We often spend lots of time thinking about the health benefits of what we are going to cook but how often do you think about what you are cooking with?
Well, non-stick fry pans have been shown to release toxins. In fact Teflon is known to give off a cocktail of 15 types of toxic particles and gases. These chemicals include two carcinogens and a chemical which is deadly to humans at low doses and can be released even under common cooking conditions. In fact there is a condition known as ‘teflon flu' that includes headaches, chills, backache and fever.
Add to this the fact that Teflon is produced using a chemical called PFOA which has been linked with cancer, liver damage, growth defects, immune system damage and even death in lab animals and has been ordered to be removed by 2015 by the EPA, and the picture is not looking rosy.
What about aluminium? Aluminium cookware is known to leach the metal into your food and given what we now know about the links between aluminium and Alzheimer's disease, this one may be best to avoid too.
Stainless steel is quite stable, however you need to remember that stainless steel cookware contains alloys of nickel, chromium, molybdenum, carbon, and various other metals. These metals can leech into your food, especially as your cookware gets older.
So what options are left? Well as it turns out, the best options are the most tried and true. Old fashioned glass and ceramic cookware are made of inert materials that have stood the test of time and also withstand the latest research too. So perhaps it is time to pull out mum's old ceramic pots for tonight's dinner!
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written by Dr Brett Hill, February 08, 2010
I have not done any research at this stage into Turbo Ovens so I am unsure as to the dangers of the element. I will do some research and let you knwo if I come across anything.
Hi Dr. Hill.
Thank you for your 'newsy' newsletter, I look forward to receiving it.
Just a little taken aback by the details you have listed regarding non stick pans and the like; I was married 50 + years ago and started life as a wife and mother using Pyrex cooking utensils - then came cast iron - I still use a Dutch Cast Iron Oven - yes I do have non stick pans - luckily we don't eat too much fried food these days - recently we purchased a benchtop turbo oven - glass bowl - BUT can the heating element Halcycon (sp) dangerous please - at the moment this utensil is a delight to use!
Regards
Carolyn McNamara