Leaky Gut Syndrome Natural Health Advice for Healing Leaky Gut Syndrome
  • Mar
    25

    5 Common Mistakes Making Your Kitchen and Food Toxic

    Filed under: Stress & Lifestyle;
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    Maybe you think you’re eating healthy. Maybe you’re buying the best organic food that you find that hasn’t been treated with toxic pesticides, herbicides, hormones, or other chemicals.

    But have you ever stopped to consider that part of the problem with toxins in the food supply is coming directly from you and your kitchen?

    It’s true…

    All too often we focus entirely on farming practices but there’s a whole other part of the story that has more to do with the many ways that you introduce even more toxins into your food before it ever gets to the table.

    So I’ve outlined 5 of the most common mistakes that you are making in your kitchen that is affecting the quality of your food while making your food and you toxic. And any of these can add significant stress and inflammation within your body to prevent you from healing and overcoming Leaky Gut Syndrome.

    1. Microwaving Food

    If you use a microwave and have never heard of the ill effects of microwaving your food then this is a very important topic for you.

    First of all, microwaves were never developed to be used to heat food. But someone decided there was a good opportunity to make some money without before we had the ability to properly research the negative effects first.

    And more and more research is being done these days on microwaves and other high frequency radiation coming from cell phones and other electronics and the research results are not pretty.

    Here’s a very short list of just a few of the ill effects that microwave radiation has on your food:

    • Destroys and reduced the nutrients in your food necessary to sustain life.
    • Alters the chemical structure of food to produce toxins
    • Produces carcinogenic compounds that have been shown to lead to cancer

    Here are some additional resources if you’re interested in digging further into this subject:

    How and Why Microwave Cooking Causes Cancer

    The Hidden Hazards of Microwave Cooking

    2. Storing Food in Plastic

    Plastics are another brainchild of science that are now beginning to be questioned heavily for the toxic chemicals that they contain which can easily leach into your food and water.

    Research has been studying plastic for quite some time and they’ve already identified multiple toxic chemicals such as BPA, Phthalates, and other estrogen mimicking compounds.

    When entering the body, these chemicals can and will attach to estrogen receptor sites which can and will lead to hormonal imbalances. They’ve also been shown to cause birth defects in babies.

    And one larger scale study conducted in 2004 found BPA in nearly all urine samples taken. So there’s no arguing that these chemical are in fact getting into your body one way or another.

    But these are just a small subset of the chemicals used. Just think about how many other chemicals are doing the same exact thing but just haven’t been researched as in depth yet. So BPA free plastic is a step in the right direction but definitely not a solution to a much bigger problem.

    And when they remove one chemical such as BPA, they have to replace it with something else that likely hasn’t been fully researched and could potentially be worse.

    Also stop to consider what other chemicals are being added that aren’t necessarily known ingredients. Think about how much plastic that you use is produced in China which somehow allowed Melamine to get into baby formula which was responsible for the lives of many babies.

    What else do you think could be in your plastic?

    3. Cleaning with Toxic Cleaners

    Cleaning products are a big one that not enough people stop to consider.

    Over 99% of home and kitchen cleaners are extremely toxic. And you’re using them to clean the same kitchen counters, utensils, supplies, etc that your food is coming into direct contact with.

    And be sure to read your labels carefully because so many products are now being marketed as 98% non-toxic. That’s still toxic!

    A general rule of thumb is, if you can’t eat it then you probably shouldn’t be cleaning your kitchen with it either.

    4. Teflon or Non-Stick Coated Pots & Pans

    Non-stick pots and pans became a big hit since they were more convenient and easy to clean. And I attribute much of this to the whole low fat craze because when you cook your food in healthy fats then sticking isn’t a problem to begin with.

    But regardless, the chemicals that are used are extremely toxic. In fact, the EPA has declared Teflon a carcinogen and has only recently asked manufacturers to begin eliminating Perflurooctanoic Acid (PFOA) from their products.

    And even when they do, what toxic chemical are they going to use next that hasn’t been studied?

    Studies have shown that these non-stick cookware chemicals are being found in 95% of the American population. And what’s even scarier is that this includes most newborns!

    And to add insult to injury, when these chemicals are heated they do outgas and release carcinogens and other environmental pollutants.

    5. Plastic Utensils & Cutting Boards

    I know that many people are beginning to catch on to some of these but this one gets almost everyone.

    We’ve already discussed it and you know that plastics are toxic and bad for your health.

    And you probably never stop to realize it but plastic cutting boards will actually leave plastic micro-shavings in and on your food as your knife cuts and scrapes across it. Just because you can’t necessarily see it doesn’t mean it isn’t there or affecting your health.

    Then you have plastic utensils that come into contact with your food which under heat will leech even more plastic chemicals into your food.

    The Big Picture

    So if you consider the number and amount of different toxins that get into your food just while you are making then you can see how ridiculous it really is.

    And stop to consider that the average American is putting food on counters cleaned with toxic cleaners, cutting the same food on plastic cutting boards, cooking it in toxic non-stick pots and pans, stirring with plastic utensils, storing their dinner and leftovers in plastic containers, and then reheating it all in the microwave the next day.

    How many different chemicals do you think this would expose you to?

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    Related posts:

    1. Why Leaky Gut Makes You Toxic
    2. 3 Common Mistakes Holding Your Gut Back From Healing
    3. 6 Most Common Food Allergies – Are You Avoiding These Foods?
    35 Comments
 

35 responses to “5 Common Mistakes Making Your Kitchen and Food Toxic” RSS icon

  • What kinds of cutting boards are OK? Can you only use glass containers to store food in? What about plastic zip bags?

  • Karen Brimeyer April 4th, 2011 at 23:07

    Glass is always best.

  • What kind of cleaners do you recommend? Is there a specific brand that we could use? Thanks.

  • What do you recommend that people do to purify their water. Because I don’t want to drink the Toronto tap water (it’s very acidic and contains chlorine (which can be filtered out) and fluoride (which can’t be removed by filtering bec the fluoride molecule is too small), I have been buying spring water from plastic jugs for years, but I am concerned about the toxins leaching from the plastic. Do you know of a good system that removes the contaminants AND creates the proper Ph levels? The Toronto tap water has 0.6 ppm of fluoride which is not excessive (spring water has 0.2 ppm).

    Also, I was just looking at your website to find out the cost of your leaky gut program and I couldn’t find this info. Can you tell me where I would find this link?

    Thanks,
    Jennifer

  • Karen Brimeyer April 8th, 2011 at 02:28

    There are lots of non-toxic cleaners out there. Just be careful of the ones that are now claiming to be 98% natural because that means it’s still toxic.

  • Karen Brimeyer April 8th, 2011 at 02:31

    Natural spring water from an artesian well is the best since it still contains all of it’s natural minerals. Any filtered water is pretty much going to remove them. Otherwise, you can get Reverse Osmosis water which filters out everything. Then you need to add minerals back in with either an all natural Sea Salt or Trace Mineral Drops.

  • what type of cooking pans do you recommend? what is your opinion on ceramic pans?

  • Karen Brimeyer June 21st, 2011 at 01:34

    Ceramic can be a good alternative.

  • Karen, My daughter who has lost 65 lbs. due to e-coli, yeast and bacteria overgrowth takes colonics. Please tell me your opinion of colonics. Thank you

  • Karen Brimeyer June 23rd, 2011 at 00:34

    You have to be careful with colonics. It stirs up a lot of toxins in the body which get re-absorbed and unless your liver is working properly then it will only make you more toxic. And the odds are that if your liver is working properly then you probably wouldn’t need colonics to begin with.

  • I’ve always heard there is a toxic gas exchange taking place when cooking with glass of any kind. I use heavy, good quality stainless steel cookware for stovetop use but still utilize no-lid glass baking dishes for in-oven use. Please advise.

  • I love the oxygenated water from my Kangen machine!!

  • Karen Brimeyer June 30th, 2011 at 23:58

    Hi Molly,

    Glass is actually quite safe.

  • Are there any plastic products that you know of that would be safe? I’ve seen advertised BPA free, Phthalates free and microwave/freezer/dishwasher safe labels. As much as I want the safest products, I also needs convenience and portability which plastic containers provide. Glass is not a practical material to carry to and from work or school due to its liability tobreak.

  • Hi Betty,

    Unfortunately, they keep pointing the finger at one chemical such as BPA as the problem. But there are so many other chemicals that they continue to find that are carcinogenic and cause other health issues. So I don’t recommend any plastic.

    There are other options. For example, here’s what I use for my kids water bottles. They’ve fallen many times without a problem so far. http://www.lifefactory.com/

  • What is your take on cast-iron pans? Also what is your take on Dr. Bronner’s cleaners?

  • There are a couple of downsides to cast iron. For starters, they have to be treated with an oil and just about every one that I’ve found has been treated with soy oil. There’s also the issue of getting too much iron.

    Dr. Bronner’s products are great. I actually use the soaps myself. Here’s a great resource for finding the toxicity of many personal care products: http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/

  • I haven’t used a micro wave in years for anything but popcorn, and I gave it away because there are better ways to make popcorn anyway! (and, yes, I know that it isn’t that good for you either)

    But I thought that some of the newer plastics were safer. And what about the plastic green bags that use gases to keep produce for weeks?

  • I have a friend whose wife does them for people, but it doesn’t make sense to me.

    1. When I had my colonoscopy I was awake and watched. It was all clean and pink in there after just one day of cleaning.

    2. I make a morning drink with every yeast killer I know of (tumeric, ginger etc) and then flavor it with mint, which also kills yeast. Is this a good idea? I am feeling a lot better.

  • Can you suggest/recommend alternatives for these 5 things? Also, which Dr. Bronner soaps do you use, I mean do you use the ones for cleaning dishes, or also for self-cleaning?

  • HI I have a 10 year old son with a leakage for alomost a year now I have tryed a lot of things with different natural doctors and traditional doctors and testing also.
    my questions is can he do the program as it is or it changes for kids.
    please let me know I need to help him, I want to start the program with my whole family.
    can I order all the supplements I need for my whole family?
    what do I need to do to get personal help with you Karen?
    thanks

  • Karen Brimeyer March 26th, 2012 at 16:14

    Hi Renee,

    With young kids I don’t typically recommend supplements to start. I use diet along with a few modifications and see how far we can get with diet alone. Oftentimes this is all they need. When you order the program, just send me a quick email asking for the modifications and I’ll let you know.

  • elizabeth lansac April 5th, 2012 at 08:13

    hello,what is a colonic.
    I need to get prepared for a colonoscopy and i don’t want to use the traditionnal drugs .
    How can i do it?
    Do you have some recommandations.
    Idon’t mind to fast

  • I have a Kangen machine as well ? is 9.5 alkaline too much can that cause stomach problems?

  • I have a Kangen Water Machine , is 9.5 Alkcline too much , can it cause stomuch problems?

  • natalia thompson January 11th, 2013 at 11:14

    Hi Karen,
    I’m a bit confuse about water after reading all the comments where do I start to make changes we drink filter water from the fridge but I guess that is not so good. I can’t afford to buy all the water we drink. Is there a good filter system? where do I start!

  • I do all of these things properly except for the heating food in the microwave. If it’s not to heat things up what are they intended for?

    Also, white vinegar with water works very well as a non toxic cleaner and it does sanitize.

    I would greatly appreciate your response to my question and thank you in advance.

  • I use Dr. Bronner’s Sal Suds with some essential oil for fragrance, or I have also made an all purpose cleaner in an empty with water mixed with 1 tsp of Boraz and 1 tsp washing soda and essential oil. Are these both ok?

  • Thanks for the update. My daughter has been telling me this for years, and I’m finally making the changes. I got rid of my microwave completely over a year ago, use glass storage now, pulled out my wooden chopping block which I’m enjoying using, switched to borax or vinegar and water for all housecleaning, and like how shiny clean things look including the tile floors. The only other thing I need to do is get rid of my Caphalon skillet. I’ve got a stainless one that I’m using most of the time but have always liked the way Caphalon cooked my burgers. Maybe will try ceramic. My daughter will be proud of me, too!

  • Margo, I have the same question about hose plastic green bags. Also, I wonder about freezing food in plastic freezer bags. I buy a lot of frozen foods that come in plastic bags. Is that not ok, I wonder.

  • Great article but you left out the types of items people should be using. What are the safest pots & pans? What are the safest storage containers? What cleaners are best? We haven’t used a microwave in years & use all wood cutting boards. I wash the dishes with the most environmentally friendly products you can buy. Should I make my own cleaners with baking soda? Please complete your article. Thank you.

  • Hi Karen, yes I have been doing the chicken and bone broth, perpetual x 1 wk, and been doing this now for 4 weeks. Gone on any inflammatory, gluten free and psoriasis diet. Started out with the 1st 2 and having to take off some of those foods due to psoriasis triggers. Feeling, Soooo much better! Drinking only pure water, about 40 oz a day. No more constipation. Finding out more everyday!

  • Hi, that is more info I needed to know. Thanks!! I’m making great strides with your program! Much improvement! Loving my chicken and bone broth and all the other diet changes! Thank you so much!!! You’ve given me back my life!!

  • Eileen Stanton July 28th, 2015 at 09:15

    Hi Karen,
    Thanks for the great information. I am making bone broth from beef bones from the grocery store. Is this all right? How would I make bone broth from chicken? Would I cook the chicken and save the bones for the broth?

  • Good morning Karen,

    Without thinking much about it i’m allread applying your 5 tips. i don’t have a microwave ( never wanted), i store in glasscontainers becuase i found it more beautyfull, i bring my organic cleaner from my homecountry Germany becuase the local one where i live now in Algeria is damaging the skin of my hands, i never use tefal and other non stick pans etc… because it is known to be cancerous, and i allways use wood boards made of wood just becuase i love everything natural BUT,
    BUT…..now comes the big problem…algerian used to grow organic food without knowing it and discover now the “miracles”of the new world of pesticides and fertilizers, antibiotics etc… and it is never labled so the costumer doesn’t really know if what i he buys is organic or not, and i fear mostly if not all times it’s not!
    What can i do? I’m growing a little bit of food in my tiny garden but it’s not enough for a family of six.
    How can i remove the toxics form the food?
    Of course i peel evrything but is this enough?
    On the top of this i’m a hashimoto and i think i could be concerned with a leaky gut, so all the harm is going directly in the blood isn’t it?
    Do you have tips? Thank you very much in advance


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