(NaturalHealth365) Some of the most dangerous objects in our home, in terms of the toxins they leach into our food, are the pots and pans we cook with every day.  In fact, many of the most popular brands of cookware ought to be avoided, if you want to protect your health.

Teflon and non-stick cookware became popular when our society got focused on eating a “low fat” diet.  Non-stick cookware offered a way to cook without oil or butter. But this type of cookware, and many others, can leach dangerous chemicals into your food, or release dangerous fumes when heated that can be dangerous to your health.

By the way, if you have pets in your home, these toxins can be deadly – especially for birds!

Cookware to avoid at all costs to protect your health

Non-stick cookware: Teflon and brands like these give off a compound called perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) when exposed to the high heat of cooking.  Studies have shown that this compound can promote the growth of liver, pancreatic and testicular tumors. 

Aluminum: This “soft” metal leaches into your food every time you cook with it and the damage from being exposed to this substance is bioaccumulative.  Keep in mind, millions of people walk around with undiagnosed “metal toxicity” – which can cause chronic fatigue, brain fog and depression.

Copper: Another “soft” metal, this chemical element has to be combined with another metal in order to cook with it because copper is too soft (on its own) and when heated, only grows softer.

Usually, it’s combined with nickel to make it stronger.  But, it’s this combination of metals that make it dangerous to use.  Simply put, these two metals – when heated together – release toxic metallic fumes.  By the way, excess copper can generate high estrogen levels – which can increase the risk of cancer.

Lead-based cookware: Did you know that even glass, ceramic and enameled cookware can be coated with lead?  Our young children are particular vulnerable to heavy metal toxicity.  According to the Mayo Clinic, “exposure to even low levels of lead can cause damage over time. The greatest risk is to brain development.”  Bottom line, become an educated shopper – to protect the health of your family.

What is the safest cookware to buy?

Cast Iron: One of the only kinds of cookware we can say with confidence This is safe. And it will remain so for the long life of the pan, especially if you treat them right, baby them with oils and use no soaps on their absorptive surface.

Stainless steel: high quality stainless steel that is well constructed is one of the safest cooking surfaces you could ask for. It’s long-lasting, durable, dependable, a great heat conductor for evenly cooking foods, and easy to maintain. 

Enamel coated cast iron: Is completely non-toxic and reacts with no foods.

100% Ceramic: Ceramic, pure ceramic, is entirely safe and is wonderful for cooking as well.

That’s it for safety. But there are safe blends of safe materials that are researched extensively, like the brands I suggest – below.

Best options to cook your food safely

1. La Crueset: La Crueset has a wide array of very well-made ceramic, cast iron, stainless steel, and enamel-coated cast iron cookware. They are a trusted brand in producing safe cookware.
2. For stainless steel Try Caphalon or All-Clad: Both of these brands produce some of the highest clad, most durable stainless-steel cookware – and you’ll never have to worry about metal leakage into your food.

Sources for this article include:

EWG.org
OrganicConsumers.com