LEAD
POISONING
About Lead PoisoningAll
information on this section taken from ‘Trace
Elements, Hair Analysis and Nutrition’ by Richard A Passwater PhD and Elmer M
Cranton MD. See book choice below.
Lead
is considered the worst pollutant element because it is so widespread in our
environment. Analysis of annual
layers of polar ice has shown that airborne lead levels have increased 20-fold
in the past 3000 years. Sediment
dredged from the bottom of lakes in the United States contains twenty times more
lead than it did a century
ago. The typical person today has
more lead in his or her body than is compatible with health. More than 400,000 tons of industrial lead now pour into the
atmosphere every year. As it
settles back to earth, it covers the surface of all exposed soils, plants and
window sills. Slowly, but
insidiously, it works its way into the body – and the brain – of modern man. Once it works its way into the brain, lead clings tenaciously to nerve
cells, where it disrupts the communication link between them. Early
signs of lead poisoning are usually missed because the complaints are vague or
associated with other problems. The
early symptoms include headaches, fatigue, muscle pains, indigestion, tremors,
constipation, vomiting, anaemia, pallor, vertigo and poor coordination. Low-level lead poisoning decreases intelligence, impairs one’s ability
to pay attention, and affects language function and memory. It can trigger mental problems such as hyperactivity, retardation and
senility. Lead pollution has been
linked to increased numbers of stillbirths and cancer. The action of lead in the body seems to be to interfere with certain
enzymes. Twenty
to twenty-five percent of American men and 10 percent of American women suffer
to some extent from lead poisoning. Hair
analysis and other screening techniques indicate that 40 percent and more of all
children in large cities in America have health problems due to lead poisoning. Children are particularly sensitive to lead as they absorb 30-50 percent
of that ingested, whereas adults absorb only 5-10 percent. Blood
is not a good indicator of lead poisoning because lead quickly departs from the
bloodstream and enters the skeletal tissues and hair. Hidden in the skeletal tissues, lead interferes with red
blood cell production. A good
technique for screening for lead is hair analysis. For
a full list of sources of lead see the book mentioned below. Nutrition Facts & Diet Advice for Lead PoisoningConsider the following nutrition guidelines:  | Eat a diet high in fibre from vegetables, fruit, legumes, nuts, seeds, beans and lentils. | | Eat sulphur containing foods such as onion, garlic and eggs. | | Eat plenty of apples for their pectin content. | | Eat Klamath Lake Blue-Green Algae which detoxifies heavy metals. | | Avoid food tins with lead solder seams. | | Make sure children wash their hands before they eat. | | Don’t drink water straight from the tap. Let the tap run for at least five minutes first thing in the morning, or better still use distilled, filtered or bottled water. | | If you drink wine, always wipe the mouth of the bottle well (inside and out) with a damp cloth before pouring the wine. |
If
you suspect heavy metal toxicity, it’s very straightforward and inexpensive to
have a hair mineral analysis carried out. Most
nutrition consultants will be able to arrange this for you. Health Supplements for lead PoisoningThe following health supplements should be considered: (click on supplement to go there)
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