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Mercury Accumulates in the Thyroid as You Age
2021 study published in Biological Trace Element Research found that over one-third of people aged 60 and over have mercury lodged inside their thyroid follicular cells.
Source: PMC7872292
Mercury isn’t just passive. It causes:
- Genotoxicity (DNA damage)
- Autoimmune reactions (think: Hashimoto’s)
- Oxidative stress (which tanks your mitochondria)
This oxidative stress can lead to:
- Hypothyroidism
- Thyroid cancer
- Chronic fatigue
- Resistant “anemia” that doesn’t respond to iron supplements
And here’s the kicker: it gets worse with age, nutrient depletion, and ongoing exposure.
Where Is Mercury Coming From?
Mercury isn’t just something you hear about in old horror documentaries or environmental science class. You may be carrying it in your mouth or eating it every week.
Common sources include:
- Amalgam dental fillings (the “silver” ones are about 50% mercury)
- Large fish like tuna, swordfish, and sea bass
- Thimerosal-containing vaccines (less common now, but still relevant for older clients or those outside the U.S.)
And guess where mercury likes to store itself?
The thyroid, because it’s a gland rich in selenium and cysteine, which mercury bi
Why Iron Supplements Won’t Fix This Kind of Fatigue
If you’ve been diagnosed with anemia but iron pills make you feel worse, or don’t help at all.
When your mitochondria are under oxidative stress thanks to mercury, they can’t use iron properly.
That means you can load up on iron supplements all day long, but they’ll:
- Sit in your tissues unused
- Cause more inflammation
- Worsen fatigue, pain, and brain fog
It’s not an iron deficiency. It’s an iron dysregulation problem.
Fixing that starts with clearing oxidative stress, not just “topping off” your iron.
Detox Doesn’t Have to Mean Deprivation
Let’s get one thing straight.
You do NOT need to go on a juice cleanse, sweat yourself silly in a sauna, or drop hundreds of dollars on a chelation protocol.
Your body already knows how to detox.
You just have to support its natural elimination pathways.
This means:
Deep sleep where real detox happens
Selenium (essential for mercury detox via glutathione and thioredoxin systems)
Balanced minerals like copper, magnesium, and sodium-potassium balance
Liver support through real food, not green sludge
Nervous system regulation because emotional stress impairs detoxification
What You Can Do Today
You can’t control your past exposures, but you can empower your biology now.
Here’s what I recommend:
1 – Assess your exposures. Still have amalgam fillings? Eating a lot of tuna?
2 – Ditch the fear detox culture. No more punishing diets or cleanse extremes
3 – Test, don’t guess. Mineral testing like HTMA and oxidative stress markers are a game-changer
4 – Work with a practitioner who understands functional thyroid care, mineral balance, and emotional processing
If you’re tired of the DIY Instagram health rabbit hole…
If you’re tired of being told this is “just how it is”…
If you’re ready to stop managing symptoms and start reversing the root cause…
If you’re in London or Online and looking for holistic support for Anemia, thyroid issues, and cold intolerance, you’re in the right place.
Ready to stop dreading the morning mirror view, the fatigue or the brain fog and start thriving? Had enough wasting the years fatigued & want to make 2025 the zesty year to glow up You can apply for a strategy call with me here. Together, we can create a plan that respects your body’s pace and guides you toward lasting relief with zero obligations to proceed.
warmly,
Joel
