Toxins in the kitchen, yard update, Michelins, NPR

Toxins in the Kitchen (Dr. Maoshing Ni)

Here is my take.

You may be eating only organic, antioxidant-rich foods, but if you cooked your food on the toxic surface of your stovetop in a carcinogenic no-stick pan, you just might be doing more harm than good.

Cut the Grease Without the Toxins (Using Baking Soda)

When you are facing a stovetop with a buildup of baked-on grease, don’t turn to commercial oven and stovetop cleaners - that is like cleaning with poison. Instead, try baking soda. Just sprinkle baking soda on your stovetop, let it sit for five minutes and then scour the surface with either steel wool or scrubber. For the stubborn spots that refuse to be removed, try spraying this mixture on: mix dishwashing liquid, borax, and warm water together; let it sit for 20 minutes, and then scour it.

Microwave

Microwaves use super-fast particles to literally radiate the contents of water inside food and bring it to boil. Not only has microwave use been linked to causing infertility in men, but it also denatures many of the essential proteins in the food making them virtually indigestible. If you must, use the low setting just to heat the foods.

Poisonous Pots and Pans

Copper or aluminum cookware might be poisoning you. These metals interact with heat and food, and leach into your diet; gradually these will accumulate in your body, sometimes reaching the point of toxicity. Toxic levels of aluminum have been linked to memory loss, headaches, indigestion, and brain disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease. High levels of copper can debilitate the immune system and enable cancer cells to proliferate. After scouring with abrasives, even stainless steel can release small amounts of toxic metals like chromium and nickel.

Nonstick pans contain Teflon, a plastic that in recent years has been linked to immune disorders and possible cancer conditions.

Instead, use cookware with porcelain enamel coating or made of glass, cast iron, or lead-free, terra-cotta clay.

Canned Goods

Canned foods, though easier to use than cooking from scratch, are a threat to your health. The substance bisphenol A, used to line food cans, is classified as an endocrine disruptor, a compound that can act like a hormone when it enters the human system. Scientists have discovered that exposure to these chemicals can contribute to prostate cancer, breast cancer, cystic ovaries, and endometriosis.

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