Aluminum Foil: A Toxic Habit

by Mila McManus MD

Tragically, using aluminum foil is a toxic habit that can have serious unintended consequences for our health and well-being. — Are You Wrapped Up In This Toxic Habit?

For generations, our parents and grandparents have used aluminum foil to wrap baked potatoes, line cookie sheets, and store leftovers in the kitchen. Today, outdoor grillers use it as one of many tools of this culinary art. Tragically, despite its convenience, using aluminum foil is a toxic habit that can have serious unintended consequences for health and wellbeing.

Aluminum Foil Is Pervasive

Toxicity concerns have arisen due to the increasingly pervasive exposure to aluminum foil. Foil debuted in 1911 in Switzerland when Tobler began wrapping its famous triangular chocolate bar, Toblerone, in it. Life Savers followed suit, wrapping their legendary candy in the shiny metal tube. Pre-formed, all-foil food packaging containers appeared on the market in 1948. Now, a complete line of die-formed and air-formed foil containers and wraps are sold in every supermarket, used to package pre-made meals, and used in homes, fast food, and restaurants for takeout. Behind the scenes in restaurants, aluminum foil insulates and holds heated foods until served. Amazon offers aluminum reusable and recyclable party cups as an alternative to plastic [ Really?].

Toxic Exposure

The use of aluminum foil in cooking results in transferring aluminum into the food we eat. How much aluminum leaches into the food depends on the acidity, salt content, fat, temperature, and cooking time. Studies show that marinated foods with greater acidity and salt content, and longer, high-temperature preparations, consistently released higher levels of aluminum into the food. Heavy-duty aluminum foil also resulted in an even greater amount of aluminum being released into food. Toxicity is an especially high-risk concern for developing children under the age of three.

Studies have demonstrated that aluminum accumulation in the body is linked to neurological issues, including Alzheimer’s, autism, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease. Aluminum also replaces calcium in bones, leading to weakness and higher fracture risk. Anemia is another downstream result when bone marrow cannot produce hemoglobin. Our liver and kidneys can struggle to filter aluminum out of the body, resulting in dysfunctions such as liver disease, metabolic disorders, and kidney stones. Symptoms of aluminum toxicity include memory loss, confusion, coordination difficulties, bone pain, kidney dysfunction, and respiratory issues.

How to Reduce Exposure

Avoid using aluminum foil or cookware for cooking and food storage. Look for glass, silicone, stainless steel, ceramic, and parchment paper options.
If restaurant leftovers are part of your routine, put some safe storage options in your car and take them into the restaurant with you.
Avoid purchasing food in aluminum cans, containers, or bags with ultra-thin aluminum foil lining.
Avoid processed foods, over-the-counter medicines, and beverages in which aluminum crystals and salts prevent caking, serve as a binder, and act as a gastric antacid. Check your antiperspirant for aluminum, too!
Tap water is another source, more so in some areas than others. Have your water tested and use a reverse osmosis filter if levels are high.
Aluminum is a common adjuvant in vaccinations, making this another route of exposure.

To learn more about heavy metal toxicity, testing, and detoxification, talk to one of our healthcare providers.

Kick the Habit. Be Wise. Be Well.

References:

https://kitchendance.com/blogs/default-blog/blog-the-history-of-aluminum-foil-packaging

Dordevic D, Buchtova H, Jancikova S, Macharackova B, Jarosova M, Vitez T, Kushkevych I. Aluminum contamination of food during culinary preparation: Case study with aluminum foil and consumers’ preferences. Food Sci Nutr. 2019 Sep 9;7(10):3349-3360. doi: 10.1002/fsn3.1204. PMID: 31660148; PMCID: PMC6804775.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6804775/

https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2024/11/06/aluminum-foil-aluminum-exposure.aspx

One Easy Step – Eliminate Aluminum Foil

By Nancy Mehlert, MS

We often talk about taking baby steps in a longer journey to good health. One easy and important step is to reduce or eliminate the use of aluminum foil in cooking. Aluminum foil is used by many to wrap breads for heating, cook foods in the oven or on the grill and to cover dishes while baking. Researchers found that any food in contact with aluminum foil while cooking leaches surprising large amounts of aluminum directly into the food. Acid foods such as tomato and lemons result in even greater leaching.

Aluminum serves no biological function in the body and is neurotoxic to human health. Many health experts link aluminum use to Alzheimer’s, brain inflammation, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and impairment of iron metabolism. Early symptoms of aluminum exposure include depression, headaches, abnormal heartbeat, dry skin, gastrointestinal complaints, and frequent infections. Aluminum toxicity includes more severe symptoms of paralytic muscular conditions, memory loss, and confusion.

Routine usage over time results in aluminum accumulating in the brain, lungs, kidney, liver, and thyroid. As it accumulates, it causes oxidative stress, tissue damage, and inflammation. Chronically, this can lead to disease.

Reduce exposure by eliminating aluminum foil and aluminum cans from your kitchen. Cook in glass, stainless steel or ceramic cookware and storage containers.

Look for aluminum in body products such as deodorant and antacids and switch to aluminum free options.

Filter your water to ensure removal of aluminum and fluoride.

Natural detoxifiers for aluminum include cilantro, cruciferous vegetables, onion, and garlic.

High dose Vitamins C, N-acetyl-cysteine, and turmeric are also excellent at detoxifying and alleviating the adverse effects of aluminum.

Sources:

https://www.naturalhealth365.com/aluminum-foil-brain-health-2882.html