Zeolites: Questions and Answers

What are zeolites?

Natural zeolites form in nature as a result of a chemical reaction between volcanic lava and saline water. Zeolites have large open spaces or cages in their structures that form channels. These channels allow the easy movement of ions and molecules into and out of the structure. This ability puts zeolites in the class of materials known as "molecular sieves." There are about 40 naturally occurring zeolites and over 100 synthetic zeolites. There are three different classes of zeolites with varying molecular chemical structures:

• Chain-like structures whose minerals form acicular, or needle-like, prismatic crystals - as found in asbestos.

• Framework structures where the crystals are more equal in dimensions - as found in chabazite.
• Sheet-like structures where the crystals are flattened - as found in clinoptilolite.

Other unique and important facts about zeolites are that

• They are one of the few negatively charged minerals found in nature.

• The natural properties of zeolites act as molecular sieves, or filtering agents, that attract and trap into them positively charged atoms, ions, and compounds, and can remove them from a system.

So, what is actually in this mineral? Is it something that we can find on the periodic table?

It's created by aluminum and silica that are trapped in small tetrahedra (pyramid-like structures) created by oxygen atoms.

These form 8-sided and 10-sided rings that stack on top of each other to form channels. The aluminum is positively charged and the oxygen around it is negatively charged, giving the entire molecule a net negative charge. This is a very stable compound.

For all practical purposes, this is an invincible molecule.

Can the aluminum be absorbed into the body from the zeolite?

Is there any possibility of the aluminum being released because of this?

So imagine you have a pyramid that's made of oxygen with aluminum in the center of that pyramid. It's what they call nonexchangeable aluminum. Studies have been done where 100 percent of the aluminum was recaptured as it came out in fecal matter and urine from the patients. Additionally, it has been found that a patient would excrete additional aluminum, which means that the zeolite is pulling aluminum out of the body in addition to the aluminum contained in the product itself.

How do zeolites work?

The zeolite attracts and traps small, highly-charged particles that fit intothe pores and channels of the zeolite cage. This includes heavy metal toxins.

Liquid zeolites have been shown to remove mercury, lead, cadmium, arsenic and other heavy metals.

Research has shown that it does help balance pH, which makes a more alkaline system. A slightly alkaline environment in the body helps to stabilize the immune system.

Can the plastic from the bottles leach into the product?

No. We use a high-density bottle that is resistant to leaching and there are no components in the Natural Cellular Defense that are known to degrade plastic.

We have had the bottle independently tested for plastic leaching and the results showed no leaching.

Does heat affect zeolites?

Will cold alter the product in any way?

Can zeolites lower potassium in the body?

Heavy metals tend to be small and highly charged while the necessary minerals tend to be larger with lower charges. For example, arsenic has a charge of +3 and a diameter of 1.8 Angstroms. Potassium only has a charge of +1 and a comparatively large diameter of 2.8 Angstroms.

Arsenic has high affinity for the zeolite while potassium has almost no affinity for the zeolite.