Diatomaceous Earth: Silica Rich, Detoxifying Dirt

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It sounds like the title of a 1970s sci-fi novel, but diatomaceous earth is actually a white powder 30 million years in the making.

At first glance, diatomaceous earth (DE) looks like finely milled flour, but under the microscope you can see the fossilized shells of algae called diatoms. These prehistoric plankton remains have numerous uses: from swimming pool filter, to pesticide, to nutritional supplement.

Nature’s Filter

DE is a medium often used in water purifiers and pool filters. The intricate shapes of the tiny algae skeletons serve as a microscopic sieve, catching fine particles that would clog a paper filter.