Lately, almost every time someone asks me about a health related or even non health related issue, I’m recommending the same thing. Diatomaceous Earth!
I guess that’s a sign that I should write about it so I can get it off my mind and move onto my next new obsession.
Di-a-tom-a-ceous Earth
I know. It’s a mouthful, so we can refer to it as DE from now on:) DE is a super fine whitish powder made up of diatoms. Diatoms are the fossilized remains of microscopic algae-like creatures. Some date back as far as 30 million years ago. Under a microscope, they sort of resemble a honeycomb or Chex Mix! They are really hard and have almost diamond sharp edges.
This ancient powder also contains an assortment of trace minerals including calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, copper, zinc, iron, boron, phosphorous, silica and selenium.
So why do I love Diatomaceous Earth?? Well, let me count the ways!
Reason # 1: It Makes My Tummy Happy!!
DE helps keep you regular! Diatoms scrub and clean away impacted or old debris that might have been stickinging around in your colon for too long . This old junk can block nutrient absorption and slow transit time through your intestines.
The cylinder, cage-like structure of the diatoms trap bacteria, fungi, protozoa, viruses, drug residue, pesticide residues, heavy metals and other toxins on their way through the digestive tract. This makes for a really good internal detox!
DE could be helpful in conjunction with other detox techniques that use the colon as the main exit route. Sometimes if detoxed material comes into contact with the gut lining it can be irritating. This where DE comes to the rescue by grabbing onto those toxins and acting as a barrier between them and the gut lining while carrying them out of your body. DE also helps to prevent re-absorption of detoxed materials through its binding capability. Your liver works really hard to detoxify things like environmental toxins, heavy metals, prescription drugs and even your own “used up” hormones. You really want these things to exit your body and not get sent through a second time!
DE can be helpful with food poisoning in this same way by trapping and removing ingested pathogens! It is also one of the best ways to get rid of a pinworm or parasitic infection. Pinworms are more common than head lice and can be hard to clear. The sharp edges slash through the outer membrane of the parasites causing them to dehydrate and die.
DE also contains Selenium. The reduced availability of selenium in our food supply has been correlated to the increased occurrence of Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Selenium plays a role in the anti inflammatory response in the gut and helps to support healing and integrity of the gut lining.
I recently recommended DE to a client and it chased out a parasitic infection!
Who knows how long those things have been living in her!!! Yikes!!!
How I take it:
I mix one to two teaspoons in about 12 ounces of water and sip throughout the day.
IMPORTANT! You need to make sure you drink plenty of water with DE!
Reason #2: It Makes Me Purdy!
DE contains one of the best kept secrets in the beauty world! Silica!
DE is 89% silica. If you ingest DE, most of it travels straight through the digestive and urinary tracts but a little bit of silica does get absorbed into your system.
Silica is one of the most important trace minerals in our body. It’s in bones, hair, skin, teeth, joints, connective tissues and more! It’s an integral part of what keeps us strong and upright. This is important stuff!!
Silica is necessary for collagen production. In fact collagen is mostly silica. When silica levels diminish so does that healthy, firm, beautiful, wrinkle free skin we all enjoyed as youngsters.
It’s also necessary for strong bones…but whatever….we’re talking beauty here!!
DE works nicely as an occasional facial scrub to slough off dead skin and keep your complexion porcelain smooth.
The silica in DE also helps to regenerate tooth enamel and can be used as a tooth powder to keep your smile bright and sparkly.
Silica is another mineral that is becoming depleted from our food supply so it is important to find ways to supplement.
Dirt Eater 🙂
Reason #3: It Chelates Heavy Metals
DE has negative charge whereas many toxic heavy metals are positively charged so it attracts them out of your tissues like a magnet, and carries them out of the body.
The Selenium in DE also has a protective effect against the absorption of heavy metals and helps to detoxify them….ESPECIALLY mercury!
As with anything, you need to use moderation with DE because it can chelate important healthy minerals too, so you will need to take breaks from it here and there so you don’t interfere with your mineral balance.
Reason #4: It Protects My Heart
Studies have indicated that DE also reduces blood cholesterol and positively influences lipid metabolism! That’s really good news!!!
The silica in DE also strengthens blood vessels …especially the aorta!
I mentioned selenium above in terms of gut health. Selenium is also a component of the enzyme Glutathione Peroxidase. Glutathione is our body’s master antioxidant. This makes selenium a very important player in the prevention of cancer and cardiovascular disease.
DE is generally anti inflammatory and the truth is, the most common forms of heart disease are due to inflammation.
Reason #5: I Don’t like Creepy Crawlies!
DE works wonders as a bug repellent! When creepy crawlies get this stuff on them it scratches their protective waxy coating and they die of dehydration. Plus they bring some of it home to their families and friends who also share the same fate. Some farmers put it in their feed to discourage bug infestation.
One study showed that DE was more effective at killing German Cockroaches than an artillery of other chemical insecticides. The only draw back with DE as an insecticide is that it doesn’t work when it gets moist or wet:( It has to be dry and dusty to be effective on creepy crawlies.
You can use this as a flea treatment on your pets too.
Just make sure you or your furry friend don’t inhale the DE when applying.
Head Lice? Yip!!! DE can take care of that too!
Once again careful application is important so you don’t inhale the fine powder. There is a cool trick for this using a T-shirt as a “bag”. You place the collar of the T-shirt around the hairline and apply the DE to the hair and scalp. Close the T-Shirt around the hair like a “bag” to contain the powder and message well. Leave on overnight and shampoo out in the morning. Follow with “nit picking” using a fine toothed comb. A bonus to this is that the bugs get coated and are easier to see. This should be repeated once per week for about three weeks to make sure all of the hatchlings are coated and killed.
If you are going to use diatomaceous earth internally you MUST make sure it is “Food Grade”!
The stuff the you put in your swimming pool may be full of harmful chemicals and is more coarse than the food grade stuff. This could be abrasive to your internal organs and hazardous to your health! You also want to make sure you’re buying from a reputable source like this one.
Please be careful when handling DE that you don’t breath it into your lungs.
Please handle with care!! Since it is so fine it can poof into the air and if you breath in too much of it, it can damage your lungs! “Poof” is a technical term BTW…
Diatomaceous Earth may not be right for everyone but it is generally safe according to the FDA who has given it the GRAS stamp of approval! https://www.fda.gov/forconsumers/consumerupdates/ucm260849.htm
Even so, I would recommend using caution with Diatomaceous Earth and under supervision of a qualified health practitioner. If you are taking any prescription drugs please check with your doctor as it may decrease the effectiveness by absorbing the medication. As a general rule of thumb, don’t take it too close to your medicine dose.
I would also recommend taking it away from meals and other supplements because it might trap minerals and nutrients and prevent absorption.
I have an extremely sensitive gut and have been taking DE on and off for a few months. So far I have experienced improved complexion, stronger and faster growing hair and fingernails, more regular BM’s and much less inflammation in my Tummy!!!
A wise man once said “The day you realize you are no better than dirt will be the day you honor walking upon it.”
This was a lesson in humbleness. Not only do I honor walking upon it…but I honor eating it too!!!
My Version of a Dirty Martini…Cheers!!!
Post By:
Hollie Donelson, NTP
Happy Tummies of The Lowcountry, LLC
167 A Bluffton Rd.
Bluffton/Hilton Head, SC 29910
843-227-1042
Please note. I am not a Doctor. The content on this site is not intended as medical advice. Always check with your doctor before starting any type of health or nutritional protocol especially if you are being treated for or have been diagnosed with a medical condition.
References:
Hi there! I have taken 2 packets and a bit of diatomaceous earth 2 tablespoons per day. Is it time for a break ?
Hi Gloria, I personally don’t recommend more than 1 or 2 “teaspoons” max per day, depending on what you are trying to achieve. It is a good idea to take breaks from DE to avoid certain mineral deficiencies. You might even consider a good quality multi mineral supplement away from your DE dose or during breaks as an effort to prevent mineral deficiencies. My recommended dose and implementation schedule really depends on what you’re trying to accomplish. I hope this is helpful!