In the last 2 articles I shared with you the dangers of some of the utensils in your kitchen and how to spot them. Now, I’d like to share with you more about what’s not going to poison your food, your health and your fertility.

Crusty? BEWARE!

The only crusty things allowed in your kitchen may be the occasional baking. You certainly don’t want to let your utensils anywhere near that state because damaged or broken utensils accumulate unhealthy levels of bacteria and can start leaching toxic chemicals into your food. This can not only impact your fertility but also your general health on many levels.

Your Best Cookware Options

Your best course of action is to be as far away as possible from all the metal and chemically concocted cookware discussed in parts 1 and 2 of this article. The only exception would be the stainless steel which is not as problematic as cookware made from Teflon, aluminium or plastic for example. Although be sure never to store you food in any type of cookware (particularly acidic types such as tomato/citrus based dishes, sauces or dressings)—always choose glass which will not leach chemicals.

In avoiding dangerous cook ware options, the best and easier way to do this is to replace all your cooking pots, pans, skillets, kettles and cooking utensils, with either heat-proof glass counterparts (be sure to do your research before buying glass, there are some explosive brands on the market!) or enamel coated cast iron such as Le Creuset or Le Chasseur for cookware. Other cookware options include wood, bamboo or similar for cooking utensils.

Quality and Durability

As is true in other areas, you will usually get what you pay for when it comes to excellent cookware. The best quality, however if used with care, means you may very well be passing your cookware along to future generations!

My favourite cookware option for pot and pans is definitely cast iron. They just seem to last longer, heat up more evenly and just cook better. (A small note of caution, it is best to buy enamelled cast iron cookware because non-coated cast iron can dramatically increase the levels of iron in food and to a small part of the population this can be undesirable).

Cast iron cookware has been used for 3000 years with proven safety. Firstly used in China to cook rice, this durable kitchen staple is the best choice for healthy cooking and optimum fertility. In the past, lead (a potential cause of infertility, miscarriages and malformations, amongst many other health problems) was used in glazes for enamelled cast iron pots, but this is no longer the case (ensure your pots were manufactured after 1990 to be 100% safe). Be aware however that lead is still a component in some glazes used in ceramic, clay and slow-cooking pots.

As far as food processors or blenders are concerned, glass is best and stainless steel is definitely preferred over plastic.

If you are unsure or would like more information about what cookware is currently in your household do some extra research on the topic. You may even choose to contact the manufacturer for clarification—you and your family are worth it!

Teflon And Other Non-Stick Surfaces

Since you now understand the dangers of heavy metals, there is no need to go over the dangers of cookware made from single heavy metals such as aluminium or copper, or amalgamations of heavy metals or other substances such as stainless steel and silicone. It is important however, to further understand the role of Teflon and other non-stick coated cookware and utensils on human health.

Non-stick coatings used in the cookware industry are made from either a silicone base or a fluorocarbon (P.T.F.E.) base. Fluorocarbon coatings are applied in one or two layers, plus a “sealer” or topcoat.

Heating fluorocarbons causes a gradual breakdown of the fluoropolymers into a variety of other chemical compounds, which are released into the air—these fumes have been shown to kill household birds—and this is not all. DuPont, the manufacturer of Teflon, acknowledges that the fumes given off by non-stick coatings can also sicken people, in a condition called ‘polymer fume fever’, which can be erroneously diagnosed as the common flu.

No one has ever studied the incidence of illness among users of the billions of non-stick pots and pans sold around the world, or the long-term effects from the sickness. However, given the chemical cocktail which is Teflon, and the fact that it is toxic enough to kill birds, consider what it must do to something as small as the tiniest embryo. In addition, since fluoropolymers have been shown to cause birth defects, adversely affect the immune system and disrupt thyroid function (which can cause infertility),—one can safely assume cooking with such utensils would not be in your best interest.

If the fumes were not enough, once the Teflon coating becomes even lightly scratched, it flakes and is often combined with food during cooking. This means that these toxic compounds manage to gain free access into the body in ‘large quantities’, besides the toxic fumes.

According to a study commissioned by the Environmental Working Group, non-stick pots and pans can reach 700 degrees Fahrenheit (370oC) in three to five minutes, releasing 15 harmful gases and chemicals, including two carcinogens, two global pollutants, and MFA, a chemical lethal to humans at low doses. Non-stick coatings break down to a chemical warfare agent known as PFIB, and a chemical analogue of the WWII nerve gas, phosgene.

Other General Uses of Teflon

The dramatic part of the story when it comes to Teflon is that it is used in so many household items and industries (some of which you may be completely unaware) that it is difficult, but not impossible, to reduce exposure.

Industrial uses for Teflon fluoropolymers includes the following areas: architectural, fabrics, automotive uses, cabling materials, food processing, pharmaceutical and biotech manufacturing, and semiconductor manufacturing. Products include industrial and medical tubing, films, chemical linings, coatings on electrical insulation, fabrics, metals, electronic data insulation and telecommunications.

They can be found in many different products including:

• Automotive products;
• Carpet;
• Cleaning products;
• Clothing, including kids;
• Computer accessories;
• Cookware;
• Fashion accessories;
• Furniture;
• Gardening products;
• Luggage;
• Medical supplies;
• Miscellaneous household products;
• Music supplies;
• Paints/coatings;
• Personal care products;
• Pet supplies;
• Sporting and outdoor gear
• And more.

Here are some tips for reducing your exposure to toxic Teflon fluoropolymers:

• Replace all non-stick cookware and equipment in your home with enamelled cast iron cookware and wooden/bamboo utensils;
• When you purchase furniture or carpet, decline optional treatments for stain and dirt resistance, and insist on products that have not been pre-treated with chemicals. Most of these chemical treatments contain fluoropolymers that might contaminate your home and family;
• Avoid buying clothing with labels that indicate it has been coated to repel water, stains, or dirt. Many of these coatings are fluoropolymers. By buying alternatives you will help shrink the fluoropolymer market and the associated global contamination;
• Minimise packaged food and greasy fast foods in your diet. These may be sold in containers that are coated with fluoropolymers to keep grease from soaking through the packaging. Fluoropolymers are used in a wide variety of containers, including French-fry boxes, pizza boxes and microwave popcorn bags—luckily you will not be eating these foods during your preconception preparation. However, do be aware of other supposedly healthy products packaged in such containers.
• Mainly consume organic, fresh, unprocessed produce delivered in nature’s intended package—its own skin!
• Avoid buying cosmetics and other personal care products with the words ‘fluoro’ or ‘perfluoro’ on the ingredient list. Products that might contain fluoropolymers include lotions, pressed powders, nail polish, and shaving cream. Try to always buy chemical-free personal hygiene items and if you are unsure, check the Environmental Working Group’s cosmetic safety database at www.cosmeticdatabase.com. Also read the following section on chemicals for more information on how to protect your health and that of your prospective family.

For more information on the household use of Teflon fluoropolymers visit http://tinyurl.com/2out6o

Plastics

The latest scientific studies confirm that all plastic compounds have a direct negative impact on fertility and the health of a developing embryo. These compounds include bisphenol A (BPA), Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and plasticisers such as phthalates. Phthalates are used to make plastic malleable for plastic containers, bottles and kitchen utensils, wrappers, and are also used in perfumes, hairsprays, lubricants and wood finishers. They are responsible for that new car smell, which becomes especially pungent after the car has been sitting in the sun for a few hours. Then, as the temperature cools, it condenses out of the air to form an oily coating on the inside of the windshield. Plastic compounds have a hormone disrupting effect and recent research indicates hormonal disruptors can cause adverse health effects in cells at levels as low as one part per trillion! This means that minimal amounts can negatively affect your fertility.

Large population studies suggest that people are already experiencing health effects caused by exposures to hormone disruptors. Adult men with high levels of phthalates in their bodies are more likely to show signs of hormonal disturbance, including reduced sperm concentration and motility, increased damage to sperm DNA, and altered hormone levels. Baby boys exposed to high levels of phthalates in the womb, or in breast milk, are more likely to display reproductive and endocrine system abnormalities. In baby girls, these substances can potentially predispose them for earlier onset of puberty as well as increase the risk of reproductive problems later in life. Women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (a leading cause of infertility), or those who suffer recurrent miscarriages, are more likely to have higher levels of bisphenol A in their blood. In addition, due the oestrogenic nature of these plastic compounds, women are developing oestrogen dominant conditions such as endometriosis, fibroids and female reproductive cancers.

In order to ensure optimum general and reproductive health, you and your partner should avoid all types of plastics, particularly those in contact with food, containers, water and other drink bottles, cling wraps and the like. NEVER, put any kind of plastic into a microwave—although you will not be using, and hopefully will not even own, a microwave very soon (certainly during your preconception preparation it should be unplugged and packed away). If, down the track, you need to use baby bottles, look for toughened glass bottles as an alternative to plastic.

Toxic heavy metals cannot be degraded or destroyed and are dangerous because they tend to bioaccumulate. Bioaccumulation means an increase in the concentration of a chemical in the body over time, compared to the chemical’s concentration in the environment. Heavy metals accumulate in living organisms whenever they enter the body (of humans and/or animals). They are immediately absorbed and due to their high toxic potential are quickly and deeply stored away in tissues such as the brain, liver, kidneys and bones to prevent immediate harm as they are not easily broken down, metabolized or excreted by the body.

The problem being that due to their inability to be easily metabolized and excreted they tend to accumulate further and further causing metabolic disruptions which can lead to infertility, poor sperm parameters and miscarriages, but they have also been linked to malformation and abnormalities in the foetus as well as developmental concerns including autism in children whose parents (particularly the mother had high heavy metal loads during pregnancy). Researchers believe a lot of the damage caused to developing babies and children due to heavy metals exposure begins and happens whilst in utero, in addition to some links to certain vaccines which are preserved with mercury and may contain other heavy metals as well as polluted fish, water and other environmental exposure.

Arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, aluminum, and uranium are highly toxic and every care should be taken to avoid them. Barium, lithium, nickel (one of the alloys in stainless steel) and strontium are also toxic and are certainly best avoided.

So where are these toxic metals found?

The best way to protect your health and fertility as well as for the safety of your family avoid products you suspect heavy metals are present in. And be sure to do your research!

Toxic heavy metals cannot be degraded or destroyed and are dangerous because they tend to bioaccumulate. Bioaccumulation means an increase in the concentration of a chemical in the body over time, compared to the chemical’s concentration in the environment. Heavy metals accumulate in living organisms whenever they enter the body (of humans and/or animals). They are immediately absorbed and due to their high toxic potential are quickly and deeply stored away in tissues such as the brain, liver, kidneys and bones to prevent immediate harm as they are not easily broken down, metabolized or excreted by the body.

The problem being that due to their inability to be easily metabolized and excreted they tend to accumulate further and further causing metabolic disruptions which can lead to infertility, poor sperm parameters and miscarriages, but they have also been linked to malformation and abnormalities in the foetus as well as developmental concerns including autism in children whose parents (particularly the mother had high heavy metal loads during pregnancy). Researchers believe a lot of the damage caused to developing babies and children due to heavy metals exposure begins and happens whilst in utero, in addition to some links to certain vaccines which are preserved with mercury and may contain other heavy metals as well as polluted fish, water and other environmental exposure.

Arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, aluminum, and uranium are highly toxic and every care should be taken to avoid them. Barium, lithium, nickel (one of the alloys in stainless steel) and strontium are also toxic and are certainly best avoided.

How Do Heavy Metals Interfere With Health And Fertility?

Generally speaking, heavy metals disrupt metabolic function in two basic ways:

1. First, they accumulate and thereby disrupt function in vital organs and glands such as the heart, brain, kidneys, bone, liver, etc.
2. Second, they displace vital nutritional minerals from where they should be in the body to provide biological function. For example, enzymes are catalysts for virtually every biochemical reaction in all life-sustaining processes of metabolism. But instead of calcium being present in an enzyme reaction, lead or cadmium may be there in its place. Toxic metals can’t fulfill the same role as the nutritional minerals, thus their presence becomes critically disruptive to enzyme activity.

Because their impact is at such a foundational level, heavy metals can be causal factors in literally any health problem.

Testing for Heavy metals in the body

Heavy metal testing and toxicity is a very complex issue. This can often increase the length of your preconception preparation by many months. Most people will have heavy metals in storages within their bodies and although it is important to address those levels at some time and have a ‘clean up’ for the sake of your own general health (and maybe even your fertility and the health of your prospective child), some couples choose to leave the whole issue of heavy metals alone. Some experts argue that if heavy metals are deep in storage, then it if fine just to leave them there and they will no cause a problem. Others strongly oppose this view. However they all agree that if you do decide to do something about it (i.e. undergo chelation treatment) you must not attempt conception for at least 4 months after the treatment has finished.

You now know the impact of heavy metals on health and ultimately only you can make the final decision, however here’s what I know and recommend to my patients: If a couple has been trying to conceive for more than one year without success despite there being no other reason for infertility and/or has had multiple miscarriages, my recommendation is for testing and if we do find heavy metals, I will recommend chelation therapy as a part of natural fertility treatment—unless a woman is over the age of 40.

It is now well established that many childhood illnesses and even developmental problems have their beginning in utero through the effects of heavy metals on metabolic processes. Dr Kenneth Bock’s book “Healing the New Childhood Epidemics: Autism, ADHD, Asthma, and Allergies: The Groundbreaking Program for the 4-A Disorders” is a good resource for understanding the importance of preconception preparation from another perspective.

There are a few different ways of testing for heavy metals, and although you can buy inexpensive urine test kits online, these are only semi-accurate if a person has very high levels of heavy metals in the body and their metabolic excretion rate is high, which is seldom the case—remember how we discussed previously that heavy metals are quite unwilling to be easily excreted? Well, this is why ‘unchallenged’ urine tests are not all that useful for diagnosing heavy metal levels and toxicity.

For best results be sure to seek professional advice from a practitioner who understands and specializes in the treatment of heavy metal toxicity for an opinion on your unique circumstance.