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Teflon Coated Utensils and Cancer

by Stella Morgan

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In these present times of advanced technology and changing lifestyles, a lot of new discoveries have been made to make our daily chores easier and faster to do. From the dawn of the stove, oven until the microwave oven, cooking has never been this easy to do. For every little problem or complaint with how a product works, there is always about ten inventions created to address the problem.

When people had the problem of having their food always stick to the pots and pans while cooking, they invented a coating called Teflon. Made by a cancer causing raw material called perfluooctanoic acid or PFOA, it produces a non-stick coating for pots and pans which is fortunately free from any carcinogens, as assured by research from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

So, what is the basis of all the controversy on Teflon being able to cause tumors when used?

This controversy is based on the premise that although Teflon is harmless to consumers, even if it is a product of a known carcinogen, extreme temperatures can cause it to give out toxins that are harmful to the body. These toxins can in turn cause cancer to develop which most probably explains why it is said that Teflon has the ability to cause tumors.

Cooking with Teflon is actually safe but the manner of cooking meat and other food products is usually what can produce carcinogens.

When starch or sugar containing foods are cooked, the glucose tends to bind with proteins, forming Advanced Glycated end products or AGEs. In the same way with meat, when it is charred, grilled, or fried, the burnt portion gives out polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons or PAHs. These AGEs and PAHs can both cause cancer and tumors to form especially when foods containing these substances are frequently ingested, although research still has to show the direct pathway leading to it.

Knowing these things, you would wonder what else is not safe to eat since a lot of the foods being sold in the market are either known carcinogens or can probably be carcinogenic. Cooking with utensils and pans that are lined with Teflon are said to be healthy because you do not need to use a lot of oil to be able to cook your food, hence lessening the fat content of your food. But since extreme heat can trigger the production of toxins, be cautious when cooking, even without Teflon lined utensils. It is always best to boil the food in water instead of frying. It is healthier because it preserves the nutrients as well as does not produce any toxins. But if the best way to cook a certain dish is to fry it, some suggest putting in garlic to oppose the effects of PAHs produced by the food during frying. When frying, avoid using Teflon lined pans to avoid further production of toxins.

The bottom line is to take care of what you eat. Foods that are known to cause cancer should be avoided and replaced by healthier ones. It is not the food that you eat that should control your lifestyle but you yourself should take control of the food that you eat to control your lifestyle.

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