We’re constantly bombarded with what we need to change. Use this, get rid of that, don’t eat those… The list goes on. But with more studies completed daily, how are we supposed to know which ones are legitimate?

Most people spend a lot of time in their kitchen, whether they are cooking or cleaning, entertaining or eating, it’s a gathering place for many individuals, at least a few times each day. But have we considered the damage it could be impeding on us? Perhaps – but have we really done anything about it?

Food additives aside, there are many toxins making their way into our kitchen, but easy ways to create your kitchen into a leech-free locale.

Ditch it: Pesticides in produce
Would you like some chemicals with your peach? According to The Environmental Working Group, it is becoming increasingly apparent which pieces of produce to limit from your conventional pick. For the full list, explore their comprehensive list. Just a warning: those peaches and apples? They make top fruit rank, with celery and bell peppers as the worst veggies.

Try it: Limit your exposure by enjoying organic versions, and stick to lower pesticide versions, like avocados, onions, kiwi and mangoes.

Ditch it: Air freshener
There is nothing worse than the smell of a bathroom stink-bomb or a broiled burnt mess than the offending odour combined with air-freshener. It doesn’t eliminate it, but try to mask it with a sickly sweet smell of roses, the ocean, or vanilla. Then combine that with the dozen or so of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) ready to be inhaled.

Try it: Open a window. It’ll air it out faster, and bring in some fresh air.

Ditch it: Mercury-laden fish
If these swimmers are rotated into your dietary regimen, keep in mind mercury warnings. The form of concern, methylmercury, is very toxic at high exposure levels. As a result, Health Canada  recommends to limit consumption of fresh and frozen tuna, shark, swordfish, escolar, marlin, and orange roughy, up to 150g per week combined. Pregnant/breast-feeding women should reduce that to 150g per month, children ages 5-11 should eat only 125g per month, and children under 5 only 75g per month. Canned tuna can be enjoyed up to 300g per week.

Enjoy it: Fish that often have low levels of mercury include salmon, trout, herring, haddock, pollock, sole, flounder, Atlantic mackerel, fresh-water whitefish, lobster, crab, shrimp, and shellfish.

Ditch it: Canned goods
There’s been a lot of talk lately about BPA (bispenol A), the chemical linked to birth defects and other reproductive damage. Left and right, we’ve been doing away with plastic bottles and containers, making sure we’re safe from number 7. But have we checked pantry? This plastic is also used to line the inside of the can.

Do  it: Contact your favourite manufactures to see if they pack them BPA-free. If not, look for alternatives, like fresh, local goods, or dried beans instead of canned.

Ditch it: Non-stick cookware
It’s hard to hate the slick smoothness that non-stick cookware has to offer. A pan perfect for frying nearly fat free, it’s coated exterior results in easy clean up, less oil when cooking, and often, you can score one for under ten dollars. But these “coated” kitchen helpers are actually covered in PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid), which gives off hazardous fumes when heated at high temps. These fumes have been linked to cancer and birth defects, and don’t break down when tossed in the trash (which you’ll do often due to their short life-span).

Get it: Iron or stainless steel cookware
Yeah, you’ll pay extra, but most will last you decades. Use healthier oils for frying. Cast-iron cookware will last you a lifetime, and deliver a taste and texture you’ll get from no other alternative. Also, “green cookware” alternatives are being progressively developed – another option for those who need that slick surface.

Read more about what you can make sure is pesticide-free, from the Environmental Working Group’s comprehensive list

Opt for Health Canada’s low mercury recommendations when it comes to your fish

Some companies, like Eden Foods, ensure they have BPA canned goods.

For more information, visit Starfrit

Buy this hand reviewed set at Amazon.com
Starfrit Alternative Eco Pan 9-Piece Set in Reusable Storage Box

SubscribeRelated Articles and Favorite Reads

HEALTH | Newborns at greater risk for BPA FOOD | Seven swift fixes for pantry rejects LIVING GREEN | 7 ways to a greener lunch-box TECHNOLOGY | Slow cooking cuts energy costs

Tweet