Lead Poisoning and Nutrition

Nutrition can play a pivotal role in childhood lead poisoning prevention. Once a child ingests lead, it enters the blood system. Some of the lead is eliminated through bowel movements. Most of what is left gets stored in the bone, where it can stay for decades, until it finally gets released during pregnancies and during menopause. When lead that is stored in the bone gets released during a pregnancy, it crosses the placenta and affects the fetus.

One of the keys to childhood lead poisoning prevention is to minimize the amount of lead that gets absorbed. Good nutrition helps accomplish this goal. A child's body craves certain minerals, including calcium and iron. When these minerals are deficient in the body, lead absorption is increased. Zinc may also have a beneficial impact with respect to lead absorption. Children whose diet is deficient in these minerals retain more of the lead than they would have otherwise.

To maximize the effectiveness of good nutritional habits in helping reduce lead absorption, the following principles should always be remembered:

• Children need to have plenty of calcium in their system. Foods that are rich in calcium include: milk, yogurt, cheese, turnip greens, spinach, sardines, salmon, tofu, and peanuts.
• Children need to have plenty of iron in their system. Foods that are rich in iron include: lean red meat or ham, skinless chicken or turkey, oatmeal, split peas, lentils, beans, raisins, dates, prunes, wheat germ, collard greens, and kale.
• Vitamin C helps the body absorb iron. Foods that are rich in vitamin C include: kiwi fruit, oranges, grapefruit, tomatoes, bell peppers, fruit juice, strawberries, collard greens, and broccoli.
• Children need to have some zinc in their system. Foods that are rich in zinc include: beef, oysters, clams, cashews, sunflower seeds, and brewer's yeast.
• Fatty foods allow the body to absorb lead faster and should generally be avoided. However, it is critical to note that dietary fat is an important component of a healthy diet for children under the age of two. Nevertheless, to avoid fatty foods, minimize the intake of fried foods and fast foods, meat that has not been trimmed of fat, chicken skin, potato chips, cupcakes, donuts, bacon, butter, and lard.
• Finally, kids whose stomach is empty tend to absorb more lead than kids who eat regularly throughout the day. Accordingly, it is best for children to eat between 4 and 6 times daily, with an emphasis on the healthy foods listed above.