Ways To Make Your Kitchen A Healthier Place

When it comes to living a healthy lifestyle, many people underestimate the importance of ensuring that their home is a healthy place. Rather than focusing strictly on diet and exercise, it is important to consider all aspects of daily living. That's why you simply can't ignore your home, the place where you might spend most of your time but definitely most of your down time, including sleep, as you improve your lifestyle.

Generally, the most important place to start if you're making changes for the better is in the kitchen. While the kitchen is the place that houses the food that will nourish your body, it is also packed full of the most of the toxic chemicals and other unhealthy items that could interfere with your quest for better health. 

Food contamination, corrosive materials, irritants, carcinogens, hormones and antibiotics in food, pesticides on fruits and vegetables…the list of potential kitchen hazards goes on and on. Taking the steps necessary to make your kitchen a healthier place can be overwhelming.

Try focusing first on creating a toxin-free living space, then moving on to replacing unhealthy foods and cooking ingredients with healthier alternatives. By taking small steps and going back to the basics, you can give your kitchen a healthy makeover one step at a time. 

Replace Non-Stick Pans 

Non-stick pans are coated with material that releases harmful fumes containing PFC’s when the lining is heated. PCF’s, or perfluorocarbons, can cause liver damage and are linked to developmental problems. Cast iron, aluminum and stainless steel cookware is a safer alternative to non-stick pans.

Even if you opt for the green non-stick cookware, be sure to replace metal utensils with wooden utensils, as they will not scratch the surface of the cookware. When the surface is scratched, pieces of the lining can flake off and get into your food, and then into your body.

Eliminate Unsafe Plastic Containers 

Many plastic containers contain dangerous chemicals that can cause a host of unhealthy effects on the body. The most commonly used and most dangerous of which is BPA, or bisphenol A. BPA is known to interfere with hormones and disrupt the endocrine system, and has been linked to the development of breast and prostate cancer.

The chemical is also associated with infertility, diabetes and heart disease. Not all plastic storage containers contain BPA, but those that do can leech the dangerous chemicals into your food. A simple way to check the safety of your plastic containers is to check for recycling code “7”, which indicated that they are safe. Many manufacturers now label their containers as BPA-free. Another option is to replace all plastic containers with glass storage containers.  

Use Safer Detergents 

Many dish soaps and dishwasher detergents are loaded with toxic chemicals. Although the majority of these chemicals are washed off when the dishes are rinsed, many of them can leave a residue on the dishes. That residue can leech into foods, especially hot foods. Try replacing commercial soaps and detergents with DIY detergents or chemical-free alternatives. If you opt for store-bought, chemical-free dishwasher detergents and find that your dishes have a cloudy residue, try using some vinegar in the rinse compartment. 

Use Safe Cleaning Products

When you clean your kitchen with products that contain harsh chemicals, endocrine-disrupting phthalates and other dangerous toxins, you expose your food to those harmful ingredients, and also inhale noxious gases while you clean. Eliminate this risk by switching to natural cleaners, such as a DIY mixture of white vinegar, water, baking soda and lemon juice. There are also a variety of natural cleaning products on the market if you prefer not to make your own.  

Healthy Foods In Your Kitchen  

Eliminate Pesticides 

Familiarize yourself with the Dirty Dozen, the 12 fruits and vegetables (apples, strawberries, peaches, nectarines, grapes, blueberries, lettuce, kale, potatoes, sweet bell peppers, spinach, celery)  that contain the highest level of dangerous pesticides.

Being exposed to pesticides increases the risk of developing a host of health problems, including nervous system diseases, cell growth problems, reproductive disorders and certain cancers. It's so bad you should be surprised that stuff is even legal. Organic produce, though free from harmful pesticides, can be expensive. For those who want to cut their exposure to pesticides but cannot afford to purchase all organic foods, replacing just the dirty dozen can help significantly reduce pesticide exposure, reduce their risk of health problems related to it, and boost their overall health.  

Choose Healthy Dairy and Meat  

Dairy products and meats are a healthy addition to your diet that can help you meet your daily protein requirements easily. But not all dairy products and meat are created equal. Cancer-causing dioxins are stored in animal fat, so fatty meats from animals that were exposed to dangerous chemicals essentially means eating them directly. By selecting low-fat dairy and lean meats, you can decrease your risk of contact with harmful dioxins by as much as 90 percent. Opt for skim milk, low-fat dairy, lean cuts of meat, and skinned chicken to improve your health.

Watch Out for Mercury in Fish

Eating fish is an effective way to boost your intake of healthy omega-3 fatty acids and protein, and because of that, fish is universally known as healthy. To get the most out of your meal, though, it is important to select fish that does not contain high levels of mercury. Mercury is harmful to the nervous system and has the potential to damage the lungs, kidneys and heart, and it can cause impairment of the immune system. It is especially dangerous to pregnant women and young children.

Use a Filter For Tap Water

Tap water that is not filtered can contain over 300 harmful chemicals, pesticides and other pollutants. Switching to bottled water is not the answer, as many bottled waters contain the same harmful ingredients. In fact, bottled water is not nearly as regulated as tap water, so there is no guarantee that what you are paying for is any better than what you could get out of your own faucet. The simple solution is to use a filter for your tap water.

There are a variety of options to choose from, including filtered pitchers that you fill and place in the refrigerator, filters that are placed in water bottles, filters that attach to the kitchen sink or refrigerator itself, and even filters that can be placed into the plumbing system and filter all of the water that is used in the home. Prices vary depending on the filtration system, and can range anywhere from under $40 to over $2000.

Purchase a Juicer

Though it can be expensive, a juicer is an excellent way to incorporate more fruits and vegetables into your diet and improve your overall health. Many people complain that is almost impossible to eat enough fruits and vegetables to meet their daily nutritional needs. The juicer makes it easy to get half a day’s worth of produce or more in just one glass. Advocates of juicing claim a host of health benefits, including improved skin and eyesight, better quality sleep, more energy, weight loss and an overall improvement in health.

Unwrap your Grains

Keeping your healthy pasta, rice, beans and other grains in their original container makes them less appealing to the eye and more likely to get lost somewhere in the back of your pantry. Organize your grains in individual containers and showcase them on your kitchen counter. Not only are they pleasing to the eye, but seeing them on your counter will make you more likely to incorporate them into your daily meals.