Teflon cookware and "Teflon flu": harm or benefit?

Teflon cookware has long gained popularity due to its non-stick properties, but many people do not think about its possible harmful health effects. Among such consequences is the well-known term "Teflon flu". In this article we will consider the main problems associated with the use of Teflon cookware and ways to prevent them.

What is Teflon cookware?

Teflon cookware is a product with a non-stick coating that allows cooking without the use of oil. The main component of the coating is polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). However, when overheated, Teflon cookware can emit toxic vapors that pose a health hazard.

Harm of Teflon cookware: chemicals

The main harmful substances emitted when using Teflon cookware include perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorinated compounds (PFAS). At temperatures above 260°C, these substances begin to evaporate, producing toxic fumes. This can lead to so-called "Teflon flu", which manifests itself as flu-like symptoms.

Symptoms of "teflon flu"

Teflon flu is a condition caused by inhaling toxic fumes released when Teflon cookware overheats. Symptoms include:

• Fever and headaches.
• Cough and sore throat.
• Chills and weakness.

These symptoms can appear as soon as a few hours after inhaling the vapors and last from one to two days.

How do you prevent the "Teflon flu"?

To avoid the harmful effects of Teflon cookware, it is important to follow a few simple rules:

1. Do not overheat the pans - keep cooking temperatures below 200°C.
2. Keep an eye on the condition of the coating - a damaged non-stick coating increases the release of toxic substances.
3. Change your cookware every 3-5 years - even with careful use, Teflon cookware has a limited lifespan.

Alternatives to Teflon cookware

If you are concerned about the possible harm of Teflon cookware, consider the following safe alternatives:

• Stainless steel - resistant to high temperatures, harmless to health and easy to clean.
• Ceramic cookware is an environmentally friendly material that does not emit harmful substances.
• Cast iron cookware is strong and durable, ideal for cooking at high temperatures.

Teflon cookware is convenient to use, but overheating it can cause "Teflon Flu" and other negative health effects. To protect yourself, it is important to monitor the condition of your cookware, avoid overheating and consider switching to safer alternatives such as stainless steel, ceramic or cast iron.

Teflon pans give off poison - lie or reality!

As a result of heating, the poisonous vapors of Teflon evaporating from the surface of pots and pans are dangerous to the lives of domestic birds. In humans, they cause flu-like symptoms ("Teflon flu" or, as scientists say, "polymer fever"). At the same time, pieces of coating flaking off a scratched Teflon surface are not poisonous because the PTFE particulate matter is inert.

It is not unreasonable to do an audit of kitchen knives. Knives are as important an attribute of kitchen equipment as pots, pans, forks, spoons, etc. No housewife does not keep in the kitchen knife in a single copy, because the processing of different products require knives of different shapes. Knives wholesale from China in Moscow can be bought without leaving home on the website of the company "Sima-land".

Manufacturers warn consumers not to heat Teflon cookware to high temperatures. However, as research has shown, this warning is meaningless. After 2-5 minutes of heating Teflon cookware in a conventional oven, the Teflon coating reaches the limit temperature, at which it is destroyed and the release of toxic particles and gases. Therefore, not only the person who cooks, but also those who are in the same room with him inhale the poisonous vapors of overheated Teflon. The side effects of constant inhalation of Teflon vapors and the "Teflon flu" itself are currently not properly understood. Although already, the toxic effects of Teflon and its gases have been linked to stunted growth in newborns, increased cholesterol, enlarged thyroid glands, liver damage, and weakened immunity. Particles of Perfluorochemicals (PFCs) have been found in the bodies of the vast majority of Americans. Not only that, but the production of PFCs and the manufacture of consumer products from them poses a serious threat to the environment.

New types of cookware are constantly appearing on the market. However, their safety is usually not reported. Therefore, it is better to remember the old, cast iron cookware or stainless steel cookware, which has not received any complaints during centuries of use. Its inconvenience is only one thing - it is hard to clean. But for the sake of health, you can suffer.

Most professional cooks agree that stainless steel cookware is very comfortable to cook in and makes food more flavorful and delicious. Lodge, the oldest cookware manufacturer in the United States, calls cast iron cookware "naturally non-stick." Cast iron can heat up, withstand and even retain the highest temperatures, which is unattainable for Teflon cookware.

Safety precautions when using Teflon cookware

However, if you are not yet ready to part with the familiar and convenient Teflon cookware, at least observe the following safety rules:

1. Never preheat non-stick (Teflon) cookware in advance or over high heat before cooking. Heat it slowly over low heat.
2. Do not place Teflon cookware in an oven heated more than 200 degrees C.
3 Be sure to turn on the hood or open a window while cooking.
4. Do not allow pets in the kitchen while cooking on Teflon cookware.
5. Do not activate the "self-cleaning" function in the oven. This process involves heating the oven to a very high temperature, which may cause the release of toxic gases.

If you care about your health and the health of your loved ones, when cooking, it is better to use proven, safe cookware: cast iron or stainless steel. Remember, cookware can be cleaned or bought new. You can't buy your health for any money. Staphylococcus aureus and how I dealt with it. - and that's one of the implications of the application.

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