If you’ve recently heard about the benefits of zeolite powder, check out this blog to learn more about what it is and how safe it is for consumption.
Did you know Zeolites were used to absorb radioactive isotopes from contaminated cooling water spilled at the Fukushima nuclear power plant when it was damaged by a massive earthquake in 2011?
This mineral was once thought to be very rare and only be found in volcanic rock. It was later discovered in large deposits in the western United States, making it more affordable and accessible than ever before.
Zeolites have been used for many years, and for a wide variety of different uses. And, they have recently been increasing in popularity thanks to the potential benefits of their use as a daily supplement.
If you’re ready to learn about the benefits of zeolite powder, keep reading. This is your chance to find out about the benefits of Zeolite and how safe it is for consumption.
What is Zeolite?
The name Zeolite comes from greek words meaning “boiling stones” as the minerals boil when heated.
Zeolites are a group of minerals mostly comprised of aluminum and silicon compounds. Water molecules, as well as calcium, sodium, potassium, and magnesium, are usually present in Zeolite but can be substituted for one another without changing its structure.
People started to mine for Zeolite at a much larger scale after the 1960s where it was being used for petroleum processing. This didn’t go on for too long until it was found to be of poor quality and eventually replaced.
After that, companies started to market zeolite for use in cat litter due to its water-absorbing properties, where it accounted for more than half of the products use at the time.
Synthetic Zeolite also had a pretty large market and was first created in the 1930s. Used for petroleum refining in the 1950s, and then later used in laundry detergent in the 1970s. The synthetic Zeolite was too expensive compared to the natural version.
What Are the Benefits of Using Zeolite Powder?
Zeolite powder is being used today in a wide range of items. It is being marketed as a dietary supplement with a host of benefits.
Some of the benefits of Zeolite include:
- Promoting Gut Health – Studies have shown that Zeolite can help improve the strength of the intestinal wall. As a result of this, Zeolite helps prevent toxins from entering the small intestine and helps prevent harmful bacteria from getting in.
- Protect Against Harmful Microbes – Zeolite can help protect against harmful bacteria that may try to enter your body. Studies have shown the effectiveness of the product against urinary tract infections. Zeolite may also have antiviral properties, as it was concluded that Zeolite can reduce virus contamination.
- Boosts the Immune System – Studies have shown intriguing data on Zeolite’s potential to strengthen the immune system.
- Detoxification of the body – One of the most popular uses of Zeolite is the use of it for detoxification. The detoxifying effects of Zeolite have been attributed to its reverse ion exchange and absorption capabilities. The first detoxifying effects were studied in a rat model that showed the reduced accumulation of lead by more than 70 percent in lead-poisoned mice. In another study on farm animals, Zeolite was shown effective in reducing harmful substances, including ammonia, nitrates, mycotoxins, and other toxins.
- Reduce Free Radicals – A study conducted on chickens has shown positive effects on Zeolite’s effectiveness of reducing free radicals. Free radicals can lead to several diseases including:
- Cancer
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Atherosclerosis
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Asthma
- Diabetes
- Senile Dementia
- Degenerative Eye Disease
- And many others
As you can see there are many benefits of consuming zeolite powder. It is advised to use this product with caution as many of these studies have been done on mice or other animals. There have not been too many human studies done using Zeolite.
How Safe is Zeolite?
Zeolite is labeled as GRAS or Generally Regarded as Safe by the Food and Drug Administration. So Zeolite can be used for human consumption for supplemental purposes.
The FDA has also sent out a few warning letters to certain distributors of Zeolite for misleading claims about the products. Most of these claims do have some sort of research or studies behind them, just not on humans. Some of these claims include:
- Anti-cancer – Some rat and animal studies have shown some properties of anti-cancer, but there are no human studies to back up these claims.
- Treats Autism – There are no published clinical data to support the claim that Zeolite can treat autism
- Treating Herpes – Also, no clinical data to back up this claim.
- Treating Diarrhea – There is a drug developed in Cuba that contains Zeolite for the treatment of diarrhea, but there is no published data to support this.
- Immune Function – Animal studies have shown Zeolite to both support and potentially suppress the immune system.
Some studies conducted on Zeolite have shown very positive and exciting effects that show the potential benefits of this compound. Further human studies are needed to show the effectiveness of some of the more extreme claims behind them.
The dangers of Zeolite are usually present in certain forms of the compound that contain harmful metals, not the forms being sold for human consumption. Many of the risks associated with ingesting Zeolite are unknown due to the lack of human studies. Even as many studies have shown that particles smaller than 200 nanometers can enter the bloodstream, making Zeolite entirely too big to pass through the intestines to the bloodstream.
Furthermore, a natural fibrous type of Zeolite named Erionite has been shown to cause cancer when inhaled. No evidence has shown other forms of Zeolite have cancer-producing effects.
For More Information on Zeolite
Simply put, Zeolite has been used throughout history for many different uses ranging from cat litter to detoxification. And, it might be able to improve your health, too.
This natural supplement has the potential for many health benefits, has been proven effective in numerous studies, and it’s FDA approved.
If you would like to learn more about zeolite powder, natural supplements, or anything health and fitness related, check out our helpful blog posts!
