Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous Earth is actually a natural product made up of fossilized remains of tiny, aquatic organisms called diatoms. Diatomaceous earth contains a variety of trace minerals, including silica, magnesium, calcium, sodium and iron. Only food-grade diatomaceous earth should be taken internally by humans or animals.

DE works like a natural detoxifying agent within the body. It helps eliminate free radicals, viruses, insects, parasites and other harmful organisms by binding to them and drying them out. DE is a natural blood cleanser. It also benefits the digestive tract by reducing gas, cleansing the intestines and boosting liver function. DE is inexpensive and safe for internal use as a detox product.

DE has been shown to help your body regulate cholesterol levels. A 1998 study by H. Wachter and colleagues at the University of Innsbruck, Austria, published in the “European Journal of Medical Research,” monitored the serum lipid concentrations of 19 subjects, ages 35 to 67, over 12 weeks. The study subjects took diatomaceous earth three times a day over an eight-week period while their blood cholesterol levels were measured. In each subject, the LDL and triglyceride levels were lowered and the HDL levels increased.

DE is rich in the mineral SILICA. Silica is known to improve the absorption of calcium as well as direct and balance other minerals throughout the body. Silica’s action improves bone mineralization, protects joints and reduces the effects of aging.

Silica is the oxide form of silicon, meaning silica has an oxygen molecule attached via covalent bonding. It actually has an abundance of sulfur-oxygen bonds in its natural state. Together, silica and sulfur are the designate “beauty minerals”. They are known to improve, hair, skin, nails and teeth.

A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that silica also helps eliminate heavy metals from the body, such as aluminum. In studies, it has been shown to have a high-aluminum-affinity and reduces aluminum availability from the human gastrointestinal tract.

Silica within DE helps with normal bone metabolism and joint formation. Multiple studies over the past 30 years suggest a positive association between dietary silicon intake and better bone mineral density. This makes DE a great addition to any osteoporosis diet and treatment plan.

Since it has natural abrasive qualities and kills parasites, DE is used in many types of toothpaste, skin exfoliators, polishes and skin scrubs. Just like other beneficial clays — like bentonite clay — it dries out harmful toxins and leaves behind cleaned, smoothed skin with little to no side effects.