For optimal wellness, some of the most important steps to take are centered around healthy eating habits. But what about healthy cooking? The right cooking techniques which increase nutrient availability are certainly an important part of a healthy diet, but many people don’t consider the fact that some cooking methods also increase the presence of toxins in your food as well.

Over the past decade, there have been a significant number of reports revealing the presence of harmful, carcinogenic chemicals and heavy metals in aluminum and non-stick cookware. Numerous peer-reviewed studies have highlighted the real dangers of non-stick chemicals, and some companies which manufacture non-stick cookware have been battling with the United States Environmental Protection Agency for the last several years. It seems that these companies continue to assert that the chemicals used in non-stick cookware are safe, meanwhile paying millions of dollars in penalties for polluting public water and concealing information about non-stick cookware health hazards. A number of independent peer-reviewed studies have demonstrated that non-stick chemicals are carcinogenic and can cause birth defects, and even flu-like symptoms some people. These staggering reports are encouraging many to look twice at the cookware they are using on a daily basis.

Non-Stick Cookware Chemicals

PFOA, or perfluorooctanoic acid, is the main chemical used in the manufacturing of non-stick coating, as well as in materials that are fire-resistant and able to repel oil, stain, grease and water. While this feature might make appear to make PFOA ideal for use in non-stick cookware, scientists have expressed grave concerns about how exposure to this known toxin, as well as the 15 other types of potential gasses that can be released when cooking with non-stick cookware, could affect your health. Contact with PFOA might primarily come from consumer products, but may also stem from environmental contamination, as demonstrated by the non-stick manufacturing plant’s environmental pollution lawsuits. Two studies conducted since 1999 show that PFOA precursors have been found in tap water, food or air in a number of cities across the country, indicating a highly prevalent risk of exposure.

Health Risks of Aluminum and Non-Stick Cookware

A normal intake of aluminum is roughly three to five milligrams per day, but Americans may ingest up to 10 milligrams per day on average. Cooking and storing acidic foods in aluminum pots and pans is likely to leech higher amounts of aluminum into the food. Research suggests that using non-stick, aluminum and other chemical cookware products can increase risks of cancer, respiratory problems, and other serious health problems in adults and children, including the risk for Alzheimer’s disease in the elderly.

The possible link between aluminum and Alzheimer’s disease was first presented in the 1960s and since then, researchers have suggested a number of other possible links between the two. Aluminum has been shown to be potentially associated with plaques and tangles in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease and further evidence points to the possibility that aluminum may be involved in the formation of these plaques. These and other findings related to aluminum exposure are good reasons to look for alternative cookware.

Protect your Health: Detoxify your Kitchen and Your Body
So what can you do to protect your body from these harmful and elusive toxins? The first step is to choose alternatives to replace your aluminum or non-stick cookware. The Seattle-based Toxic-Free Legacy Coalition and other experts recommend stainless-steel, cast-iron, glass and enameled cast-iron cookware as the best options. Once you’ve upgraded your cookware to these healthier alternatives, choose an effective method of clearing your body of toxic buildup.

A top recommendation is to engage in a gentle and gradual heavy metal and environmental toxin cleanse using PectaSol Chelation Complex™, a natural chelation formula made of Modified Citrus Pectin and seaweed-derived alginates. Not only is this combination clinically proven to remove heavy metals including aluminum, lead, arsenic and mercury from the body, but it also achieves this goal without leeching essential minerals in the process. Additionally, it prevents the re-absorption of toxins through the digestive tract. When used over three to six months, PectaSol Chelation Complex™ provides a clinically proven, gentle detoxification from health-robbing heavy metals and environmental toxins that may have been stored in our our tissues and organs for years. For ordering and product information on PectaSol Chelation Complex, visit www.econugenics.com.