Could your pots and pans be making you sick? The short answer is.....yes!
Nothing is worse than hearing about somebody who spends a lot of money on organic foods, then turns around to heat it up in a toxic nonstick rusted pan.. It is difficult to think that we pay so much money for organic (pesticide free) food, only to feed it some juicy metal toxins. Often times what we don't see or know, becomes our reality. The pesticides found in conventional produce can prove to be equally as damaging as the metal leaching out from our cookware.
Did you know that there are some pretty significant health risks to heating food up in toxic cookware? Doesn't matter if it is low heat, medium heat or high heat....it is all bad. Studies have shown that there are some pretty significant long-term health risks ranging from Alzheimer's, organ damage and even cancer....just to name a few.
We will briefly uncover what the most toxic cookware is to buy. We also give you full permission to toss them to the recycling bin and say goodbye.
1. Copper. It is the new thing right now. You see it everywhere you go. Copper is a soft metal and it is coated with nickel. The problem lies with the coating of the cookware. Ingesting it in small amounts is ok, but with daily cooking with it could be potentially dangerous. Many times these types of pans get scratched up while cooking or cleaning it. This is when the real danger begins. The tiny scratches open up a place for the release of metal toxins into your food. Furthermore, this type of soft metal is easily dissolved by some foods, particularly the foods with a high acidity level. This just feels like a risky option.
2. Aluminum. This is a controversial cookware. Some research say it is safe, while others state it is far too risky. I am personally on the fence with this one, so I just don't bother with it. Some reports say it is a dangerous for your brain’s sake. Autopsy reports found unusually high levels of aluminum in the brains of people with Alzheimer's. More and more research is surfacing about the link between excess aluminum and brain health. Aluminum is known to be a toxin to the body, so another words.....it doesn't compute.
3. Non-stick or Teflon. In my opinion, this is DEFINITELY the most toxic one of the bunch. It is also the most widely used since it doesn't take much to clean it up. We are definitely a society of convenience, right? But there is a high price to pay for having the quick convenience of doing those dishes. These pots and pans are coated with fluoropolymers. When given some heat, they give off perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). PFOA is a carcinogen, which is shown to potentially cause issues with the endocrine system and induce tumors in the liver and pancreas. The coating of this cookware begins to release toxic gases when it reaches between 464 - 680 degrees F.
So, what is the best cookware to buy? We always recommend choosing a high quality 430 stainless steel, and/or a ceramic coated cast iron. If your iron levels tend to run high, use caution when cooking with cast iron. When I am baking in the oven, I also use a clear (non-painted) glass - which I also feel is completely safe.
Here are the top recommended brands we suggest you buy.
All-Clad Stainless Cookware
Calphalon Stainless Cookware
Lodge Cast Iron
Based upon my research these brands have been shown to contain the least amount of toxins and provide the highest level of safety. Many of these can be purchased through Amazon and at a variety of local retailers.
Written by Jessica Johnston, IINHC