to copper imbalance. Stress depletes the adrenal glands and lowers the zinc level in the body. Whenever zinc becomes deficient, copper tends to accumulate. Our soil is low in zinc. Refined sugar, white rice and white flour have been stripped of their zinc. The trend toward vegetarianism reduces zinc in the diet, since red meat is the best dietary source of zinc.
Copper is found in many foods, particularly vegetarian proteins such as nuts, beans, seeds and grains. Meats contain copper, but it is balanced by zinc which competes for its absorption. Chocolate is high in copper. A desire for copper may help explain chocolate cravings.
Another source of copper is drinking water that remained in copper water pipes, or copper added to your water supply. During a recent dry summer, several Oregon cities added copper sulfate to their reservoirs to reduce algae growth. Accident and disease rates increased.
Other sources of copper are copper cookware, dental materials, vitamin pills, fungicides and pesticides residues on food, copper intra-uterine devices and birth control pills. Mrs. Robinson and her 6-month-old, breast-fed baby both began to experience hair loss. The cause was a daily prenatal vitamin containing 4 milligrams of copper, far too much for this high-copper mother. Deficiencies of manganese, iron, B-vitamins and vitamin C can cause copper to accumulate. Adrenal hormones cause the liver to produce ceruloplasmin, the main copper binding protein in the body. Therefore, a sluggish liver or weak adrenal glands may cause copper to build up in the tissues.


THE COPPER PERSONALITY

There is a high copper personality. Positive traits include a warm, caring, sensitive, emotional nature, often with artistic orientation and a child-like quality. Often high-copper people are young-looking. Many traditional feminine traits are associated with copper such as softness, gentleness and intuitiveness.
When the personality is not fully integrated or the copper becomes too high, negative traits show up. These include spaciness, racing thoughts, living in a dream world, naivete, childishness, excessive emotions, sentimentality, a tendency to depression, fearfulness, hidden anger and resentments, phobias, psychosis and violence. Artists, inventors and other high-copper types often "live on the edge", in part due to their high copper level.
The copper personality tends to accumulate copper easily. Copper functions as a psychological defense mechanism. It causes one to detach slightly from reality. This provides relief from stress for the sensitive individual. It works well as long as the copper does not become too high. Very high copper can cause a psychotic break from reality, a type of schizophrenia.
An 18-year old schizophrenic patient had a hair copper level of 40 mg% (normal is 2.5 mg%). She hallucinated and attempted suicide twice while in the Scottsdale Camelback Mental Hospital. When her copper decreased to normal through a diet and supplement program, her symptoms disappeared and she has remained well.


COPPER AND SOCIETY

Is it possible that our mineral balance affects our attitudes? Copper is called the 'psychic' mineral, the 'intuitive' mineral, and a 'feminine' mineral because it is so important for the female reproductive system. Its level generally parallels that of estrogen. While many factors influence our attitudes and values, the rise in tissue copper levels in both men and women in the past twenty years parallels renewed interest in feminism, in psychic and intuitive knowledge, and 'nurturing' movements such as environmentalism.


COPPER AND SEXUALITY

Women tend to have higher levels of copper than men. Women also have more symptoms related to copper imbalance. These include yeast infections, migraine headaches, adult acne, various menstrual symptoms and depression.
Copper-toxic women are often estrogen dominant. They may benefit from progesterone therapy to help balance their hormones. Women with biounavailable copper are often low in estrogen. Their bodies are often more linear in shape. Of course, copper is not the only factor affecting hormones. Some pesticides, for example, mimic the effects of estrogen and can affect the hormone balance.
Men, by contrast, should be zinc-dominant. Zinc, a 'masculine' element, balances copper in the body, and is essential for male reproductive activity. Today, however, many men have symptoms of copper toxicity including depression, anxiety and other symptoms. Homosexuality may be related to copper levels. This is because secondary sex characteristics are greatly influenced by hormones which are in turn influenced by copper and zinc levels.


COPPER AND CHILDREN

Children are often born with high copper levels. Young children are very sensitive and intuitive. They often lose some of their sensitivity and 'psychic abilities' as their copper levels diminish around age four.
Persistent elevated copper levels in children are common today. The problem often begins during gestation, when high-copper mothers pass on excessive copper (and often low zinc) to the fetus through the placenta. This is called congenital, rather than genetic high copper. It can be prevented by correcting one's copper metabolism before becoming pregnant. After birth, poor nutrition, stress in the home, and overuse of prescription drugs can aggravate a child's copper imbalance.
Copper imbalance in children is associated with delayed development, attention deficit disorder, anti-social and hyperactive behavior, autism, learning difficulties and infections such as ear infections.


VEGETARIAN DIETS

Excess copper interferes with zinc, a mineral needed to make digestive enzymes. Too much copper also impairs thyroid activity and the functioning of the liver. If severe enough, a person will become an obligatory vegetarian. This means they are no longer able to digest meat very well. Conversely, if one becomes a vegetarian for other reasons, most likely one's copper level will increase. Vegetarian proteins are higher in copper, and lower in zinc.
At times, the vegetarian orientation is health-producing. In many people, however, restricted diets do not work well. Fatigue, spaciness and other symptoms begin to appear. Many people, including the author, felt they were becoming more spiritual on a vegetarian diet, when in fact it was just copper poisoning! The taste for meat often returns when copper is brought into better balance.
Some people with high copper dislike all protein. They crave high-carbohydrate diets. Protein feels heavy or causes other symptoms. Eating protein stimulates glandular activity. This releases stored copper which causes the symptoms. However, these individuals usually need to eat protein. The symptoms will eventually disappear.
Copper-toxic individuals may also be drawn to sweets or salty foods due to adrenal insufficiency. Some Sea Salt is often beneficial. Sweets, including fruit juices, provide a temporary lift but may worsen the condition.


ADRENAL BURNOUT

Adrenal burnout, characterized by chronic fatigue and other symptoms, is often related to copper imbalance. Although correcting emotional and other factors are necessary, improving the copper imbalance, supporting the adrenals and releasing fearful thoughts go hand in hand to restore optimum health. Click here for more information about adrenal burnout syndrome.


COPPER AND ADDICTION

Compulsive behavior may be related to copper and the adrenals. Exercise, for example, stimulates the adrenals. This helps keep copper available and makes one feel better. If one stops exercising, unbound copper builds up and one may feel fatigue, mood swings and depression. In some people, this can create a compulsive need to exercise. Other ways to temporarily control copper toxicity include the use of caffeine or other stimulants.
Part of the appeal of cocaine, Ritalin and amphetamines may be their ability to help lower copper temporarily by stimulating the adrenals. Cadmium found in marijuana and cigarettes drives copper back into storage. These drugs may make one feel better by affecting the copper balance.


COPPER AND YEAST INFECTIONS

Our bodies use copper to help control the growth of yeast. This may be because copper favors aerobic metabolism. Copper is required for the electron transport system, where most of our cellular energy is produced. Yeast organisms use anerobic metabolism.
Copper sulfate is often sprayed on crops to kill yeast and fungus. Copper is also used in some swimming pools and hot tubs to control yeast and bacterial growth.
When copper is out of balance, our bodies cannot control yeast overgrowth. This often lead to chronic candida albicans infections that are resistant to treatment.


COPPER AND MALIGNANCY

Copper imbalance impairs the immune system. Research is underway investigating the role of excess copper in tumor angiogenesis. Copper imbalance is often related to a tendency for infections and cancer.


COPPER AND CONNECTIVE TISSUE

Copper is required for collagen formation. Copper deficiency is association with atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular conditions. Excess copper or biounavailable copper often cause connective tissue problems, interfering with the disulfide bonds in connective tissue. Symptoms may include stretch marks, tendon and ligament weakness, mitral valve prolapse, skin and hair problems and other conditions affecting connective tissue.


DETECTING COPPER IMBALANCE

Blood, urine and hair analysis are used to detect copper toxicity. Challenge tests with a chelating agent such as EDTA may also be used to detect excess copper. However, they may not reveal copper toxicity directly. Copper is stored mainly in the brain, liver and other organs, not in the blood or urine. A liver biopsy can be performed for copper, but this is invasive and unnecessary.
Several indirect indicators on a hair mineral test are excellent to detect copper imbalance. These include a hair calcium level greater than about 100 mg%, a potassium level less than about 3 mg%, a sodium/potassium ratio less than 2.5:1, a zinc/copper ratio less than 6:1, an elevated mercury level or a copper level less than 1.0 mg%.


BALANCING COPPER

The author dealt with severe copper imbalance in himself and with many others for the past 18 years. Seven methods are used to reduce copper in the tissues:

1) Inhibit the sympathetic nervous system. This is easier said than done. Copper toxic individuals often complain of their mind racing. Turning off the sympathetic or fight-or-flight nervous system can be a challenge. Methods that are helpful include electric light sauna therapy, meditation, relaxation techniques, deep breathing, supplemental calcium, magnesium, ox bile, pancreatin, kidney glandular and coffee enemas.
2) Reduce exposure to sources of copper like copper intra-uterine devices, swimming in pools and high-copper vegetarian diets.
3) Antagonists such as zinc, manganese and iron compete with copper for absorption and utilization. Other antagonists include vitamins B6, folic acid and selenium. Research indicates copper may be excreted by binding with glutathione and metallothionine which require these nutrients.
4) Chelators of copper include vitamin C, molybdenum and sulfur-containing amino acids. These bind and remove copper. More powerful chelators may be used, but can have harmful side effects.
5) Enhance the eliminative organs, such as the liver, skin and colon. Digestive enzymes, especially pancreatin, are very important. Also excellent is sauna therapy, especially with an infrared electric light sauna. Other methods of enhancing the eliminative organs are coffee enemas, colonic irrigation and skin brushing.
6) Balance body chemistry, enhance energy production and improve adrenal gland activity. To support the adrenal glands, avoid sweets, eat protein with each meal. Supplements that assist the adrenals include vitamins A,C and E, manganese, zinc, adrenal glandular and B-complex vitamins. Animal protein is very helpful due to its higher content of zinc, B-vitamins and sulfur amino acids including cysteine and taurine. Adrenal glandular substance is also frequently helpful.
7) Reduce fear and stress. Methods range from a change in location or work to meditation, therapy, more rest and other changes.

Note that just taking a lot of copper antagonists and chelators may not work very well. This is because it does not balance body chemistry. For example, zinc and vitamin C lower sodium while molybdenum raises sodium. Each vitamin and mineral affects overall body chemistry. For best results, I strongly recommend an integrated nutrition, lifestyle and detoxification program based on a properly performed and interpreted hair mineral analysis. It is worth the extra cost and you will save more in not buying unneeded supplements.


COPPER DETOXIFICATION SYMPTOMS

One of the difficulties in reducing excess copper are symptoms that arise during the process of elimination. As the body begins to mobilize excess copper from tissue storage sites, it enters the bloodstream on its way to the liver and kidneys for elimination. While in the bloodstream, the copper can cause headaches, skin rashes, racing thoughts, strange odors, digestive upset, mood swings and energy fluctuations. In men, testicular pain is not uncommon. Womenís periods may be affected.
Certain methods of lowering copper cause these symptoms more than others. Zinc, vitamin C and manganese tend to cause more symptoms, perhaps because zinc and manganese replace copper in the liver. Molybdenum and sulfur compounds such as Russian black radish tend not to produce copper elimination effects.
If one knows what is occurring, it is possible to take measures to minimize these temporary elimination symptoms. Enemas, sweating, and drinking more water can help promote copper elimination. Reducing the nutrition program for a few days may also help slow the reactions and reduce symptoms if they are severe. Supplements of molybdenum, bile acids, laxative herbs and vitamin B6 may also mitigate elimination symptoms.



ATTITUDES TO HELP BALANCE COPPER

Adequate rest and sleep are important. Any technique to help handle stress is also helpful. A simple but powerful technique for handling all negative emotions is given in an excellent book, Emissary of Light, by James Twyman. He suggests to feel our negative emotions purely, dissociating them from thoughts. Feel them in the body. Then move the feeling to the heart area, visualize a small door just in front of you, open the door and release the emotion. Realize that all feelings are just energies. They can be transmuted, sent forth and used for good.
High copper people are often sensitive, must acknowledge this and 'live their own truth'. At the same time, a careful look at one's attitudes, especially hidden fears, angers and resentments, is very important. Overcoming copper imbalance often involves overcoming deep fears.
Life is not always easy for the copper-toxic person. One can become resentful or depressed at times. With understanding, a complete nutritional balancing program based on hair mineral analysis and lots of compassion for oneself, these obstacles can be overcome. Then the creative, intuitive and loving qualities of the high-copper individual can shine through to the world.

Resources

1. Eck, P. and Wilson, L., Toxic Metals in Human Health and Disease, Eck Institute of Applied Nutrition and Bioenergetics, Ltd., Phoenix, AZ, 1989.

2. Gittleman, A.L., Why Am I Always So Tired?, Harper San Francisco, 1999.

3. Nolan, K., "Copper Toxicity Syndrome", J. Orthomolecular Psychiatry, 12:4, p.270-282.

4. Pfeiffer, C., Mental and Elemental Nutrients, Keats Publishing, New Canaan, CT., 1975.

4. Twyman, J., Emissary of Light, Warner Books, New York, 1996.

5. Wilson, L., Nutritional Balancing and Hair Mineral Analysis, L.D. Wilson Consultants, 1998.


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Hi Wormwood, Hal Huggins admitted in one of his books that for reasons he does not understand, he has not yet been able to cure a vegetarian from this condition.

I am not sure what it is exactly in meat that is so helpful, but whatever it has is obviously necessary. Iron, B12, proteins etc, and who knows what else. We don't tend to get nearly enough of this from much else.

I am really sorry for your situation and I admire your love of all animals to such an extent. However, for me as a Christian, the creator allowed us to eat the flesh of animals after the fall. Not before it, as there was no death/suffering/killing. IT was also specifically pointed out in the bible WHICH animals were suitable to consume and which ones were not.

Yes it does sound cruel, but then consider nature itself and how they kill one-another for food also (all the time). This is very much the order of things (for now) and life. All life does indeed rely upon eachother. Animals were not made for our mis-use or abuse, but there were certainly made for our needs, comfort (pets) and also can be consumed (certain ones)for food.

That is my belief and I hope you do not feel that I am forcing that upon you as I am well aware others have their own beliefs about all this. I wish there was an alternative for you. Eggs are also very good to consume too. But mainly, the meats Huggins recommends are beef, chicken, turkey, etc.

I consume lamb, beef, chicken, liver and eggs as my main source of protein foods. Also plenty of butter (huggins recommends this as as excellent food for those mercury toxic, he feels it's a natural chelating agent and provides much goodness).

According to my beliefs and the bible, oneday this will indeed all end (ALL death/suffering etc) and I look forward to that day when the order of all things will be changed.

No one told me what they had for breakfast.

Your post was answered wormwood as best as I could answer it regarding the vegetarianism. Sorry if it didn't directly address breakfast. But my post pretty much covers what I eat, whether breakfast, lunch or dinner.

I may have eggs, mixed with onions and tomatoes. I fry up the tomatoes and onions and then crack two eggs over it and mix it all up. Or I might have meat chops (lamb, or mutton, or hogget). I may have beef mince or chicken mince. I may mix vegetables in there.

My breakfast this morning was limited. I only had yoghurt with flaxseed oil mixed in, plus some raw nuts (almonds) and seeds (pumpkin and sunflower). Normally I would have something more than that like above.

I have had to do this because I cannot tolerate any foods high in carbohyrates, which has limited my diet alot. I am not happy about it at all. I would like to have some non gluten grain at least and a bit of fruit. But that is not possible with my yeast issues. I think the meat eating maybe helping, but I cannot be certain to be honest.

I eat alot of meat now. But I did not used to eat alot of meat years ago. In fact, I had very limited meat intake in comparison. And I did chelate my mercury! I ate mainly vegetables, fruit, non gluten grain, yoghurts, eggs and dare i say it, potatoe chips (which isn't the best, but that was my treat). I had vegetables and fruit raw and I think that was very very helpful to me. I did have meat/chicken, but it was not nearly as much and if I recall, I didn't have it daily either. Probably only a few times a week. I was also luckier because I didn't have as severe yeast problems then. Though I still had to give up sugar, wheat/gluten and yeast. I existed mainly on the other foods and did pretty well then.

I think that in your case, if you can have "some" meat a few times a week, that would be good. However, I realise you may not stomach this and for other reasons, may not wish to even consider it. I would concentrate on the eggs as much as you can. You really do need animal protein, for some reason it is very helpful and from the breakfast you mentioned on the top post, sounds very healthy to me.

For breakfast I rarely eat a protein. I hate eggs. Ugh just thinking about how they smell actually disgusts me. When I do eat eggs, it is only the egg whites.

Usually I have a Food for Life english muffin with some organic cream cheese. Then again I have a really slow metabolism and that lasts me a few hours. Everyone is different.

I keep my proteins for later in the day.

I've posted this before, but anyone looking for delicious new ways to enjoy a low carb diet ought to look for The Fat Flush recipe book. She uses lots of herbs and spice for flavor (and for their health benefits). Her plan is one of my favorite approaches. I've done her fast track start up week cleanse and its not too hard compared to the liquid fasts I used to do all the time. Anne Louise Gittleman

I understand you being vegetarian, even organic farming is downright cruel, i was a vegetarian for 10 yrs.
I eat meat because im trying to get the mercury out of me, i dont think its selfish because i live for my two children, i need to get better.
i am only aware that things like beans and legumes cause copper overload. Take zinc everyday!
Try taking vitb12 lozengers.