Aluminum foil is a staple found in kitchens. It is used for grilling, wrapping food and cooking. The fact is that most people consider aluminum foil as a must in the modern kitchen. However, is our use of aluminum foil really healthy?
When we make fish curls, roast vegetables or when we prepare meat, there is a good chance that we pack our food in aluminum foil. What some of us do not know is that harmful fibers get into the food.
Aluminum, the dangers for your health
At high temperatures, aluminum foil affects food by leaving traces of aluminum. However, aluminum is associated with a risk of cognitive decline that can cause diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and nervous disorders. In fact, according to a study by Chris Exley, professor of bio-inorganic chemistry at Keele University (England), Alzheimer's patients have high levels of aluminum in brain tissue. This metal can slow down the growth rate of brain cells and affect cognitive abilities such as memory.
Aluminum also poses other health risks. It is involved in bone disorders, respiratory, the appearance of oxidative stress in the cells - causing premature aging and DNA abnormalities - and in the development of certain cancers. Thus, the inhalation of aluminum particles could lead to long-term bronchopulmonary cancers while the absorption by the body of aluminum, especially through products containing it (vaccines, food, deodorants ...) would increase the risk of suffering from cancer including breast cancer according to a study by Caroline Linhart and Heribert Talasz of the Medical University of Innsbruck (Austria).
The use of aluminum foil
But these risks are especially visible when aluminum foil is used at high temperature during cooking. Food comes into direct contact with the metal, and acidic foods, such as lemon juice and tomato, as well as some spices, react with aluminum and cause leaching of this metal into food. When this happens, the concentration of aluminum in food increases and may exceed the recommended limit for adults (no more than 60 mg per kilogram of body weight per day according to the World Health Organization (WHO)).
Ultimately, the human body eliminates aluminum through feces and urine but if it accumulates in the body, it can increase the risk of developing serious diseases. Although more research needs to be done to understand how and to what extent this metal damages the human body, it is best to avoid cooking with this paper and look for health alternatives such as brick leaves, cabbage leaves or banana for cooking. When it comes to conservation, opt for organic beeswax packaging or reuse old tea towels and / or fabric scraps to turn them into reusable and eco-friendly packaging bags.
