Quote from Yi at LDT on April 16, 2019, 7:40 am

I can 100% attest to zeolite causing anemia. I was taking large amounts of it with bentonite a few years ago and would consistently become dizzy upon standing, became breathless quickly while walking up stairs etc. It took me a while to work out what was going on at the time (I was quite young). I was also worried about my kidneys too though I can't rememmber why.

 

Aluminum is abundant in the earths crust, over 8%. Many aluminum compounds are not toxic. For example most ceramics are made of aluminum silicate which is quite inert and not harmful, you probably eat from it everyday. Free aluminum is a different story.. Gotta be specific

I've just ordered a container zeolite, planning on using it every few days. I think for heavy metals purblack shilajit/humic and fulvic acid is probably a safer and more health promoting option (purblack is much lower im heavy metals compared to other brands). Not sure if it binds VA though I wouldn't doubt it. I think it may contain small amounts of it. Increases bile flow too.

Quote from Liz on April 16, 2019, 9:15 pm

Quote from Yi at LDT on April 16, 2019, 7:40 am

I can 100% attest to zeolite causing anemia. I was taking large amounts of it with bentonite a few years ago and would consistently become dizzy upon standing, became breathless quickly while walking up stairs etc. It took me a while to work out what was going on at the time (I was quite young). I was also worried about my kidneys too though I can't rememmber why.

 

Aluminum is abundant in the earths crust, over 8%. Many aluminum compounds are not toxic. For example most ceramics are made of aluminum silicate which is quite inert and not harmful, you probably eat from it everyday. Free aluminum is a different story.. Gotta be specific

I've just ordered a container zeolite, planning on using it every few days. I think for heavy metals purblack shilajit/humic and fulvic acid is probably a safer and more health promoting option (purblack is much lower im heavy metals compared to other brands). Not sure if it binds VA though I wouldn't doubt it. I think it may contain small amounts of it. Increases bile flow too.

Why did you take large amounts of it? And could you specify the dose? 🙂

Quote from Yi at LDT on April 16, 2019, 11:15 pm

Absolutely. I was really into the whole vegetarian/vegan cleansing thing at the time and I was trying to get rid of toxins, heavy metals etc. (I didn't really know what I was doing). At that time I was drinking litres of water a day, upwards of 2 at the minnimum (not recommended) and I would chuck between a teaspoon to a tablespoon of bentonite and zeolite into my big 2L water bottle. Somedays it would be sprulin some days a berry mix, it depended on my mood for the day. I think there were some days I probably took multiple teaspoons.

I didn't take it everyday from memory however one week I was away visiting a family member and I ended up taking zeolite and bentonite everyday. By the end of the week I had really noticeable symptoms of anemia and lower back pain. After stopping, all symptoms went back to normal though I was worried about my kidneys. I remember having kidney/ureter pain during the time. It's worth noting that I have had very foamy urine for atleast two years though it is finally resolving, I took bentonite maybe six or seven years ago.

 

All the minerals and clays probably weren't the best for my Kidnets. I rememmber having thick sediment at the bottom of the bottle so I wasn't taking like a gram or two.

 

Wish I could be more specific, I was probably 15 or 16 at the time. I will never forget that feeling of faintness and weakness and I'll be interested to see if it shows up this time around. Even after donating blood I havn't felt anything close to that.

Quote from Liz on May 24, 2019, 10:03 pm

It would be interesting to follow your experiences with zeolite. What kind did you order, the one dr G recommends? If you are able to test your blood status before you start and regularly throughout that would be very interesting to see if it affects your iron status as well.

I have paused my own use of it. It makes me severely constipated even in small doses. I suspect it is due to it also binding too much iron in me, as I also become severely constipated when taking iron supplements, and last (week when) I was in hospital my Hb had decreased from 116 to around 100. And I had worked hard to get it back up after surgery jan 31st (eating shitloads of red meat without apetite is hard!!). There is nothing else to blame but the zeolite I think. For people with high iron issues though it is probably great. Quite a bummer though as I find zeolite quite interesting.

Quote from Josh on May 26, 2019, 7:17 am

Quote from Liz on May 24, 2019, 10:03 pm

It would be interesting to follow your experiences with zeolite. What kind did you order, the one dr G recommends? If you are able to test your blood status before you start and regularly throughout that would be very interesting to see if it affects your iron status as well.

I have paused my own use of it. It makes me severely constipated even in small doses. I suspect it is due to it also binding too much iron in me, as I also become severely constipated when taking iron supplements, and last (week when) I was in hospital my Hb had decreased from 116 to around 100. And I had worked hard to get it back up after surgery jan 31st (eating shitloads of red meat without apetite is hard!!). There is nothing else to blame but the zeolite I think. For people with high iron issues though it is probably great. Quite a bummer though as I find zeolite quite interesting.

Hi Liz, I don't know if this question was directed at me, but I'll answer:

 

I have not had any noticeable symptoms or issues at all with zeolite. I take 1 tsp twice/day of the brand Dr. G recommends. However, I tend to have a pretty hardy constitution and strong stomach such that things don't usually bother me. Both of my sons experienced constipation after several weeks of taking it. It went away when they stopped taking the zeolite. I don't know if it's the zeolite per se or if the zeolite is causing some kind of other (detox-related?) process that causes it. I have seen Dr. G. say several times that constipation is (usually) in issue with high levels of calcium. Maybe the zeolite is affecting calcium levels somehow. I don't really know. But I do know that zeolite is not essential for the detox process, so I wouldn't worry about it too much.

As for @yi-at-ldt saying that zeolite for sure caused his anemia: it's possible but since he was also taking a lot of bentonite at the same time it's hard to say what the cause really was. He was also taking a lot of zeolite.

Good luck!!

Quote from Liz on May 26, 2019, 8:40 pm

Hi @josh, no the question was actually for @yi-at-ldt but I do appreaciate your response. The whole zeolite topic is really interesting so all experiences are welcome 🙂 please update with any zeolite progress, good and bad.

I wish I could take it. I might try again in the future when iron levels are back and stable. Not sure how to deal with the constipation part though as not even high C did anything. White rice and red meat combo constipates me too so could be removing those completely and combining zeolite with lots of fiber like pear and chickpeas could work? Ideas for future experimentation...

Quote from Yi at LDT on May 26, 2019, 10:44 pm

Hey Liz, sorry for the slow response.

And I'm sorry to hear zeolite causes you so many problems. I have always been a little cautious of it just as I have been with charcoal. I feel charcoal in particular messes with my digestive strength and transit time quite noticeably. These clays don't just bind the bad guys! I wouldn't doubt that they interfere with enzymes, stomach ph etc. Just a guess though!

 

In regards to iron I think you may find improvement using either humicin humic and fulvic acid or purblack shilajit. Humic and fulvic acid are very big organic molecules that do an incredible job at transporting nutrients and particularly minerals etc. in and out of cells. I have heard some amazing anecdotes in regards to anemia and humic and fulvic acid. I only trust these brands as some may contain elevated heavy metals. They are incredible to say the very least and not just for anemia but a huge range of issues.

 

I've seen it mentioned on the Ray Peat forum quite a bit that in times of chronic infection the body can halt iron absorption from the gut. I can't remember the chemical/responsible responsible for uptake, you may well know it. Bacteria absolutely thrive on iron so I find it interesting that it coincides with constipation. I'm sure there are other possible mechanisms also.

 

A tablespoon or two of blended bamboo shoots (from the asian section of the grocery store) and or a tablespoon or two of mushrooms cooked for 2hrs+ and blended will get things moving in not time at all! They also have a host of other health benefits. You can read more about them on the Ray Peat forum.

 

I haven't been using zeolite a whole lot lately though when I have I've noticed positive results regarding VA symptoms and less so in regards to digestion. I donate blood regularly so blood tests likely wouldn't be the most reliable for me but might be worth considering. I did have my hemoglobin taken three days ago when I donated but I didn't catch the number unfortunately.

 

I would really love to hear any results you get with humic and fulvic acid if you do decide to give it a go : )

Quote from Liz on May 27, 2019, 7:46 am

Quote from Yi at LDT on May 26, 2019, 10:44 pm

Hey Liz, sorry for the slow response.

And I'm sorry to hear zeolite causes you so many problems. I have always been a little cautious of it just as I have been with charcoal. I feel charcoal in particular messes with my digestive strength and transit time quite noticeably. These clays don't just bind the bad guys! I wouldn't doubt that they interfere with enzymes, stomach ph etc. Just a guess though!

 

In regards to iron I think you may find improvement using either humicin humic and fulvic acid or purblack shilajit. Humic and fulvic acid are very big organic molecules that do an incredible job at transporting nutrients and particularly minerals etc. in and out of cells. I have heard some amazing anecdotes in regards to anemia and humic and fulvic acid. I only trust these brands as some may contain elevated heavy metals. They are incredible to say the very least and not just for anemia but a huge range of issues.

 

I've seen it mentioned on the Ray Peat forum quite a bit that in times of chronic infection the body can halt iron absorption from the gut. I can't remember the chemical/responsible responsible for uptake, you may well know it. Bacteria absolutely thrive on iron so I find it interesting that it coincides with constipation. I'm sure there are other possible mechanisms also.

 

A tablespoon or two of blended bamboo shoots (from the asian section of the grocery store) and or a tablespoon or two of mushrooms cooked for 2hrs+ and blended will get things moving in not time at all! They also have a host of other health benefits. You can read more about them on the Ray Peat forum.

 

I haven't been using zeolite a whole lot lately though when I have I've noticed positive results regarding VA symptoms and less so in regards to digestion. I donate blood regularly so blood tests likely wouldn't be the most reliable for me but might be worth considering. I did have my hemoglobin taken three days ago when I donated but I didn't catch the number unfortunately.

 

I would really love to hear any results you get with humic and fulvic acid if you do decide to give it a go : )

I hate typing on phones. Just wrote the longest reply and accidentally pressed the fb icon and poff all is gone.

Thanks for your reply Yi 😀 I appreciate it. However I am quite restrictive with what I test and not and while I have my kidney issues I will not test anything new. I dont even dare using zeolite (more info in my progress thread).

I used to have chronic anemia for 10 years, this issue has been resolved with low A diet so I am no longer anemic. After my surgery jan 31st Hb dropped to 90 but I got that up to 116 with just diet no supplement. So I know my Hb and when it drops like that in just one month as it did with zeolite, and nothing has been changed but zeolite, i have to blame it 😂. I wish I could take it though, it would sure have been interesting to see if it has a positive affect on my endo, but lowering Hb like that and causing constipation, which I normally dont have issues with, it has to be a no-go. At least for now while I am healing 🙂

I would still love to hear others experience with it though, it is supposed to help during detox cycles. So you did notice positive effect on detox when you took it? Any example you would like to share?

Quote from lil chick on June 3, 2019, 2:36 pm

I don't have experience with zeolite, but occasionally when I have very bad nausea that feels like poisoning I put a little bentonite clay in my water to sip, I don't stir it in, I just let the ions float around in there a bit.   I've read that in the olden days stomach ache cures used to contain clay.  I've heard that in India they have vessels made of unglazed clay and believe that storing water in them makes the water more healthful.   I've heard that we are meant to drink surface water from places like ponds and streams and that TINY amounts of clay were probably part of our diet.  All just touchy feely info though and no hard science for you.  But perhaps this is a small change that is modern, this lack of clay in our lives.