What some people won’t do to lose weight by radical dieting! Some eat dirt. Sprinkle it on salad. Add to soups and stews. Or dissolve in your favorite juice. Diatomaceous earth, as food-grade, are finely ground fossils of diatoms, an algae plant substance found in soil throughout many areas. Diatomaceous earth is being eyed for rapid, easy weight loss.
Many seem to use diatomaceous earth with reported success. Ready to eat dirt too? Let’s get down and dirty as we discuss the pros and cons.
It may not come-up in usual weight management conversation but Diatomaceous earth is showing more prevalence as a means of body cleansing and weight management. Diatomaceous earth has been used in industry for years. Food grade versions are now gaining popularity as a quick diet starter for coping with obesity.
According to the Global Healing Center, Diatomaceous Earth offers many approaches to fostering health:
Natural Source of Silica. Food-grade diatomaceous earth is composed of approximately 85% silica. Silica exists predominantly in the connective tissues such as skin, blood vessels, cartilage, bone, teeth, tendons and hair. Taken with water or fruit juice, silica offers many health benefits.
Promotes Skin Health. Because diatomaceous earth is a strong abrasive, it is often used as a toothpaste and facial exfoliator
Supports Heart Health. Trace nutrients in Diatomaceous earth may offer benefits for muscle and bone support.
Natural Pesticide One of the most common uses for diatomaceous earth is as a natural insecticide. Studies indicate that this clay-like powder can kill the harmful insects that threaten crops and home life. [
Internal Cleanser As an abrasive, it aids in cleaning your digestive system.
“Diatomaceous earth is made from the fossilized remains of tiny, aquatic organisms called diatoms. Their skeletons are made of a natural substance called silica.” Its primary use has been an insecticide for many years against small bugs, bed bugs, and their eggs.
In other countries, diatomaceous earth has been available as a food-grade powder that promised beneficial health probabilities. Studies have been small. Diatomaceous earth has not been recognized for safe human consumption by the USA Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Available at health stores as food-grade supplements, diatomaceous earth has been attracting people seeking to reduce 30 or more excess pounds of weight. Amazon also offers a selection of food grade diatomaceous earth supplements by the pound.
As a dietary supplement, silica has been examined as supportive against osteoporosis symptoms.
In small Framingham Studies (often used to predict artery and bone health issues), silica dosages were acceptable as 30 milligrams per day. Researchers noted that foods are major sources of available silicon for humans. Food-grade diatomaceous earth offers 85% silica per scoop. Is that too much?
As such, diatomaceous earth is being anecdotally supported for providing healthy nails, bones, and skin. Diatomaceous earth will help manage weight and cholesterol.
Food grade, the dosage has been one teaspoon in a tall glass of water (8 oz.) and up to one tablespoon over the course of a week, daily. Some place it in soup, hot cereal, or chopped salads. Actual safe dosages have not been scientifically determined. The US FDA has not yet tested and approved food grade diatomaceous earth as food or food additive.
Of course, marketers claim all sorts of beneficial properties of diatomaceous earth from controlling bedbugs and flea control for dogs and cats. It’s properties have been scientifically tested as a natural insect controller.
Many people report that diatomaceous earth helps them lose weight. It has de-detoxification properties. Food-grade diatomaceous earth as an abrasive is like cleaning your digestive system with a scrub brush. If you want to detox, diatomaceous earth might be a choice. It may work like another natural laxative found in pharmacies. They are called psyllium husks.
Favorably, there are manufacturing and international claims that Diatomaceous Earth has a long and safe history of use as a filter aid in food processing, particularly in the manufacturing of high-fructose corn syrup and maltodextrin. More than 170,000 tons of diatomaceous earth are used in the filtration of food products annually. It is available in food-grade forms and approved for use in the manufacturing and processing of many common food products. The International Programme on Chemical Safety reports no toxic effects from ingestion. Only faith can guide you as to which food-grade diatomaceous earth is more digestible and pure.
Claims from outside the USA purport when diatomaceous earth is eaten, very little is absorbed into the body. The remaining portion is rapidly excreted. Small amounts of silica are normally present in all body tissues, and it is normal to find silicon dioxide in urine. In one study, people ate a few grams of diatomaceous earth. The amount of silicon dioxide in their urine was unchanged.
What about long-term effects? Can chronic use affect the liver, kidneys, and cells? There is no evidence of multitudinous scenarios. Yet, many in Europe do use diatomaceous earth for detox. Perhaps as an infrequent detox routine, food grade diatomaceous earth might be safe. Everything in moderation.
There are thousands of non-pesticide products that contain diatomaceous earth. These include skin care products, toothpastes, foods, beverages, medicines, rubbers, paints, and water filters. Computer chips are silicon based.
As far as weight management, using silica wi8ll probably give your digestive system a good scrubbing. Diatomaceous earth is made from the fossilized remains of tiny, aquatic organisms called diatoms. Their skeletons are made of a natural substance called silica. Over a long period of time, diatoms accumulated in the sediment of rivers, streams, lakes, and oceans. Its prime ingredient of silica is found amidst sedimentary dirt.
Most weight issues may result from poor eating and activity habits over time. Some have chronic digestive conditions or genetic predispositions. Getting thin quickly can be a shock to your body and potentially dangerous.
Is using diatomaceous earth a safer way to manage your weight? Your doctor may not know. A good, licensed nutritionist might. For now, use of food-grade diatomaceous earth has only been established as a personal choice instead of a scientific one. As such, it remains elusive and very marketable as a get thin quick ingredient.
Diatomaceous earth has shown negative lung impairments when inhaled as an insecticide.
Many dose diatomaceous earth from one teaspoon a day to tablespoons per day. Science really hasn’t reliably measured the safety of those daily dosages over a long term. As a mild abrasive, some have reported a laxative effect. While silica content blood tests have been done showing no rise in blood levels, no long-term organ evidence has been noted. Preferred dosage is with 8 ounces of water or juice. Drinking more water may add to its therapeutic effects. Diatomaceous earth is viewed as a supplement aiding detoxification and weight loss. It is a popular but non-traditional approach for weight management at normal levels.
You can go on YouTube and hear more about diatomaceous earth and the healthy properties that diatomaceous earth may offer. As far as using food grade diatomaceous earth. I would not support ingestion of food-grade diatomaceous earth unless you know the quality of its source. I WOULD ALSO NOT SUPPORT IT AS A HEALTHY WEIGHT REDUCTION METHOD UNLESS YOU CONSULT AND DISCUSS WITH A QUALIFIED, LICENSED NUTRITIONIST. Diatomaceous earth may be a worthy diet supplement but also a dirty diet. It’s your body. Choose wisely.