Diatomaceous Earth Liver Damage: Free Essay Sample for College

Diatomaceous Earth Liver Damage

What is diatomaceous earth, and why are so many scholars concerned about its use in pest prevention and agriculture around the globe? Diatomaceous earth is a natural part of rock formation which has been around for millennia. According to scientific findings, it contains fossilized components, widely known as diatoms. Over the last years, diatomaceous earth has been mostly used as a means of pest control and food-grade health supplements prescribed by dieticians. The supporters of the diatomaceous earth elements insist that the substance is completely harmless and has detoxifying benefits for the entire human body. However, healthcare associations have been concerned about the impact of diatomaceous earth on liver health.

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Understanding Diatomaceous Earth

So, why does diatomaceous earth pose potential dangers, and why are the representatives of the healthcare community so alarmed about its practical application in healthcare? The main component of diatomaceous earth is silica. This is a mineral that seems innocent on the surface. Sand contains large amounts of silica, as does quartz and human tissue. There are two types of diatomaceous earth that we as humankind know of:

• Food-grade diatomaceous earth. This type of diatomaceous earth is allowed for consumption in moderate amounts and is considered beneficial for human health. Dietitians often prescribe it as a health supplement to patients who try to follow a certain eating regimen and need to remain consistent with their eating habits throughout a longer time period.
• Industrial-grade diatomaceous earth. This type of diatomaceous earth is found in agriculture and pest control practices in North America, Latin America, Asia, and Europe. However, it is prohibited from direct digestion and can lead to serious gut issues if ingested.

The consumption of food-grade diatomaceous earth is often promoted as beneficial. It can detoxify organisms and improve gut health once the patients have been exposed to diatomaceous earth and its minerals and elements. However, there are still concerns about the diatomaceous earth, even in its food-grade quality, especially when it comes to the long-term effects the substance has on the body.

Can Diatomaceous Earth Cause Liver Damage?

Our liver is like a filter that runs through our entire body and does not let toxins take over. It removes toxic elements from the bloodstream, but only if they come in small amounts. However, prolonged use of toxic substances and ingestion of harmful elements prevent the liver from functioning properly. At the moment, the scientific studies regarding the potential damage of diatomaceous earth and its impact on our organisms have been limited to just a few experiments. However, numerous suggestions allow scholars to assume that diatomaceous earth is indeed harmful:

• Silica accumulation. Although silica is a component that is not toxic in nature and can even be found in the human body, its excessive consumption without supervision can lead to liver damage and become the cause of liver inflammation.
• Heavy metal contamination. If the items that contain diatomaceous earth have not been processed properly, they can contain traces of heavy metals, which tend to build up in the liver tissues and cause further damage if not removed from the body.
• Potential fibrosis. Studies have been conducted on animals to prove that high levels of silica can cause the scarring of liver tissue. Scholars have performed studies to prove that even food-grade diatomaceous earth is far from harmless and should be ingested with a proper amount of caution.