Safer Cookware
So, recently at my doctors office I saw this article that one of the other doctors wrote, and I just felt the need to share it with you. Eating healthy is really important to me as well as my family. I know that eating well is important to many people, but if we are eating the right foods and using the wrong cookware to eat that food then it almost seems as if it's a wash?! Right?
My hubby and I are in the process of looking for a new set of cookware that is safer to use.
Anyway, with the permission of Doctor Koren Barrett ND, here is her article on Safer Cookware.
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When heated, cookware coated with Teflon and other non-stick surfaces emits fumes that can kill birds and potentially sicken people. You can avoid exposures to the fumes from Teflon and other non-stick cookware by phasing out your home use of these products. If you can afford to replace your non-stick cookware now, do so.
Statistics reported by the Cookware Manufacturers Association indicate that 90 percent of all the aluminum cookware sold in the United States in 2001 was coated with non-stick chemicals like Teflon (Cooks Illustrated, September 2002). Chemicals and tiny, toxic Teflon particles released from heated Teflon kill household pet birds. At least four of these chemicals never break down in the environment, and some are widely found in human blood. Consumer concerned about the effects of Teflon on human health and the environment should consider these alternatives.
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is a terrific alternative to a non-stick cooking surface. Most chefs agree that stainless steel browns foods better than non-stick surfaces. In their 2001 review of sauté pans, Cooks Illustrated, an independent publication, chose a stainless steel pan over otherwise identical non-stick models. They also recommend stainless steel pan roasters over non-stick.
Cast Iron
Cast Iron remains a great alternative to non-stick cooking surfaces. Lodge, America's oldest family-owned cookware manufacturer refers to their cookware as "natural non-stick." Cast iron can be pre-heated to temperature that will brown meat and will withstand oven temeratures well above what is considered safe for non-stick pans. Cast iron is extremely durable and can no be purchased pre-seasoned, ready-to-use.
Other Cooking Surfaces
Because Teflon coated non-stick surfaces fair to brown foods there has been a push to find other "non-stick" cookware coating that will allow the use of higher temperature and still clean up easily. Some examples include ceramic titanium and porcelain enameled cast iorn. Both of these surfaces are very durable, better at browning foods than PTFE (Teflon) non-stick coatings, and are dishwasher safe. In her New York Times piece, "In Search of a Pan That Lets Cooks Forget About Teflon," Marian Burros reccomends Le Creuset enameled cast iron pans with matte black interior. Anodized aluminum is another alternative, but some people question its safety, citing evidence in some studies linking aluminum exposures to Alzheimer's.
Dr Koren Barrett is a California licensed naturopathic doctor. She assists a great number of patients in the Orange county area with their medical concerns. She employs an individualized approach for every patient to address their particular health needs.
Dr Barrett’s philosophy is that given the proper conditions our bodies have an innate ability to heal. By removing what harms and adding what heals we are able to continually achieve better states of health. Safety and efficacy are Dr Barrett’s top priorities. Therapies that have the lowest potential for side effects are always considered and recommended first. Dr Barrett believes in finding the underlying cause rather than treating symptoms.
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Newport Integrative Naturopathic Health has been featured in Suzanne Somers book “Knockout” as a preferred provider for Bio-identical hormone replacement and integrative medicine. Dr Barrett has also been featured in Jenny McCarthy’s book “Mother Warriors: A nation of parents healing autism against all odds”. Dr Barrett is a Defeat Autism Now! Doctor who applies a biomedical approach to the treatment of autism.
To learn more about Dr. Koren Barrett, please CLICK HERE.
Providing Integrative Medicine for the Entire Family
newportintegrativehealth.com
