Ills of Aluminium
Food cooked in aluminium vessels or in aluminium foil, can absorb aluminium because aluminium dissolves into food and water during the cooking process. This absorbed aluminium goes into the bloodstream and accumulates in different organs in different people causing a multitude of effects. Some unpleasant effects of eating food cooked in aluminium are hyper-acidity, peptic ulcers, indigestion, flatulence, skin problems like pigmentation, eczema, dandruff and chronic inflammation of the intestine, which may be diagnosed or misdiagnosed as Ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease or as chronic amoebic dysentery. Aluminium reduces growth of bone and predisposes to osteoporosis.
The simple measure of replacing aluminium cooking vessels with stainless steel or cast iron vessels is often effective in curing these ailments.
The poisonous properties of aluminium have been well known for over a hundred years. In developed countries aluminium cook ware usually has a non stick or Teflon coating on it to prevent the aluminium from dissolving in the food. Unfortunately in developing countries this protection is available at a price which makes it unaffordable to large sections of the population. Hence aluminium utensils are widely used in India and other developing countries even often in 5 star hotels.
Most non stick cook ware is made from aluminium or its alloys covered with a Teflon coating to prevent aluminium from dissolving in the food. Over time, this coating gets scratched and the aluminium is able to come into contact with the food and dissolve into your food. If you are using non stick cook ware they should be washed with soft soap and a soft sponge. Abrasive scourers should never be used to clean Teflon coated vessels. Scratching can be prevented by using plastic or wooden spoons to stir food in non-stick utensils. These spoons unfortunately also constitute a health hazard as bacteria thrive in the pores on the wood & plastic spoons which can rarely be properly cleaned. Wooden spoons should be sterilized frequently with a solution of bleaching powder in water. Plastic spoons may be sterilized with hydrogen peroxide in water by soaking in a 1:6 mixture for 20 minutes. In view of this, my recommendation for good health & hygiene is to use cast iron or stainless steel cookware & spoons. Heating Teflon pans on a high fire releases substances called Per-fluoro-octanoic acid (PFOA or C8) which are dangerous to human health and can kill a bird kept in the kitchen in a matter of minutes! Even 5 minutes of heating a non stick pan on a high fire can cause this problem which in humans is called polymer fume fever. If you are using non-stick cookware always use a low fire.
Recent evidence shows that the use of Teflon coated non stick utensils, suppresses immunity and increases the risk of kidney & testicular cancer, cancers of the blood like leukemia especially in children. It has also been linked with autism and changes in level of sex hormones DuPont, the worlds largest manufacturer of Teflon and non stick vessels has settled law suits out of court from from people who have developed cancer and have quoted studies showing that Teflon does indeed poison the immune system. DuPont has committed in 2012 to phase out PFOA from non stick cookware by 2015. After this large settlement Dupont was taken over by Corning chemicals.
Drinking water in some cities may contain significant quantities of aluminium as Alum is used in the water purification process to precipitate suspended impurities. A report of the aluminium content of the water is usually available at your water supply authority and is worth asking for. Aluminium is also often present in dental fillings, so when you see your dentist ask him to use non aluminium containing composite or glass polymer fillings.
Other sources of aluminium poisoning may be drinks (like colas & beer) in aluminium cans, draft beer packaged in aluminium kegs, foods packed in aluminium cans (sardines, tuna, soups, baked beans etc.); toothpaste, mayonnaise, mustard & sauces packed in aluminium tubes; poor quality tetra packs, pre-cut vegetables & chips and other snacks packed in Aluminium foil bags; processed cheese slices, deodorants, lipstick, water filters, free flowing salt where aluminium salts are added as an anti-caking agent, some baking powder brands and food cooked in aluminium foil. Baby foods & infant formulas often contain significant amounts of aluminium.
Aluminium dissolves faster into acidic foods than into basic foods. It is always unwise to cook acidic foods like tomatoes, tea & coffee in aluminium vessels. Some people with aluminium allergy, may react to medicines packed in aluminium foil especially to acidic medication like aspirin. Many antacids contain aluminium hydroxide and should be substituted by calcium carbonate antacids.
Aluminium is also known to affect the brain causing dementia and Alzheimer's disease. The first signs of its toxic effects on the brain, is loss of short term memory. Continued exposure to aluminium over thirty to forty years may cause Alzheimer's disease. In Alzheimer's disease the patient is unable to recollect recent events, but is able to clearly recollect events which occurred many years earlier. At present there is no effective treatment for this. Consuming unrefined coconut oil 1 tablespoon a day, may help this condition.
It is often claimed that aluminium does not dissolve in the food. This can be disproved by taking some water and boiling it for half an hour in an aluminium vessel. Pour the water into a transparent glass and allow it to stand for a day. You will find a cloudy substance has appeared in the water, which is aluminium hydroxide. Aluminium utensils often show pitting where the aluminium has dissolved away.
Drinking freshly squeezed orange, pineapple, grapefruit or sweet lime juice can help remove aluminium from the body and help mitigate these problems.
This web site of the US agency for toxic substances and disease registry has more information on aluminium & its toxicity www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/phs22.html,
The Canadian government has a similar site http://www.agr.gc.ca/pfra/water/alhealthe.htm.
This link gives information on the association of aluminium poisoning with Autism, Parkinsonism, Alzheimers disease, breast cancer and a range of neurological conditions.
http://www.collective-evolution.com/2015/07/07/pfizer-vice-president-blows-the-whistle-tells-the-truth-about-the-pharmaceutical-industry/
The simple measure of replacing aluminium cooking vessels with stainless steel or cast iron vessels is often effective in curing these ailments.
The poisonous properties of aluminium have been well known for over a hundred years. In developed countries aluminium cook ware usually has a non stick or Teflon coating on it to prevent the aluminium from dissolving in the food. Unfortunately in developing countries this protection is available at a price which makes it unaffordable to large sections of the population. Hence aluminium utensils are widely used in India and other developing countries even often in 5 star hotels.
Most non stick cook ware is made from aluminium or its alloys covered with a Teflon coating to prevent aluminium from dissolving in the food. Over time, this coating gets scratched and the aluminium is able to come into contact with the food and dissolve into your food. If you are using non stick cook ware they should be washed with soft soap and a soft sponge. Abrasive scourers should never be used to clean Teflon coated vessels. Scratching can be prevented by using plastic or wooden spoons to stir food in non-stick utensils. These spoons unfortunately also constitute a health hazard as bacteria thrive in the pores on the wood & plastic spoons which can rarely be properly cleaned. Wooden spoons should be sterilized frequently with a solution of bleaching powder in water. Plastic spoons may be sterilized with hydrogen peroxide in water by soaking in a 1:6 mixture for 20 minutes. In view of this, my recommendation for good health & hygiene is to use cast iron or stainless steel cookware & spoons. Heating Teflon pans on a high fire releases substances called Per-fluoro-octanoic acid (PFOA or C8) which are dangerous to human health and can kill a bird kept in the kitchen in a matter of minutes! Even 5 minutes of heating a non stick pan on a high fire can cause this problem which in humans is called polymer fume fever. If you are using non-stick cookware always use a low fire.
Recent evidence shows that the use of Teflon coated non stick utensils, suppresses immunity and increases the risk of kidney & testicular cancer, cancers of the blood like leukemia especially in children. It has also been linked with autism and changes in level of sex hormones DuPont, the worlds largest manufacturer of Teflon and non stick vessels has settled law suits out of court from from people who have developed cancer and have quoted studies showing that Teflon does indeed poison the immune system. DuPont has committed in 2012 to phase out PFOA from non stick cookware by 2015. After this large settlement Dupont was taken over by Corning chemicals.
Drinking water in some cities may contain significant quantities of aluminium as Alum is used in the water purification process to precipitate suspended impurities. A report of the aluminium content of the water is usually available at your water supply authority and is worth asking for. Aluminium is also often present in dental fillings, so when you see your dentist ask him to use non aluminium containing composite or glass polymer fillings.
Other sources of aluminium poisoning may be drinks (like colas & beer) in aluminium cans, draft beer packaged in aluminium kegs, foods packed in aluminium cans (sardines, tuna, soups, baked beans etc.); toothpaste, mayonnaise, mustard & sauces packed in aluminium tubes; poor quality tetra packs, pre-cut vegetables & chips and other snacks packed in Aluminium foil bags; processed cheese slices, deodorants, lipstick, water filters, free flowing salt where aluminium salts are added as an anti-caking agent, some baking powder brands and food cooked in aluminium foil. Baby foods & infant formulas often contain significant amounts of aluminium.
Aluminium dissolves faster into acidic foods than into basic foods. It is always unwise to cook acidic foods like tomatoes, tea & coffee in aluminium vessels. Some people with aluminium allergy, may react to medicines packed in aluminium foil especially to acidic medication like aspirin. Many antacids contain aluminium hydroxide and should be substituted by calcium carbonate antacids.
Aluminium is also known to affect the brain causing dementia and Alzheimer's disease. The first signs of its toxic effects on the brain, is loss of short term memory. Continued exposure to aluminium over thirty to forty years may cause Alzheimer's disease. In Alzheimer's disease the patient is unable to recollect recent events, but is able to clearly recollect events which occurred many years earlier. At present there is no effective treatment for this. Consuming unrefined coconut oil 1 tablespoon a day, may help this condition.
It is often claimed that aluminium does not dissolve in the food. This can be disproved by taking some water and boiling it for half an hour in an aluminium vessel. Pour the water into a transparent glass and allow it to stand for a day. You will find a cloudy substance has appeared in the water, which is aluminium hydroxide. Aluminium utensils often show pitting where the aluminium has dissolved away.
Drinking freshly squeezed orange, pineapple, grapefruit or sweet lime juice can help remove aluminium from the body and help mitigate these problems.
This web site of the US agency for toxic substances and disease registry has more information on aluminium & its toxicity www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/phs22.html,
The Canadian government has a similar site http://www.agr.gc.ca/pfra/water/alhealthe.htm.
This link gives information on the association of aluminium poisoning with Autism, Parkinsonism, Alzheimers disease, breast cancer and a range of neurological conditions.
http://www.collective-evolution.com/2015/07/07/pfizer-vice-president-blows-the-whistle-tells-the-truth-about-the-pharmaceutical-industry/