I began seeing a Naturopathic doctor last summer when I learned I’d become allergic to yet another food. For me, that manifests as pain and, as someone with Fibromyalgia, I don’t need more of that. In the summer of 2022, I discovered that corn (including one of my favorite treats – popcorn) triggered excess pain that usually took a day to ease. The following year it was strawberries. But last summer I started having excess pain when I ate chocolate, which is my absolute favorite treat. That was the last straw. 

I contacted Dr. Sara Thyr, a Naturopathic doctor (her website), who ran a food sensitivity test for me. She found that I was sensitive to many of the foods I was eating on a regular basis, leading to a diagnosis of leaky gut syndrome.

Fast forward to this past winter, Dr. Thyr’s interventions had greatly reduced my fatigue, but the pain hadn’t eased. So, she wanted to check whether I had heavy metal contamination. I figured it couldn’t hurt but didn’t expect to see anything out of the ordinary. However, my results showed high levels of lead and mercury (shown below in µg/g creatine). Yikes!

Where did these come from? I’m careful about avoiding toxic chemicals in my home and diet, even choosing chocolates that were reported to have lower levels of heavy metals and tuna that’s lower on the food chain, so that it’s accumulated less mercury and other toxic chemicals (see this blog post for more info).

I’d had quite a bit of dental work done over the last several years, which likely explained the mercury contamination. But the lead? After talking with Dr. Thyr about possible sources, I decided to investigate where that might be coming from. Because it hangs around in our tissues, such as bones,¹ the high levels didn’t necessarily mean it was from a current exposure. I’d always loved living in old houses, which likely had lead paint.² Could that have been the source? 

I checked my tap water in case there was lead soldering on the pipes. However, because I only drink and cook using filtered water, I figured the filters would have removed most lead and other heavy metals if they were present. But I checked in case. The unfiltered tap water to my kitchen sink had undetectable levels of lead – good news.

I also considered certain foods and other potential sources. According to one report, lead in food and cookware is an important route of exposure.³ Food can become contaminated through uptake from soil, processing, or through additives that contain lead. And ceramics may be produced using source materials containing heavy metals.

There were several possibilities in my diet that might be contributing lead. One was the balsamic vinegar I put on my salad every night rather than bottled dressings. That tends to contain higher levels of lead than other vinegars, with aged varieties of balsamic containing the most.⁴ Another potential source was turmeric, a favored spice I use in cooking, green smoothies, and tea. However, some sources of turmeric have been treated with lead chromate to boost color,⁵ a practice that needs to end.

And of course, there was my favorite treat before I became allergic. Some chocolates contain higher levels of heavy metals like lead and chromium.⁶ I’d already switched to sources reported to have lower levels but it’s possible my consumption of other chocolates over the years contributed to my body burden of this toxic metal.

Dr. Thyr suggested that I check plates and other kitchen items that might contain lead. I’d purchased a set of plates, bowls, and teacups just out of college several decades ago and used regularly since. They were the Apple pattern made by the Franciscan brand. This pattern held sentimental value because they were just like my grandmother’s. Over the years I’d also purchased other ceramic bowls and ramekins. 

I tested everything in my kitchen using the Lumetallix kit Dr. Thyr recommended and, sadly, found detectable levels of lead in my Apple pattern dishware and the ceramic bowls and ramekins (see picture below). Apparently, I’d been accumulating small doses of lead over the years with each meal. Luckily, my favorite coffee mug, iron skillet, Japanese porcelain bowls, and glass bowls I’d recently purchased from Costco were clear. Needless to say, I threw out all the items that tested positive for lead. I didn’t donate them to a thrift store because I didn’t want anyone else to be exposed. 

Next step – get the lead out! I wanted it out of my home and my body. I researched dishes that were supposed to be lead-free and purchased Fiesta tableware, which has been low in lead for several decades. I tested them when they arrived, and they were indeed clear. For other options, check out this source. I also addressed other potential sources of lead. I now use balsamic vinegar sparingly and minimize use of spices like turmeric. On the chocolate front, that’s been taken care of for me with my allergic reaction – I rarely eat it. Someday, perhaps that will change, and I will do what I’ve done in the past, choose sources with lower levels of lead and other heavy metals.

Dr. Thyr set up a treatment plan to remove the heavy metals from my body. It involved chelation with DMSA (Dimercaptosuccinic acid) and several safety layers to ensure that released toxic metals didn’t cause harm. These included testing my liver and kidney function prior to and periodically during treatment, taking SafeCell (glutathione) along with the DMSA, and an absorbent taken at the end of each day to remove released heavy metals. Each 5-day chelation treatment period was followed by a 9-day recovery period to replenish minerals removed along with the heavy metals.

After nine rounds of treatment (three to go), Dr. Thyr retested me. Results showed a significant drop in lead and mercury levels (see below). And I’ve noticed a difference – I’m sleeping more deeply.

I look forward to a day when manufacturers refrain or are barred from adding toxic chemicals to everyday products. Until then, we need to stay vigilant about avoiding them. And, if need be, get help from a professional to conduct a detox safely.

References

1. Silbergeld, E. K. 1993. Lead in bone: storage site, exposure source, and target organ. Neurotoxicology. 14:225-36.
2. CDC, March 26, 2025. About lead in paint. https://www.cdc.gov/lead-prevention/prevention/paint.html.
3. Porterfield, K. et al. 2024. A snapshot of lead in consumer products across four US jurisdictions. Environ Health Perspect. 132:075002.
4. Kay, J. 2009. Special Report: Some vinegars – often expensive, aged balsamics – contain a big dose of lead. Environmental Health News.
5. Cowell, W. et al. 2017. Ground Turmeric as a Source of Lead Exposure in the United States. Public Health Rep. 132:289-293.
6. Loria, K. 2023. Lead and cadmium could be in your dark chocolate.