3 Simple swaps to detoxify your kitchen

Many people in the quest to get healthy take the initial steps of cleaning up their diet. They switch from conventional meat to organic, remove preservatives and processed foods and cut significantly back on sugar. I applaud all of those steps and agree that they are essential for healing, however, the amount of toxins lurking elsewhere, especially in the kitchen are often overlooked.Did you know that over 80,000 chemicals are present in everyday products? And there is no requirement to show that the chemicals are safe before people are exposed to them. If you’ve already taken some initial steps to detoxify your life Id like to make the transition into detoxifying the kitchen, because after all, thats where our food is being prepared. These are a few items to replace in your kitchen to reduce the toxic load of your home.Ditch the non-stick pans and switch to cast ironPolytetrafluoroethylene (or Teflon as it’s called) is the non-stick surface that lines most pans and pots. It’s made of carbon and fluorine and has been shown to emit toxic fumes in the air when used to cook. In fact, these fumes are known to kill pet birds (I know someone who this happened to). While it may reduce the need for butter when cooking (which isn't actually a benefit) it is definitely not safe to cook with.Cast iron pans are not only safe to use, they can have a non-stick surface when used correctly. Use plenty of oil and never wash with soap or water. Cast iron pots and pans also increase the amount of iron in our blood which most women are deficient in. Although they are typically expensive when purchased brand new, you can often find them in thrift stores for quite cheap. Stainless steel pans are another great option if cast iron is not an option.Avoid Aluminum foilEven small amounts of Aluminum is toxic to the body. Like other heavy metals, it chelates to areas in the body such as the brain and bones and is difficult to remove. Aluminum toxicity is linked to a host of brain/ memory problems like Alzheimers as well as chronic fatigue syndrome so it’s best to avoid contact with it as much as possibleGet rid of plastic (cups/ utensils/ cling film/ bags)Plastic in most cases contains BPA, a toxin linked to cancer, weight-gain and hormonal problems. It's best not to prepare our food on plastic cutting boards, drink from plastic cups or use plastic utensil especially when they are touching a hot surface. Switch to glass cups, wooden cooking utensils and avoid using cling wrap on your food. Glass mason jars are great for storing food and stainless steel bento boxes are great for portable lunch containers. And of course, you'll be greatly reducing the amount of waste, put in a landfill.*even BPA free plastics have not been proven safe, and often contain BPS, a similar toxin.Instead of using plastics and aluminum foil for food preservation, take the extra time to save food in a glass container. It will keep your food fresh for longer, and help you to avoid any toxins or heavy metals that are lurking in your kitchen. Do you have any other suggestions of kitchen swaps to make for a healthier life?  This post was shared at The Pistachio project