Rosh Pinah Lead Care

Healthy nutrition

There are vitamins and minerals that can assist in reducing the risk of elevated blood lead levels in your children and family.

Children with healthy diets absorb less lead. A healthy diet has lots or iron, vitamin C and calcium.

These foods can reduce the risk of elevated blood lead levels

Iron

Foods high in iron include:

Vitamin C

Eating foods high in vitamin C at the same time as iron rich foods helps your body absorb more iron. Foods high in vitamin C include:

Calcium

Dairy foods are the best sources of calcium. Everyone needs two or three serves of dairy every day. One serve of calcium is:

Wash hands before eating

Hand washing is one of the most effective ways to keep lead out of our bodies. Make sure the children always wash their hands before eating.

Drink plenty of water

Rainwater from water tanks looks and smells like clean water but can still contain lead. Avoid drinking it or using it to prepare or cook food.

Eating on the floor

It is best to sit children at the table or put babies in a highchair. If the children do sit on the floor- or on the ground outside - put down a clean sheet, towel or blanket first, to keep lead dust or dirt out of the food and off their hands.
Regular small healthy snacks

A tummy full of healthy food protects children from lead harm.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day A child who doesn't eat breakfast can absorb up to seven times more lead than a child who does eat breakfast.

Eat plenty of washed fruit and vegetables. Always wash fruit and vegetables before eating them - especially if grown at home.

Eating smart means eating less fat. High fat foods cause your body to absorb more lead. Try to eat less of things like butter, cream, takeaway food, cakes and chocolate.

Watch out for pica. Pica is the habit of eating non-food items such as soil and paint flakes. If your child shows signs of doing this, please provide a clean eating space and discourage them from doing this. If they have been doing this for a long time, discuss this with your doctor as soon as possible, to make a plan to eliminate this habit and reduce the impact.