Your Healing Foodie
My journey of health, wellness & balance through diet, detox, remedies, and prayer
Diatomaceous Earth
I have been using Diatomaceous Earth for sometime now. I came across this amazing substance when I lived in Denver. We got bedbugs from a neighbor and it was horrendous. Thankfully, I had researched and found that this could be helpful. I later learned many more applications.
I have used diatomaceous earth (DE) every so often over the past 8 years. As for the past 3 years, I used DE occasionally in my smoothies occasionally for internal intestinal parasites. I found in small doses with lots of clean water, I feel really good. It really has no taste but very drying and chalk-like. I found the best and easiest way to get it in my diet. As with all parasite cleansing, I was sure that I was using the bathroom regularly and eliminating waste and eating a clean and healthy diet.
WHERE DO I FIND IT?
You can find it at the hardware store for external uses in the pest control sections, however for HIGH QUALITY FOOD GRADE DIATOMACEOUS EARTH, I order locally from AZURE STANDARDS.
WHAT IS DIATOMACEOUS EARTH (DE)
Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a natural organic material of fossilized remains of tiny, ancient aquatic organisms called diatoms. Remains of these diatoms including cell walls/shells, it easily crumbles to a fine powder, of biogenic silica.
The Many USES of Diatomaceous Earth (FOOD GRADE)
-
Health and healing (1/4 tsp daily for general health)
- detox the body
- improved digestion and more regular bowel movements
- better liver and colon functioning
- improved detoxification and removal of heavy metals
- stronger immune function and protection from illnesses
- improved energy
- great source of silica
- high cholesterol
- improves the body’s use of calcium,
- improve bone mineralization,
- protect joints
- fight effects of aging.
- Skin, nails, teeth and hair
- binds with toxins
- water filtration
- viruses, parasites and other harmful organisms
- (to use: take 1-2 tbsp once or twice daily for 3-5 days)
- naturally eliminate free radicals by binding to them and drying them out. It also has the ability to improve the body’s And that’s not all.
HOW IT HELPS THE BODY
Detox
Diatomaceous earth —- diatomite — works like a natural detox agent, helps to clean the blood, kills parasites and viruses that cause illness. It’s affordable, simple to use and safer than many store-bought detox products. Other benefits of using DE internally include reducing odors, helping reduce gas, cleansing the digestive tract, boosts liver function and absorbs toxins in the blood.
DE has Silica which works like antioxidants in high-antioxidant foods by remaining stable particles being suspended in a liquid medium, this helps it to fight free radical damage. As its broken into a colloidal form, it acts like a detoxifier for the blood while carrying an electrical charge and combines with free radicals and other harmful toxins. Silica can also neutralize the charge of free radicals enabling them to be removed from the body by sweat, urine and feces, and therefore slows oxidative damage and aging effects.
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published a study reporting that silica helps the body to eliminate heavy metals, such as aluminum, heavy metal detox. In studies, it has been shown to have a high-aluminum-affinity and reduces aluminum availability from the human gastrointestinal tract. (1)
Purify Water
An article in the Journal of Applied and Environmental Microbiology, reports that diatomaceous earth can help kill viruses and purify drinking water. Viruses have been found to be dangerous and abundant in certain sources of drinking water, including wells, raising the prevalence of PARASITES and having a significant impact on bacteria and algae populations in the ecosystem. (2)
Tests have concluded that after filtration by DE, heavy metal and viral contaminated tap water, the DE helped absorb up to 80 percent of the viruses present, including poliovirus 1, echovirus 5 and coxsackievirus B5, which were all present in tap water even after filtration. (3)
Improves Joint, Bones, Ligaments, Teeth and Ski Health
In 2007, the Journal of Nutrition Health and Aging published a study that stated dietary benefits of silicon for bones and connective tissues. It prevents low bone mass (osteoporosis), which is considered “a silent epidemic of the 21st century.” Silica within DE helps with normal bone metabolism and joint formation, with evidence over the past 30 years suggesting there’s a positive association between dietary silicon intake and better bone mineral density. (6) Thus, DE makes a great addition to any osteoporosis diet and treatment plan. DE is naturally abrasive and has been used in many toothpastes, skin exfoliators, polishes and skin scrubs.
Parasites and overall health
The Oxford Journal of Poultry Science published a study that found DE has the potential to effectively control internal parasites. It was observed in hens that produce organically raised, free-range eggs. They studied two breeds of commercial egg-laying hens and observed that DE improved the egg laying production, quality of their eggs, and parasite control as compared to the control groups. (4)
Two groups of hens used in the study differed in their ability to resist internal parasites confirmed by examining their gastrointestinal tracts. The hens fed DE had significantly lower incidences of infections. They had fewer Capillaria FEC, slightly lower Eimeria FEC, fewer birds infected with Heterakis and significantly lower Heterakis worm infections. The Chickens that were fed DE were significantly heavier in weight, laid more eggs and consumed more feed than hens fed the control diet, plus their eggs had larger yolks and more nutrient rich.
Is it Safe?
The Food and Drug Administration states that food grade diatomaceous earth as “Generally Recognized as Safe,” which means it’s legally allowed to be added to many different types of foods, beverages and supplements. (9) Small amounts of silica are normally present in all body tissues and usually found in urine, too, so it’s well-tolerated and not known to cause many side effects. (10)
Basic steps for safely using DE as a detoxification agent and to protect bones and joints:
- Take 1 teaspoon of food-grade diatomaceous earth with filtered water once a day on an empty stomach at least one hour before or two hours after eating.
- Drink 1 cup of filtered water after each dose of DE to improve its effects.
- Make sure to consume plenty of water with DE.
- Increase dosage slowly over several weeks, up to 2 teaspoons daily, or 1 tablespoon max.
- Split the dosage into two parts taken in the morning and one at night.
- Take DE 10 days on and 10 days off for 90 days to effectively and safely detox.
- Another option is to take DE daily for a few weeks and track symptoms, stopping and starting again throughout the year. It’s safest when you give your body breaks from detoxing and don’t use it continuously for very long periods of time.
- NOTE: You may notice some mild side effects that can develop as your gut environment changes, yeast dies off and your body releases stored toxins, which should diminish within a couple weeks.
- mild headaches,
- fatigue
- flu-like symptoms
-
Gardening
- keeps pests under control
Directions: sprinkle or dusts lightly around the base or on the plants you need to protect from pest, do not cover the entire garden as you will kill many beneficial insects.
-
Safe Insect Control
- roaches
- fleas
- bedbugs
- spiders
- drying effect by cutting up their exoskeleton
Directions: sprinkle or dusts lightly around the baseboards of your home or areas frequented by particular pests.
NOTE: In extreme cases and for fleas and bedbugs, sprinkle lightly on beds, furniture, shelves and anywhere else you have a problem. Also be sure to wash and bag (sprinkle DE inside the bag and bag immediately after drying) all clothing (separated by persons to easily find clothing during the time treatment is needed)
The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act has classified DE as a safe substance for household use.
HOW TO USE IN AND AROUND HOMES:
- Step 1: Brush and vacuum carpets or any area where you think bugs, insects or fleas could be lurking. This will aggravate them and get them to move, which allows DE to work better. (11)
- Step 2: Apply diatomaceous earth powder where needed in your home, yard, your carpets, car, etc. Rub the powder into the carpets with a broom. Use enough to finely cover the surface but not too much that it’s easy to breathe in a lot.
- Step 3: Let the powder sit for about four to 12 hours before vacuuming. It’s recommended that you repeat this process once a week for a total of three to four weeks.
-
Food Storage
- Keeps foods free from bugs and pests
- absorbs moisture content
Directions: sprinkle lightly in food such as grains to prevent pests.
-
Environment
- absorbs chemical
- used to clean up gas and oil spills
Directions: sprinkle over a spill to absorb and sweep up and dispose of properly.
Possible Side Effects of Diatomaceous Earth?
It is generally recognized as safe to use on the body or to consume, however, some people react to DE in the following way. If you have sensitive skin, eyes or nasal passages, it’s a good idea to monitor your symptoms and watch out for any strong reactions. It’s also recommended that you keep DE away from babies and small children who might be more sensitive to DE’s effects and can react to it by experiencing irritations. As with anything new, start off in small doses and listen to your body. ALWAYS DRINK PLENTY OF FILTERED WATER..
- I have read where it may be harsh for some who have KIDNEY STONES
- irritation of the nose and nasal passages when you breathe it in, or if consumed in large amounts
- it can contribute to coughs and shortness of breath.
- irritate the skin and cause some mild irritation and dryness.
No long term health effects have been observed in external application on animals and no reporductive effects have been found in rats with high doses for six months
DO NOT INHALE: USE A MASK
The National Pesticide Information Center states evidence that inhaling a very small amount of crystalline silicon over time (the kind used in small quantities in some types of diatomaceous earth, especially pesticides) might contribute to the following, however, the risk is low considering the vast majority of diatomaceous earth used in products for human consumption is amorphous, not crystalline silicon.
- silicosis
- chronic bronchitis
- other respiratory problems in a small percentage of cases.
ALWAYS USE CAUTION WITH CHILDREN, WHILE PREGNANT OR NURSING. Do your own research and start on a low dose and slowly.
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