Some very common herbs and spices contain lead and other heavy metals. Consumer Reports tested 126 products and found 40 that contained high levels of heavy metals, which can cause heavy metal poisoning or lead to diseases like cancer. In some categories, every product had heavy metal contamination.
Do fresh herbs contain heavy metals?
But according to a shocking new report, they could also be spicing up your food in a potentially dangerous way. Some of the most popular store-bought seasonings, spices and herbs have been found to contain high levels of heavy metals.
Does fresh thyme have heavy metals?
Dried herbs and spices are incredible additions to your food, both in terms of taste and health benefits. But now, a new report says that many of them contain “worrisome” quantities of heavy metals like arsenic, lead, and cadmium — including two of the most popular, oregano and thyme.
Does fresh oregano have heavy metals?
Thyme and oregano were particularly worrisome, with all the products tested containing heavy metal levels that CR experts called concerning. Consumer Reports also warned levels of lead were so high in 31 products that they exceeded the maximum amount anyone should have in a day.
Do fresh herbs contain lead?
Most raised concern for adults, too. For two herbs, thyme and oregano, all the products we tested had levels that CR experts say are concerning. In 31 products, levels of lead were so high that they exceeded the maximum amount anyone should have in a day, according to CR’s experts.
Does Rosemary have heavy metals?
Our findings concluded that the rosemary could have a decent capacity to accumulate Al, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, and Zn in both leaves and stem.
What spices have no heavy metals?
Spices Free From Concerning Heavy Metals Lead, Arsenic & Cadmium
- Basil.
- Oregano.
- Thyme.
- Tumeric.
What are the 3 most toxic spices?
Gill said, in 31 products, levels of lead were so high that they exceeded the maximum amount anyone should have in a day. Oregano and thyme were found to be the most troublesome, with all of the products tested having levels that Consumer Reports’ experts find concerning.
Is Parsley high in heavy metals?
Parsley can be heavy metal rich itself, if it grew up on industrialised and poisoned soils.
What herbs contain lead?
Which Herbs and Spices Contained High Levels of Lead?
- La Flor Ground Oregano.
- La Flor Ground Turmeric.
- Happy Belly (Amazon) Ground Thyme.
- Spice Islands Sweet Basil.
- Tone’s Ground Thyme.
Does ginger contain heavy metals?
The most abundant metal among the macro-elements in ginger was Mg followed by Ca whereas Mn content was the predominant among the tested micronutrient heavy metals followed by Fe, Zn, Co and Cu. In soil sample the most abundant metal was Fe followed by Mn, Ca, Mg, Zn, Cr, Co, Cu, Ni, and Cd.
How do you rid your body of metals?
Some foods can help you detoxify by getting rid of heavy metals from your body. These foods bind to the metals and remove them in the digestive process.
Heavy metal detox foods to eat include:
- cilantro.
- garlic.
- wild blueberries.
- lemon water.
- spirulina.
- chlorella.
- barley grass juice powder.
- Atlantic dulse.
Does cinnamon contain arsenic?
The concern with any supplement made from plants is potential contamination with heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, and arsenic. Cadmium and arsenic are both carcinogens and can damage organs such as the kidney. According to a consumer lab report, cassia cinnamon contain relatively high levels of a naturally.
Does oregano have lead in it?
They found 40 out of 126 tested products to contain enough heavy metals that could pose health threats to children. None of the thyme and oregano products passed the test, while 31 products contained such high levels of lead that exceeded the maximum amount anyone should consume in a day.
Does turmeric have heavy metals?
Turmeric is a brightly colored yellow spice with numerous health benefits, including anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic. However, a recent study shows that the turmeric grown in Bangladesh can contain the highly poisonous heavy metal lead up to 500 time normal levels.
Can I boil rosemary and drink it?
Strain the rosemary leaves from the hot water using a mesh strainer with small holes, or remove them from the tea infuser. You can discard the used rosemary leaves. Pour your rosemary tea into a mug and enjoy. You can add a sweetener, such as sugar, honey, or agave syrup if you like.
What spices are high in lead?
Spices and spice mixes commonly used in South Asian cuisine such as curry, masala, and turmeric were also found to contain elevated lead levels, with maximum concentrations ranging from 2700 ppm (turmeric and masala) to 21 000 ppm (curry).
What spices are toxic for your health?
But spices are different. Spices and herbs such as thyme, oregano, turmeric and cinnamon get their singular flavors from compounds that are actually toxic in concentrated doses—and plants probably evolved to express these toxins so their leaves and berries would not be eaten.
Does sage contain heavy metals?
Clary sage was a hyperaccumulator of heavy metals and could be used for cleaning toxic metals from polluted soils.
Does cinnamon have heavy metals?
However, the most common type of cinnamon, cassia cinnamon, can contain significant amounts of coumarin, a liver toxin and potential carcinogen, and heavy metals — particularly, lead.
Which spice can be fatal in high doses?
As the Swedish magazine knows, nutmeg, a spice usually enjoyed safely in pinches and teaspoons, can become quite dangerous in large doses. According Lamont, nutmeg contains a substance called myristicin, a narcotic that can cause hallucinations, nausea, vomiting and sometimes circulatory collapse.
Elvira Bowen is a food expert who has dedicated her life to understanding the science of cooking. She has worked in some of the world’s most prestigious kitchens, and has published several cookbooks that have become bestsellers. Elvira is known for her creative approach to cuisine, and her passion for teaching others about the culinary arts.