Diatomaceous earth has been around for millions of years. It’s a powder made up of fossilized diatoms. Diatoms are basically algae or phytoplankton.
Benefits
The unique thing about diatomaceous earth is that it’s loaded with silicon. When silicon is exposed to oxygen, it becomes silica.
Silica is really good for a person’s connective tissues, joints, and bones. Calcium can’t even help you form bone without silica.
You need enough silica to help support bone mineralization and prevent conditions like osteoporosis and osteopenia.
Silica is also essential for your:
- Ligaments
- Tendons
- Cartilage
- Nails
- Hair
- Skin
- Aorta
- Trachea
There are different types of collagen. Silica also stimulates type 1 collagen.
Other potential health benefits of diatomaceous earth:
- It may help get rid of parasites, worms, pathogens, and even E. coli. It eliminates parasites in both humans and animals, and it will kill harmful insects like bedbugs.
- It can bind with aluminum (a cause of Alzheimer’s disease) and help remove it from the body
- It may help drop your cholesterol
- Eye improvement
- It may help decrease seasonal allergies
There are two types of DE. Food grade and industrial. Industrial is where you need to be EXTREMELY cautious when handling or breathing around.
It’s important to use only food-grade DE and many people won’t know that. Also, it should not be inhaled. Do not breathe even a minute amount of diatomaceous earth when handling the powder, because the silica (it’s like minute glass shards) can cause very serious, chronic breathing problems due to it scarring the tiny alveoli deep in the lungs. It can cause asthma where this was not a prior health condition. A mask should be worn when using it and care should be taken to remove all traces of it from hands and clothes so that none of it is inhaled by the user or any innocent bystanders.
Food grade is reportedly safe for human exposure. It’s also used for head lice or as a shoe deodorizer, body talc, or toothpaste.
How to use diatomaceous earth
Drink one teaspoon of diatomaceous earth mixed in a glass of water once per day. Over the next three days, you might want to increase it to two teaspoons per day.
Be sure to take it on an empty stomach. To help improve absorption, you can also add apple cider vinegar to the water and diatomaceous earth mixture—or take a few betaine hydrochloride tablets when you take the mixture.
If you’re only trying to build up your connective tissue, you may want to take an orthosilicic acid supplement instead. But, if you want all of the above benefits, give diatomaceous earth a try.
What products also contain silicone
Silicon can be extracted from various foods. The main products that contain silicone are:
- bananas
- string beans
- horsetail 1horsetail is a fern that contains many beneficial compounds, notably antioxidants and silica. It’s found in the form of tea, tinctures, and capsules. But horsetail is not entirely good for you in the long term
- bamboo. Bamboo is a plant with one of the highest concentrations of silica on the planet. It’s 10x more potent than horsetail.
These foods are offering a high amount of silicon.
Data
- https://www.hospiceofcitruscounty.org/diatomaceous-earth-food-grade-silica/
- https://diatomaceous.org/diatomaceous-earth-for-cleaning-and-cleansing/
- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/horsetail#what-it-is
- https://www.beautifullybamboo.com/blogs/news/20-beauty-health-benefits-of-bamboo-silica-that-you-need-to-know-about
I take a Horsetail supplement (silica) in capsule form for a couple of weeks a few times a year. Last bone scan shows no more osteoporosis.
I’ve always thought horsetail to be the best source. Diatomaceous earth is spiky and would kill good bacteria in the intestines, I would reason.
Bamboo is supposed to have even greater amounts of silica but you’re doing good with horsetail
Highest food grade in my coffee sometimes and for my chickens and I throw it in the yard and give some to the dog and put it on my clothes and on my body when I’m out working outside or in the woods because of the creepy crawlies. I use food grade not the kind that you use for pools. I’ve gotten in my eyes twice but it flushes right out but yes you’re right be careful don’t breathe it in don’t get it in your eyes.
I discovered DE when looking for an alternative for my dog’s sensitivity to some vaccines. This kept his gut parasite-free from giardia. So before giving it to him, I did a DE cleanse. It’s great stuff. Thanks for reminding me. Will run get some more.
This in incredible timing. I just started taking it about 3 weeks ago. After 1 week my excruciating bone on bone knees were honestly 75% less painful. I’m hoping it will help my thinning hair.
This is a great informational. On the subject of parasites, I use this on the coats of cats and dogs as well. It keeps them flea and tick-free. Also, the grooming keeps the internal parasites at bay. Just be sure it’s the “Food Grade” variety, pool stuff is poison.
Several years ago I bought food grade DE from the feed store to kill fleas in the carpet. Lately I’ve added it to my cats’ dry food to manage potential worms. I had no idea what great benefits it contains. Now it’s time for me to start ingesting it. Thanks
This is great for the body and perfect in your organic garden as well!
Just be careful not to put the powder anywhere near blooms or it will kill the beneficial pollinators.
Also, it helps with the HUGE ant mound in my back yard. I have to reapply after it rains but I can use it knowing not only is it totally safe for the dogs, it’s beneficial for them if they get it on their coat or eat it.
We’ve been taking food grade DE for a few years now, even put in our dogs food. Have been sharing/educating others and my sister and brother in law saw interesting (positive) changes after a few weeks. My sister’s cholesterol dropped by over 30 points and my brother in law’s eye exam improved dramatically! My husband had a heavy metal problem and this is a routine practice for him after his chelation.
I have been using DE in my homemade raw cat food for my cat since I started her on a raw diet. She has never had worms or fleas while being on it. I also use apple cider vinegar mother of the earth in it.
I will use DE when I get infections because I struggle taking antibiotics. I don’t use it daily because I want my body to respond to it when I need it the most.
I once posted on a TikTok video of a doctor talking about metal toxicity and that people could use DE to help with it and they said so DE could replace their job? Then another responded that DE it’s bad and dangerous. It is if you breathe it in or it comes in contact with the eyes but I know only good benefits from using it.
I only buy freshwater DE these days.
The first time I ate it, I got a really strong energy boost. That was years ago . . . I don’t eat it every day, just when I think about it (1 or 2 times per month). I have recently been using it more . . . I think I need now. Anyway, it puts a spring in my step. Good stuff!
Yes! I have been taking DE with ACV for about 5 years now after lots of research, and it seems to really help with my severe seasonal allergies as well as numerous other things. No more allergy shots needed since taking this!