This is because antibiotics destroy the 'good' bacteria in the gut that protect against infections and inflammation, and inflammation is the key to many chronic diseases, from arthritis, heart problems and cancer.

Although medicine accepts that over-use of antibiotics leads to resistance and 'super bugs', it can also be the gateway drug to most of the chronic diseases that afflict the West.

People taking the drugs for two months or longer were 32 per cent more likely to develop cardiovascular disease, say researchers who reviewed a study involving around 36,500 women.

Heavy metals like lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic are so ubiquitous in the environment that virtually everyone is contaminated with them to some degree. But that doesn't mean they're nothing to worry about; all four are confirmed or probable carcinogens and can have wide-ranging toxic effects, from nervous system and hormone problems to immunological and cardiovascular damage.¹

Our bodies have a built-in detoxification system to get rid of these metals, along with other harmful substances, but various factors such as genes, nutrition and lifestyle can impact how well this system works. High exposure to heavy metals or other pollutants, for example, can overwhelm the system and impair the body's ability to eliminate them.²

The good news is there are a number of natural, gentle ways to help the body with the removal of heavy metals. Here's a selection of what works.