Chelation Therapy
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Chelation In Nature
Our human digestive process is a very good example of how chelation takes place. Digestion and assimilation of foods involves the chelation of protein substances (amino acids) with minerals for transportation to their destinations, or in which blood cells latch on to, and thus acquire, iron. Hemoglobin is a chelate of iron (as is the enzyme catalase, that is used by our bodies to ‘switch off’ the free radical activity of hydrogen peroxide). When you eat meat or green vegetables which contain iron, after the digestive process has released the iron from the food in which it is bound, it has to be combined (chelated) with amino acids so that it can be carried through the intestinal mucous membranes into the bloodstream.
If you drink tea with your meal, the tannin in the tea will chelate with the iron (forming insoluble iron tannate) before it gets absorbed. In this case, the body does not get any iron from your food. On the other hand, if we take some foods which are rich in Vitamin C (or take Vitamin C supplement) with our iron rich meal, the ascorbic acid (or Vitamin C) will chelate with the iron and enhance and speed its absorption. The iron, once in the bloodstream, is released from the proteins with which it was chelated for transportation.
What Are The Benefits of Chelation Therapy?
Chelation therapy is widely used for the treatment of atherosclerosis and other chronic degenerative diseases involving the circulatory system. It also has other benefits. Many scientists suggest that the beneficial effect of chelation treatment is from the removal of metallic catalysts that causes excessive free radical proliferation. This reduces the oxidation of lipids, DNA, enzyme systems and lipoproteins. The Chelation Therapy halts the bad effects and initiates the body’s healing process, often reversing the damage. It removes the calcium and copper anions from the blood stream. The plaque lining the artery walls are made porous and brittle. Eventually they may get dislodged. Even if only a microscopic layer of the plaque is removed, it, along with a smoothening of the artery wall due to the healing of the cells that line the arteries, can improve the blood flow to the artery muscles substantially. This can prevent artery spasm and minimize or prevent angina pain. Many patients who could not walk due to muscle pain or angina pain have reported that they can walk without pain after chelation therapy.
