Posted on: April 23, 2019 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0


The foundation for healthy living is achieved by providing the body with healthy food. Having a well-balanced diet is key in keeping the body functioning efficiently. However, while you may be having all the necessary ingredients for a wholesome meal, there is one other factor that could deprive your food of its nutrients and even make it potentially toxic – your cookware.

The type of cookware you use greatly affects the quality of food. Not all types of cookware are safe to use. Many of them release toxins in our foods, especially when subjected to high temperatures. For example, the majority of old school non-stick cookware is coated with perfluorochemicals which can break down during cooking releasing toxins in the food. Aluminum and copper cookware is also known to be highly reactive and can leach out into food. While copper is good for the body, there is a threshold not to be exceeded. A healthy adult should not exceed an intake of 900 micrograms a day. Cooking with copper cookware could make the body exceed this limit leading to copper and lead poisoning.

Cookware made from such materials are toxic and can lead to some serious health concerns. The manufacturers of these utensils will never tell you or label their products as being toxic over time. It is your duty to make sure that the cookware you buy is healthy for your family. The shape, weight, color, size, and design is very important when choosing cookware, but the most important factor is the raw material used. This is what will determine the complete health of the food. The materials used for healthy cookware should be non-reactive and free of toxic chemicals, enamel, and glazes. Here are the safest and best cookware for healthy living.

1. Cast Iron Cookware.

Cast iron cookware is one of the oldest forms of cookware. It dates back to more than 100 years ago. It has stood the test of time, and there have been no complaints to the use of it whatsoever. Health experts say it is one of the safest cooking materials.

Cast iron cookware is heavy and retains heat extremely well. This feature allows it to withstand extremely high temperatures, it can even be used in the oven. Once it absorbs enough heat, this cookware can allow you to use moderate heat levels which is a good way to prevent the food from sticking. It can also save you a lot on gas.

Cast iron cookware does not contain any chemicals. It is free of Teflon and perfluoro-octanoic acid which is common in many non-stick cookware. The only substance that you should be worried about when cooking with cast iron is iron itself. Iron is essentially good for the body unless you have high iron content which is very rare.

Photo taken from Pixabay.com

2. Stainless Steel Cookware.

Stainless steel is a combination of different metals; chromium, carbon, manganese, and nickel. It is arguably the most durable and easiest material to clean in the kitchen. This one of the few cookware that is kind on health and also offer good value for your money. You will always find it on every list detailing the best premium cookware sets for a healthy living. It is also the most versatile and yet affordable cookware option.

Stainless steel is the least reactive metal. The combination of the different metals makes it more stable and resistant to leaching or any reactivity that may occur during cooking. It is also able to resist corrosion and so there are limited chances of it ending up in your food. This makes it very safe to use in the kitchen.

However, when cleaning this type of cookware, it should not be done in a rough manner or using abrasive materials. This can damage the lining causing the metals to leach out. Damaged or scratched stainless steel cookware should be thrown away.

3. Ceramic Cookware.

Ceramic cookware is loved by many people because they come in many amazing colors and can go directly to the table from the oven. This pretty much reduces cleaning duties. Cookware coated with ceramic is safe to use as ceramic does not contain any cadmium, Teflon, or perfluorooctanoic acid. This material is 100% percent non-toxic and completely leach free. They are very versatile and resist scratching even by metals. It even promotes healthy meals by using less oil.

However, you should avoid any ceramic cookware that has a colored glaze. A colored glaze in ceramic cookware could potentially be carrying toxic chemicals. Ceramic glazes are said to contain traces of lead which can wear down over time.

You can read more about Ceramic vs. Stainless Steel Cookware at Donaskitchen.com

4. Clay cookware.

As much as clay cookware is underused, it is one of the very few cookwares that keeps the nutritional value of food intact. It is inert and does not leach making it a very advisable choice for healthy cooking. Furthermore, it generates a unique heat which cooks food gently preserving all the nutrients.

5. New Age Non-Stick Cookware.

There have been major improvements in non stick cookware and the new ones available on the market are now a healthy choice. The new aluminum and steel cookware are now coated with more stable materials such as marble, diamond, stone and even titanium. The new materials used in coating minimize food sticking onto the cookware as well as preventing harmful toxins from getting into the food. They have been safeguarded against harmful coatings such as Teflon and other materials.

6. Glass Cookware.

Although they are not so much used in cooking, glass cookware is really durable and non-toxic if well cared for. It contains zero amounts of fluorinated chemicals and other dangerous compounds so you don’t have to worry about any metals or chemicals leaching in your food. Just like clay, it is inert. With this type of cookware, you just have to be careful that it doesn’t chip, crack or break.

7. Anodized Aluminium Cookware.

Ordinary aluminum cookware has the potential of leaching toxins in your food. But due to its excellent heat conduction, measures have been taken to control the leaching. Anodized aluminum cookware is one that has an increased thickness. This is to prevent further oxidation of the metal which enables it to be immune to leaching and corrosion. Anodized aluminum cookware usually has a matte finish.

Safe and healthy cookware is very crucial for healthy living. It is very important to take extreme caution to ensure toxins do not accumulate in our organs. Many people use unhealthy cookware without their knowledge. The effects of toxins may not be instant, but they are definitely deadly. Perfluorochemicals found in non-stick cookware has been strongly linked to cancer. So as you plan to live a healthy lifestyle, you should also keep in mind healthy cookware. Learn more on pros and cons, visit InductionPros.

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