Cookware
To me, this wouldn't be a health blog without at least mentioning the subject of cookware.
After writing on this blog for 2 1/2 years, I am beginning to dwindle down on things I have to share. I have a few things left to share, but not many.
Although cookware isn't at the top of my list when it comes to good health, it is still worth mentioning and something to be aware of.
There are so many different types of cookware for sale today! You can find glass, stainless steel, cast iron, beautiful ceramics, and even, non stick cookware. There are a few others as well, such as copper. It's amazing when you stop to consider all of the cookware that is available today.
Back when I used to work in a grocery store, I saw all kinds of things come into that store. That included many kitchen items, and even, brand new cookware and bakeware. Being a discounted grocery store, things were usually sold for at least half of the original price. I found some occasional treasures working there. I remember one summer, 15 years ago, when that store got in all kinds of brand new kitchen items. It was so much fun! I couldn't help but notice all of the "Pyrex" glass cookware that was being sold for an incredible price. Being almost 25 years old at the time, I mentioned it to my mom.
"Do you think it would be silly of me to consider purchasing some of that to put away for my own home someday?"
My mom's reply was something like:
"No, that's not silly. By purchasing some of that now, you would not only be saving yourself money someday, you would also be saving someone else money because those would be items you would not need to put on a registry."
"Ah! Good point."
I was happy to get my mom's opinion.
I purchased some glass cookware/ bakeware at my work place for an amazing price, and I started my hope chest - a plastic storage tote from Walmart. At almost 25 years old, I was certain someone would come along.
Now, 15 years later, that "Pyrex" glass cookware is still inside my tote, packed away, waiting to be used. Recently, I took every piece out of my tote to take inventory on exactly all that I had. For the first time, I decided to hand wash all of it. (and prayed that I would be able to cook meals with them for my own family someday - something I look forward to) To this day, I still have no regrets about purchasing it. Glass cookware is classic stuff that can last a lifetime!
Not only is glass cookware a favorite with many, glass is a better choice. With all that is available today, one might think that one type of cookware is just as good as another. But when it comes to health, there is some cookware that is definitely better than others.
Glass and stainless steel have been favorites with many people for years. Those are also better for cooking with because they contain no harmful chemicals in them. Growing up, glass and stainless steel was almost all that my mom had in our home to cook with.
Non stick cookware and bakeware is very popular these days, and I can understand why. It's handy stuff! Sadly though, non stick cookware does contain some chemicals that aren't so great. Thankfully, non stick cookware has definitely gotten better over the past 10 years, but it still contains stuff that isn't the best to be cooking with all the time. Below is an article I enjoyed reading about this:
I will use a non stick pan on occasion. I tried using a stainless steel pan once to cook some eggs with, and afterwards, I wondered if I was eating fried rubber instead of eggs. (not to mention getting them free from the pan!) Non stick pans are a huge blessing for cooking certain things (like eggs!), but non stick is not something I cook with all the time.
Like glass and stainless steel water bottles (another post I wrote here), using glass and stainless steel to cook and bake with is better for your health. If you are using stainless steel, using a pure butter spray or olive oil spray is best.
Ceramic and cast iron are also good options for cooking with, but those are often quite heavy and more expensive.
Glass is also a better option for food storage as well.
Since this is a post on cooking, I thought I'd briefly mention something about microwaves, aluminum foil, and Styrofoam.
Note on microwaves: Like non stick cookware, microwaves are very handy. Microwaves are quick and efficient, and they make hot lunches almost instantaneous!
However, microwaves use a small amount of radiation to heat food or other items. The radiation used in microwaves is small, but nonetheless, it is there. Because of that, microwaves are not the best to use all the time. If the weather is warm, make a sandwich instead - definitely a healthier lunch option!
We have a microwave, and I'm thankful for it, especially if I'm in a hurry or need to heat up leftovers. But if I have time, I use the stove top or oven instead - a much healthier option. Like non stick cookware, it's better to only use a microwave occasionally, not all the time.
And if you have plastic wrap covering the top of a dish (great stuff to cover dishes with), take that off before microwaving and use a plate to cover your dish instead. Plastic wrap heated in a microwave is not healthy.
Note on aluminum foil: Aluminum foil is great stuff. We use it all the time to cover a dish before baking it in the oven. However, I discovered something surprising from a natural doctor I know, personally. According to him, you do not want to bake meat/fish or potatoes wrapped in aluminum foil. Why not? Because, when heated at high temperatures, aluminum can leach into your meat or potatoes. Aluminum has been found in the brains of those with dementia. Though aluminum is not the cause of things like dementia or Alzheimers, it can contribute to it.
Heavy metals (even in small amounts) are something you do not want in the body. That is a fact.
Note on Styrofoam: Like aluminum foil, when heated, Styrofoam can release chemicals into your food. (think: hot drinks!) Use paper plates and paper cups instead - definitely a better choice for the environment too. Below is an article about this:
Recently, a friend sent me some hilarious videos of a woman with a YouTube channel. This woman (homeschooling mom?) has an incredible sense of humor and had me laughing in hysterics with her well thought out videos, centered, of all things, on health.
As I watched numerous videos (being highly entertained!), I realized that she mentioned almost everything I've written about on this blog. (and a few more things I didn't know!)
Her videos are great fun, but in raw honesty, if I had seen her videos a few years ago, I probably wouldn't have had the courage to start this blog. Why?
With her incredible wit and intelligence, she displayed, very well, how incredibly "weird" some people can get when it comes to health. My take away from her videos? I absolutely loved them and found it difficult to go to bed that night. They are so funny! But please, don't be too "weird" about trying to be so healthy. I can't say that I want that reputation.
Would I eat a baked potato if it had been baked, all snug and tight, in aluminum foil? Absolutely! My former church used to serve baked potatoes freshly baked in aluminum foil. I ate them, and I enjoyed them at fellowship meals. However, at home, we don't bake our potatoes in aluminum foil. Thankfully, potatoes bake just fine in the oven on a baking sheet without anything around them.
Do I ever eat cookies or donuts? I sure do. But you won't find me eating those all the time.
You see, it is not what you do on occasion that has an overall affect on your health. It is the things you do, the choices you make, on a daily basis that has a major affect on your health.
Choose wisely!
Disclaimer: I am not a medical doctor, and I have no medical training. The things I share on this blog are simple, practical things that I've learned help with good health.
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