Healthy Diet Plans >> Articles >> Diet and Wellness

Teflon Coated Utensils and Cancer

by Stella Morgan

Rate This Article

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.

Related Topics

13 diet tips satisfy appetite pausing section meal
Great Diet Tips Each and every meal should be eaten slowly. Take smaller bites and chew for a long period. Pause between each section of meal.
herb peppermint Benefits Peppermint
Health benefits of Peppermint: All about the herb peppermintPeppermint is one of the oldest herbs that have a flowering plant. Peppermint oil is...
Oral Hygiene Stomatitis
Stomatitis Stomatitis refers to inflammation of the mucous membrane lining the mouth. It is a painful condition resulting from infection. Ulcers...
Surgical Fistula in-Ano
Avoid Surgery, Go for Medicated Thread TreatmentFistula in-ano is a painful condition that necessitates surgery. However, thanks to the pioneering...
Arteriosclerosis Diet | Cardiovascular Disease | Juice Diet
Diet for ArteriosclerosisIf the causes of arteriosclerosis are known, remedial action should be taken promptly to remove them. To begin with the...

More..

Related Questions

Knowledge cancer
Carcinogens are any substances present in food or environment that are responsible for causing cancer. These carcinogen substances can be chemicals...
Question carcinogens
Carcinogens are those that result in cancer. They are cancer-causing substances. Excessive exposure to chemicals like nickel and chromium fumes...
Fast Weight Loss
Advice on Rapid Weight LossWeight loss under nine pounds is not likely to be a cause for worry or concern unless there are other symptoms...
Question foods bad
Nutrition Advice on Chillis and Tomato No food is bad for health if consumed in correct proportions according to a persons need. Tomatoes are...
Recipes Good
Healthy Food Recipes Benefits of food recipes would largely depend on the food which is used in a particular recipe. If you use soy as a main...

More..

Newsletter Subscription

Top Searched Keywords

:: diabetes

:: diet

:: obesity

:: constipation

:: thyroid

Diet and Wellness