Adverse Reactions To EDTA

by Karl Loren -- Formulator of the Oral Chelation Products

EDTA taken orally can cause stomach bloating, gas and some general discomfort in about 10% or less of those who take about 500 mg per day or more.  In rare instances the stomach distress could lead to constipation, that could even lead to hemorrhoids, and the combination of hemorrhoids and constipation could cause bloody stool. Click here for comments on hemorrhoids, etc.  This problem is easily solved, if you know how.  Check the link for that.

(The N Acetyl Cysteine in this formula will generally NOT cause any adverse reactions, and in fact will reduce the chances of such.  The Vitamin C and the MSM in the formula are very unlikely to cause any problems.)  In another very small percentage of people the amount of Vitamin C can cause some diarrhea and the handling would be same as for the discomfort caused by the EDTA.

The most basic advice when you experience an adverse reaction of some sort, and want to be sure of what is causing it?  Just stop taking the substance for a few days.

If you are taking two Life Glow Basic capsules per day and "something" happens, just stop taking the two capsules and see what happens to the "something."  If the reaction continues, you can begin to guess that it is NOT caused by the Life Glow Basic.  You could wait a few more days, but if the symptoms continue despite the fact that you are NOT using this product, then you should look elsewhere for the cause.

Generally, in this case, it would be safe to return to taking those two capsules per day.

However, when you stop taking the Life Glow Basic the symptoms disappear? Then, if you want to be very sure, after a few days try taking the same dose (two capsules ?) for a few days.  If the Life Glow Basic IS the cause of these symptoms, they should return.  Then, I would suggest you stop again -- the symptoms should go away.

How do you handle the situation when you are pretty sure that the symptoms, whatever they are, that you don't like, are caused by any substance, including Life Glow Basic?

First, just reduce the dosage.

If you had been taking two capsules per day, drop down to one.  If the symptoms persist, drop down to one every other day.

Since removal of toxic metals from your body is SO important, you will want to be very sure that the Life Glow Basic is causing some discomfort before you abandon its use.  So, follow the procedure above.  Cut back first.  You can always stop completely and see if the symptoms disappear.

Next, if cutting back doesn't eliminate the symptoms, or even at the same time as you are cutting back, you will be amazed at how important it is to drink more water.  Hardly anyone drinks as much water as they should.  The most likely adverse reaction to Life Glow Basic is caused by the EDTA and EDTA will be much less likely to cause any stomach upset, bloating or gas when you are drinking more water.    Click here for more than 60 pages in my Book, Life Flow One, about the importance of drinking more water.  You should be drinking about one ounce of water for every pound of body weight -- and it should be drunk slowly all during the day.

Yes, you will have to go to the bathroom more often! 

Next, in addition to drinking more water, you will find that if you add more fiber to your diet you will have less stomach upset -- no matter what might be causing it. There are many millions of dollars spent on over-the-counter medications for stomach upset -- upsets which can often be very easily handled with more water and fiber in the diet.  Click here for the same reference as above, but go to look at the brand of fiber I recommend and take personally.

The easiest way to get more fiber is just to buy it in a health food store -- bran or something like that will do.  Wheat bran, or oat bran are very inexpensive, have no taste and easy to take.

You can also take your capsules at different times of the day. If you were taking two at one time, try taking one in the morning and one at night.

No matter how many you were taking, try taking them at different times.   You may find that you get gas when you take them in the morning, but not when you take them at night.

Remember, only about 10% of the people who use EDTA in excess of 1,000 mg per day will have these symptoms -- so you are likely to never see this for yourself.  It seems often to be true that those who DO get these symptoms may have digestive problems that show up in low-level constipation or even hemorrhoids.

Stomach upset, gas and bloating are also very much related to diet.  For goodness sakes, I'll bet you are eating too much sugar, too many carbohydrates and not enough protein. Click here for the start into my article -- the Karl Loren Diet Recommendations.

Finally, you will have to decide about taking this formula.  Remember that it is removing toxic metals. Toxic metals are the primary cause of increased numbers and activity of free radicals in your body and free radicals are the single cause of all heart disease, cancer and arthritis.  When you have a single source for virtually all the causes of death in society, you might value the method of reducing that problem very highly.

You might, in other words, continue taking Life Glow Basic even though you have some mild stomach upset.

If you go to most "regular" medical doctors they will probably tell you that the EDTA is worthless, and that all you have to do is throw it all away.  So, sometimes it is helpful to see a professional health care practitioner, but you will probably do better going to a nutritionist or an alternative health care professional.

Doctors believe in drugs.  No drug can ever remove toxic metals from you body -- they only add metals or free radical problems.

It is not an adverse reaction of the type mentioned above, but another caution is repeated here from the main page:

Finally, like many vitamin products, a pregnant or lactating woman should consult her health care professional before using any oral chelation.  The EDTA in this formula is SUPPOSED to remove toxic metals. There is some possibility that it may also remove necessary minerals (such as zinc) and while the mineral supplementation described as required for use with Life Glow Basic should handle this for most people, the pregnant or lactating woman must be more sensitive to the fetus or the child's mineral needs -- thus use oral chelation with this caution.  Add minerals, particularly zinc.