Numerous scientific publications show that obesity is the most common metabolic disease and is often categorized as an epidemic of the 21st century.
The problem of obesity correlates with the more frequent incidence of other diseases, such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, osteoarticular diseases, neoplastic diseases, and may determine the increased risk of premature death.
For this reason, alternative methods of therapy are often searched for, ensuring optimal functioning of the body, faster return to the desired body weight, and thus improving the quality and length of life.
One of such forms seems to be the use of diatomaceous earth. In today’s article, we will discuss its influence on the system, and thus also the legitimacy of its use. We invite you to read!
Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth, also known as diatomaceous earth, is a completely natural product, made of unicellular algae that lived millions of years ago, inhabiting both sweet and salty water bodies. During the progressive drying of water reservoirs, these algae fell to the bottom, finally creating a thick layer of dead debris.
On their basis, in particular the shells saturated with silica, a sedimentary rock was formed, which today is excavated and processed. Its fragmented form is called diatomaceous earth. Although so far it has been associated mainly with the chemical industry, numerous publicly available sources on the Internet also attribute many health properties to it. The most frequently mentioned are:
- influence on hair growth,
- support for bones and the locomotor system,
- improved digestion,
- improvement of the appearance of hair, skin and nails,
- improvement in cholesterol levels,
- detoxification of the body.
Despite the potentially health-promoting effects of silica, it should be borne in mind that so far relatively little research has been carried out on human organisms. Therefore, the exact confirmation of the health properties requires further research.
Diatomaceous Earth for Slimming
The attributed slimming properties of diatomaceous earth probably result from the thesis of reduced digestion, and thus also the metabolism as a result of toxins accumulated in the body. Their presence also seems to promote the production of cholesterol in the body. According to this theory, the accumulation of toxins in adipocytes (fat cells) hinders the metabolism of fat, and thus also the effective reduction of adipose tissue. The action of diatomaceous earth is therefore aimed at detoxifying the body (due to its absorption properties) in order to maintain the consistency of these processes.
Unfortunately, also in this field there is insufficient scientific evidence confirming the effectiveness of such a mechanism and its impact on the human digestive system. According to the current state of knowledge, one can also place a thesis between the fairy tales regarding the recommended periods of detoxification of the system. The specialized buffering units present in the body effectively prevent their accumulation from food.
Diatomaceous Earth – Side Effects
From a physiological point of view, consumption of supplements containing diatomaceous earth is safe for the body, because it passes through our digestive system without complications, without getting into the bloodstream.
However, caution should be exercised before inhaling a significant amount of diatomaceous earth. Inhalation may cause irritation of the nasal mucosa, coughing, shortness of breath, and in extreme cases pneumoconiosis. According to research reports, in 2013 this disease caused nearly 46,000 deaths.
Some people practicing diatom supplementation have also reported flu-like symptoms.
Diatomaceous Earth and Kidneys
Despite the limited data on the influence of diatomaceous earth on the functioning of the kidneys, all of them seem to confirm its possible negative effect. During the supplementation period, it is recommended to increase the amount of fluid intake, as it may promote the production of kidney stones and the deposition of silicon. The use of diatomaceous earth is also not recommended for people who have already been diagnosed with kidney dysfunction.
