Lead Poisoning
Lead is one of deadliest metals that over a period of time can accumulate in the body and cause many health problems. Exercising and perspiration can detoxify the body from accumulation of heavy metals like lead. Keep in mind that lead cannot be excreted though the digestive system. The organs in the body can absorb lead directly from the blood and store lead along with other minerals in the bones. From bones, lead might be reentered to the blood stream because of renal failure, pregnancy or menopause.
Unlike other metals, lead is poison for the body and causes dysfunctions to important enzymes. Lead is reactive with sulfur and selenium and make these two substances absent in the body. Toxic amounts of lead can cause severe damage to kidneys, liver, heart and nervous system. When lead enters the blood, the body can’t distinguish lead from calcium and it stores lead like calcium in bones. The body of pregnant women and small children absorbs more calcium and lead than other people.
Children per their body weight absorb 25% to 40% more lead than adults. People who are calcium deficient also are more susceptible to lead poisoning. Some of the lead poisoning symptoms are muscle weakness, gastrointestinal problems, anxiety, diarrhea, loss of appetite, memory problems, blindness, seizures, paralysis, mental retardation and even coma or death. Lead is one of the heavy metals widely used in US and many people have high levels of lead in their bodies.
People could also be exposed to lead through lead-base paints, foods that are grown in soils contaminated with lead, canned foods, insecticides, tap water, imported wines, car’s lead-acid batteries and lead glassware and crystal dishes.
Fetuses could also be exposed to high levels of lead from mothers that have high levels of lead in their bodies. Children born from women who have high levels of lead toxicity are more likely to suffer from mental retardation and nervous system disorder. Based on the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the level of lead in blood of 1 million children under the age of 5 exceeds the acceptable levels of lead.
How to Minimize Exposure to Lead
- Avoid buying canned foods sealed with lead.
- Test your water to make sure of lead safety level and do not drink the tap water. Use only filtered or spring water for drinking.
- If you use tap water for cooking, let the water run for at least three minutes before using it. It's safer to use steam-distilled or filtered water for cooking. Don’t boil your water more than 5 minutes because it will concentrate the water contaminants, including lead.
- Before pouring wine into a glass, clean the top of wine bottle since foil wrappers around the bottle can have lead in them.
- Don’t turn the food bags inside out for storing other foods. The ink used for writing on these bags contains lead.
- Avoid make up and over the counter remedies. Did you know that many popular makeups including lipsticks have lead in them? Based on the FDA report here is the full list of 400 lipsticks that have alarming levels of lead. Motives® by Loren Ridinger is one of the brands that contains NO LEAD.
FDA Analyses of Lead in Lipsticks – Expanded Survey
