Public Health And Wellness And Louisville Grows Offer Nutrition Class To Prevent Lead Poisoning

The Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness, in partnership with Louisville Grows, is holding a free Lead Poisoning Prevention Class focusing on which foods can help to prevent lead from being absorbed into the body. The class is targeted to parents of children under age 6 and pregnant women. 

The class will be held at Louisville Grows’ Healthy House at 1841 Portland Ave from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. on the following dates:

• Monday, June 24
• Thursday, June 27
• Monday, July 8
• Thursday, July 18

The class is free, but registration is required. Register at http://bit.ly/fightlead or at (502) 574-6599.

A major cause of childhood lead poisoning in Louisville is lead paint found in homes built before 1978. When absorbed by the body, lead can cause learning disabilities, lower IQ’s and behavior problems and issues with growth and development. Infants and young children are at a higher risk because they absorb lead more quickly than adults, in addition to being more likely to put non-food items that might contain lead in their mouth.

“A healthy diet rich in important nutrients such as calcium, iron and vitamin C can help reduce lead’s absorption by the body,” said Dr. Lori Caloia, family physician and medical director for the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness.

The Lead Poisoning Prevention Nutrition Class will include a free cooking demonstration, information on the services of the Louisville Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program and other free materials.

“Louisville Grows encourages our partners to use the Healthy House community space for classes that educate families on good nutrition and healthy eating,” said Lisa Dettlinger, program director for Louisville Grows. “We are happy to support this approach in protecting our children from lead absorption in their bodies”