Healthier kitchen swaps
The kitchen where health is made, but it can also be a huge source of hidden, everyday toxins. Read on to learn how to protect yourself and your faily.
The kitchen is the soul of any home.
Unfortunately, it is also often a place where unwanted toxins enter our bodies. Here are some key areas to address. Remember, these changes do not need to be made all in one go. Tackle one at a time and move on to the next as and when you have the finances, time, and ability to do so.
Teflon/Non-stick Cookware
These are coated with a family of chemicals called PFAs (aka forever chemicals) which leach thousands of PFAs particles into our food during cooking. However, if scratched, they can release MILLIONS of PFAs particles during cooking.
These chemicals have been associated with weight gain, type 2 diabetes, fertility issues, adverse pregnancy outcomes, disrupted thyroid function, increased risks of cancers (testicular, kidney), impaired immune function… and more. When you can, switch these out for stainless steel, cast iron or 3rd party tested 100% ceramic cookware instead.
Plastic Food Storage
Plastic is made from an estimated 10,000 different chemicals, a quarter of which are chemicals of concern according to chemists. These chemicals, e.g. BPA, phthalates (endocrine disrupters that mess with our hormones), benzene (carcinogen), and styrene (carcinogen), are not permanently bound to the plastic - they can leach out into the food touching the plastic.
Studies have shown that microwaving plastic for just 3 minutes can release millions of microplastics and billions of nano plastics into our food.
Why should we care about that? Up until recently, the dangers of plastic have only been demonstrated in petri dish studies, and shown to be toxic to human cell lines. However, more studies have come onto the scene demonstrating potential harm in humans. For example, this one showed that people with inflammatory bowel disease (like Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis) are more likely to have higher microplastic content in their stools.1
In addition, a surprising study in the prestigious NEJM in March this year looked at carotid artery plaques taken from people who had surgery - and showed that people with microplastic in their arteries are 4.5 times more likely to have a heart attack, stroke or die (within 3 years of study follow-up, so this figure could be much higher if these people were followed up for longer.2
Plastic is so convenient though… what can we do to reduce our exposure?
replace plastic Tupperware with glass - these can be found at Costco now for a reasonable price.
If you use plastic, do not heat food or drinks in plastic - transfer it into glass before you microwave/heat.
Swap plastic cutting boards for wooden/glass, and if do use plastic cutting boards - don’t put them in the dishwasher. Hand wash them in hot soapy water instead.
Swap plastic utensils like spoons and spatulas for wooden or stainless steel instead
Instead of bottled water, which has been found to have multiple times more microplastic than tap water, invest in a water filter instead. (I have an article on how to pick a water filter).
Cleaning products
Cleaning products can expose us to volatile organic compounds that aerosolize into the air and are breathed in while we clean - these are often airway irritants that can lead to congestion, sinus issues and even headaches, not to mention ‘fragrances’ which often contain endocrine disrupters.
Opt for less toxic cleaners that do not contain bleach, fragrances, quarternary compounds, and Isothiazolinones which were classified as ‘Allergen of the year’ but shockingly in so many products marketed to people with ‘sensitive’ skin.
There are so many recipes online using a combination of vinegar, water, and lemon - and they can work well! But if you don’t like the smell of vinegar, you can find some Dr. Viv-approved cleaning products linked below:
Dish washer soap:
I use Aspen Clean (Love they do refills) - code Platefulhealth to get 15% off your 1st order. (I also use their laundry detergent)
Dish washer tablets:
I use Branch Basics (love that there is no plastic and the packaging is compostable)
Kitchen cleaner:
I use Branch Basics [code platefulhealth on kits] - I have been using them to clean my entire home for 7 years now. Nothing has come close to how well it works for me. I love that it is unscented, and that each bottle of concentrate can be used to make bathroom cleaner, All-purpose, window cleaner, and when paired with their Oxygen Boost it is literally my cleaning ride-or-die. [Code: platefulhealth for 15% off any kit]
Want to know the Cookware that I use?
Want to find out more on what is the best non-toxic cookware? Make sure you check out my guide!
Subscribe as a free or paid subscriber and receive a downloadable link in your welcome email.
Last but not least - OPEN YOUR WINDOWS or switch on the Range Hood when cooking to minimize the inhalation of PM2.5 particles, which are tiny particles generated during cooking (especially high-heat cooking like frying or grilling) that can lead to inflammation.
Replacing foil, and plastic-laden tea bags with other better options - I will be deep diving into a commonly used and beloved item in our kitchens - ALUMINUM FOIL - is it toxic? What are some better alternatives? Stay tuned and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss it!
Here are more healthier kitchen swaps if you want more products I love and use in my own home!
I'm an affiliate for some of the products linked on my website. I get asked about products I use and love all the time, and by being an affiliate, I can negotiate discount codes to share with you, plus earn a small commission if you use my code or link to purchase. This helps me to support my research so that I can continue to provide the content on my platform, thank you so much for your support.
Originally written February 22nd 2024
Yan Z, Liu Y, Zhang T, Zhang F, Ren H, Zhang Y. Analysis of Microplastics in Human Feces Reveals a Correlation between Fecal Microplastics and Inflammatory Bowel Disease Status. Environ Sci Technol. 2022 Jan 4;56(1):414-421. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.1c03924. Epub 2021 Dec 22. PMID: 34935363.
Marfella R, Prattichizzo F, Sardu C, Fulgenzi G, Graciotti L, Spadoni T, D'Onofrio N, Scisciola L, La Grotta R, Frigé C, Pellegrini V, Municinò M, Siniscalchi M, Spinetti F, Vigliotti G, Vecchione C, Carrizzo A, Accarino G, Squillante A, Spaziano G, Mirra D, Esposito R, Altieri S, Falco G, Fenti A, Galoppo S, Canzano S, Sasso FC, Matacchione G, Olivieri F, Ferraraccio F, Panarese I, Paolisso P, Barbato E, Lubritto C, Balestrieri ML, Mauro C, Caballero AE, Rajagopalan S, Ceriello A, D'Agostino B, Iovino P, Paolisso G. Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Atheromas and Cardiovascular Events. N Engl J Med. 2024 Mar 7;390(10):900-910. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2309822. PMID: 38446676; PMCID: PMC11009876.