Aluminum Cookware: What Are The Concerns?

30 seconds

Aluminum is all around us – it is widely distributed in soil, plants and water, including our food and drinking water, where it is always bound to other substances. But there is no known need for pure aluminum – the kind found in cookware – in human nutrition. Because it is so chemically reactive, it is probably not good for us, and evidence suggests that ingesting aluminum can be harmful to the kidneys and may weaken bones by depleting the body of phosphorus and calcium.

Since aluminum is a superior heat conductor, many cookware products contain it. While I find aluminum ideal for stovetop work, I advise choosing cookware that does not allow food to come in direct contact with it. Look for quality pots and pans that cover the aluminum with stainless steel, ceramic or some other non-reactive material. In the long run, investing in and learning to cook with cast iron will help lower your aluminum exposure as well as other potentially toxic non-stick surfaces and may help support some intake of the essential mineral iron.

Today’s Health Topics

Editor's Pick

• Exercise To Prevent Cancer?

Health Focus

• Controlling IBS-C?

Ask Dr. Weil's Q&A

• Gua Sha For Headaches?