I Discovered I Had High Mercury Levels. Here's What I Did About It.
What if that unexplained fatigue, hair loss, or irritability isn’t ‘just stress’ — but a sign of something lurking in your blood?
The symptoms were subtle. My hair was falling out. Not in clumps, but definitely more than ever before. I blamed the hair loss on all the high-lights and rough professional styling I’d had during my 18 years on network television. But deep down, I knew something was off.
So I decided to do a heavy metal blood test since I eat a lot of fish and have protein smoothies a few times a week. I’d recently learned that some protein powders were linked to high levels of heavy metals like lead, cadmium, arsenic, and mercury.
And when those results came back? Let’s just say they explained a lot.
The Case For Testing Mercury
The “normal” upper limit for mercury levels is 10. My labs came back at a level of 32! While it wasn’t high enough to be toxic, it was definitely a reality check, as high mercury exposure can affect multiple systems in your body.
- Brain and Nervous System Damage: Mercury is a known neurotoxin. Symptoms of prolonged exposure can include irritability, fatigue, tremors, headaches, mood changes, and, in severe cases, coordination issues.
- Heart and Blood Vessel Problems: Too much mercury can be your heart’s worst enemy. Risks include hypertension, coronary heart disease, carotid artery obstruction, and more.
- Reproductive Effects: Increased mercury levels could lead to fertility issues, pregnancy complications, and developmental problems in babies.
What Causes High Mercury Levels?
It’s important to understand that mercury isn’t a single chemical element. It comes in multiple forms. But the most dangerous one? The methylmercury found in fish.
- Science Says: Unlike other types, methylmercury has the highest absorption rate, crosses the blood-brain barrier easily, and stays in your body for about 70 days. (If you’re a sushi lover, I apologize for delivering the bad news.)
The answer to my high mercury levels was fish. Honestly, this caught me off guard. I knew from FDA guidelines that large, predatory species like swordfish and tuna carry the highest mercury concentrations, so I’d been playing it “safe” by opting for salmon and Chilean sea bass. But it turns out any fish can still contain concerning amounts!
How I Fixed My Mercury Levels
After speaking to environmental medicine physician, Dr. Aly Cohen, author of Detoxify, I:
- Modified My Fish Intake: I stopped eating fish for 3 months to give my body a break from new mercury exposure. Otherwise, it’s like trying to empty a bathtub with the faucet still running.
- Focused on Detox Support: I ramped up my hydration (mercury is eliminated through urine) and increased fiber intake with chia and flax seeds. I also ate more cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and kale, which support phase II liver detoxification pathways.
- Retested After 12 Weeks: Mercury has a half-life of about 70 days in the bloodstream. After 3 months of these changes, I retested, and my levels dropped from 32 to 12. Still above the "normal" range of 10, but a significant improvement.
What I Learned
Even the “healthy” choices we make can have consequences if we overdo it. So if you’re eating seafood regularly and feeling fatigued, and losing hair, it’s worth asking your doctor about a blood mercury test.
It’s important to note that I’m not demonizing fish! It’s an incredibly rich source of omega-3s and protein and should be part of your diet. But instead of ordering five times a week like I was before, I’ll have it once or twice a week.
(Moderation: Not just for tequila or shopping sprees.)
