Page 38 - Summer2008

REDUCING ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE

COOKWARE: Glass, cast iron, carbon steel, titanium and lead-free crock pots (slow cookers) and enamels are best. Ob-
tain Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) data from the manufacturers for evaluation if possible, especially in the case of
enamels and slow cookers. The FDA alleges that the risks from lead in slow cookers are acceptable, but consumers may
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want to find products that have been proven lead free and not just meeting “FDA standards.” Hamilton-Beach claims its
crockpot is lead free. Aluminum and teflon are well known for their health dangers. Less known is the fact that stainless
steel exposes people to accumulations of carcinogenic nickel, and often cobalt and chromium, as well. Although some
high-grade stainless steels are supposed to be risk free, they may be so only in water at near-neutral pH. None of the 300
and 400 series stainless steels evaluated are stable in tomato acids and salt. Series 316 corrosion-resistant stainless steel
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is the best (used in Saladmaster brand cookware). It is resistant to tomato juice and vinegar, but corrodes with exposure
to citric acid and salt (so add salt after cooking). Sadly, Corning glassware is no longer in production, but eBay is a good
source. There are many high-end enamel cookware products, including Le Creuset .

RESTAURANTS: As the FDA requires restaurants to use stainless steel pots and vats, minimize restaurant patronage, espe-
cially at buffets where salty and acidic food, like tomato sauces and pastas sit out in stainless warming trays for extended
periods of time.

THERMOSES AND WATER CONTAINERS: Avoid stainless steel thermoses. The old-fashioned glass-lined thermoses are
best. For water containers, avoid the newly chic and sanitary aluminum and stainless versions. Glass would be perfect,
except for the breakage factor.

PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS AND COSMETICS: Some cosmetics have aluminum bases. “Natural” mineral powders
may contain bismuth, an all-natural but dangerous mineral. Antiperspirants are a primary source of aluminum, and they
prevent us from sweating the carcinogenic metal toxins out through the skin, a situation that amplifies the risk for women
who are also getting exposed to nickel from sweating while wearing underwire bras.

JEWELRY: Those very sensitive to metals will need to limit jewelry to special occasions. The nickel found in cheap cos-
tume jewelry is especially dangerous. at least for the posts, hooks, and other fastenings that come in direct contact with
the skin. Earrings as well as the rings and studs used in body piercing should be avoided or worn sparingly if one can not
verify their origin and metal composition with confidence. Again pure titanium is preferred for maximum safety.
ORTHODONTICS AND SURGERY: Many orthodontists and surgeons use stainless steel (which contains nickel) for braces,
wires, palate wideners, etc. This is especially unfortunate because exposure 24/7 in a hot environment wet with saliva is a
formula for metal toxicity. Sadly, many of the products promoted as “titanium” are actually mixes of titanium and stainless.
It’s now illegal for dentists and surgeons to use dental implants, body replacement parts and mesh made of nickel, but
doctors may still leave carcinogenic stainless staples in patients after surgery. For most people titanium is a safe choice,
though a small number of people have reacted to that metal as well, perhaps reflecting problems with purity.

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Toxic metals also contribute to the plague and accelerated the proliferation of the breast cancer cells.
of female reproductive system problems such as Mercury and other toxic metals further contribute to cancer de-
menstrual difculties, infertility, miscarriage, velopment and growth by preventing the biosynthesis and functioning of

pre-eclampsia, pregnancy-induced hyperten- vitalethine, an endogenous regulator of key metabolic pathways necessary
sion and premature births. Toxic metals have for a “vital” immune system. Adequate natural vitalethine controls immune
also been linked to increased breast cancer risk. responses, probably to all types of cancer and to infectious agents like
A recent study out of Georgetown University AIDS. Evidence is accumulating that vitalethine is also crucial for proper
showed that the metals mercury, copper, cobalt, cholesterol metabolism, red blood cell production and diabetes prevention.
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nickel, lead, tin, chromium and vanadate ac- For our bodies to make natural vitalethine, we need the sulfur-containing
tivated estrogen receptor alpha sites in human amino acid, L-cysteine along with vitamin D-pantothenic acid. However,
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breast cell cancer lines in ways similarly to the if high-quality, usable protein and cysteine become de cient because of
human estrogen estradiol. The metals also altered poor diet or poisoning by metals, our bodies will try to compensate by
gene expression, perturbed hormonal balance making cysteine from the essential amino acid, methionine through the
36 Wise Traditions SUMMER 2008