Wednesday 28 November 2018

Harmful effects of cooking in aluminium & hindalium vessels !

Hi,

I was looking to buy a good dosa tawa. Then i came across this.

Keep in mind the harmful effects of cooking in aluminium & hindalium vessels !

Many people use cooking vessels made of aluminium or hindalium (Alloy of aluminium magnesium, manganese, chromium and silicon etc.) for cooking food. Cooking food in such vessels is harmful for health.

When such vessels are used for 5 years or more, the harmful effects start becoming visible. Important aspects in this regard are given ahead.

1. Reasons for these metals being harmful for health

A. Various diseases are caused due to minute particles (Ions) of these metals entering the body

Even if a steel spoon is brushed with force against aluminium vessels, minute particles of aluminium will appear as residue.

When food cooked in these vessels is consumed, these particles enter the body through the food. On an average, 5 milligrams of aluminium is consumed everyday through food.

B. Ions in the vessels dissolve faster in acidic materials

When aluminium vessels are used for cooking, ions in the vessel mix with the food, specially if the food contains acidic material such as lemon, tomato etc.

C. Aluminium accumulating in the body becomes slow poison

The human body has limited ability to expel such metals. If the metals accumulated in the body reach beyond this ability, these will start getting stored in the muscles, kidneys, liver, bones etc.

Aluminium also stops the growth of brain cells. Thus, aluminium accumulated in the body becomes slow poison.

D. Diseases caused due to food cooked in aluminium vessels

Depression, worry, anxiety, memory loss, osteoporosis, eye disorders, reduction in the ability of the kidneys, diarrhoea, hyperacidity, indigestion, stomachache, colitis, mouth ulcers, skin problems such as eczema etc.

2. Alternatives for aluminium and hindalium vessels

A. Earthen vessels

This is the best alternative. If these vessels are not available in the market, get these made from a local potter. By using earthen pots for cooking food, the body gets necessary minerals through the food.

B. Vessels made of copper and brass

When it is not possible to use earthen pots, vessels made of copper and brass, applied with a thin layer of tin, should be used except for sour food items.

C. Steel vessels

Vessels made of stainless steel can be used. According to a Sanskrut shloka – The first means for performing spiritual practice is a healthy body. Hence, these aspects should be kept in mind without fail.

https://www.sanatan.org/en/a/3031.html

As you see even copper vessel is harmful if copper metal is on inside of cooking vessel. The effects are slow and may not affect some people at all.

But commonsense, any heavy metal in human body is good or bad?

So i would suggest stainless steel or iron (not rusted) utensils. Or best go back to earthen pots.

Yes anodized aluminum can be used. They don't disintegrate so easily. But still Aluminum among all metal easily disintegrates and as i said it takes few years and some of us might not notice the effects. There are reports that say aluminum is INERT or gets oxidised and there is no proof to prove convincingly. But there are proofs that Alzheimer's patients mostly have high aluminum in their system. So as i said common sense, let us use metal which doesn't disintegrate easily coz any metal in body is bad after a point.

I would suggest cast iron dosa tawa. But dispose once it rusts.

For all cooking i would suggest stainless steel. But best option is if we can go for earthen cookware.

Aluminum i would suggest for serving or just keeping food items.

 

Anodized Aluminum means through electrolysis process the aluminium is made a bit hard or noncorrosive. Just a small oxide layer is formed on surface. Basically today all branded pressure cookers, the aluminum cookers that are shiny are all anodized.

But again i would avoid Aluminum in any form. For serving or storage i will use Aluminum.

But yes as i said these things are tough to prove, and in some cases today's generation might even joke about it or ignore it, coz not everyone will face the effects.

Becoz in India food is not just for eating right, if you know about the Rajasic, Tamasic and Sattvic categories of food.

As i said let us err on side of safety. Earthen or stainless steel for all cooking, heating is fine and to be 100% safe.

Actually, i wanted to buy dosa tawa like the one in video but then just came across this...

And to all who might not agree, all comments against my views are welcome. But before you post, kindly see from the perspective what we are saying.

If one still doesnt agree good but there is truth in what ancient Indians have to say about food and cooking, utensils.

2 comments:

  1. Nice info... Earthen vessels & food grade stainless steel vessels are good ... Anything coated with Tin offcourse is harmful too

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