Many of us are trying to follow a healthier diet but have ignored using healthy non toxic cookware. It doesn’t do us any good to prepare fresh whole foods in cookware that is toxic. Some of the worst are cookware coated with Teflon and other non-stick coatings. These pans can emit fumes and particles that have actually killed pet birds, made people sick and the toxins have even been found in humans blood.

Aluminum cookware can also have toxic affects. Aluminum is reactive and can react with foods to form aluminum salts. Although not yet proven, it has been associated with Alzheimer’s and impairing visual motor coordination.

You should also be aware that some of the glazes used in crock pots has a small amount of lead in it. Terra Cotta cookware without the lead glaze is recommended.

Stainless steel cookware has always been considered one of the safest choices. It is a healthier alternative, but it is mixed with nickel and chromium which are not harmful in small quantities, but some people do have allergic reactions to nickel. Those of you with nickel allergies should stay away from stainless steel cookware.

The best healthy non toxic cookware which comes highly recommend is hard anodized aluminum cookware. The aluminum cookware is sealed which prevents any aluminum from leaching into the food. This process develops a non-reactive and extremely hard surface coating which makes this cookware non toxic and presents no health risks. 

Calphalon is the leading manufacturer of hard anodized aluminum cookware, but there are many other companies coming out with their own lines. They all have cookware sets and you can also purchase a wide variety of pots and pans separately.

Cuisinart has come out with a line of non-stick anodized aluminum cookware called Cuisinart Green Gourmet Hard Anodized Cookware. So if you miss your Teflon non-stick pans, you will be pleased with these. They work just as well as the Teflon pans, but don't emit the toxic fumes. They also allow you to cook with less fat and oils and are energy efficient and eco-friendly. The cookware is oven and broiler safe.

Kitchen Aid also has an excellent line of non-stick anodized aluminum cookware called KitchenAid Gourmet Essentials. The cookware set has stainless steel handles with silicone grips and break resistant glass lids. They are safe up to 400 degrees in the oven.

All three manufacturers - Calphalon, Cuisinart and Kitchen Aid produce excellent healthy non toxic cookware. I personally own the Kitchen Aid Gourmet Essentials cookware. I found it to be the best value of the three.

Here are a few tips for healthy non toxic kitchen safety:

Don’t use plastic or aluminum spoons for stirring hot foods.  Stainless steel or bamboo is best.

Don’t use plastic containers or plastic wrap in the microwave unless they specifically are labeled as “microwave safe”. 

Don’t store your food in plastic or aluminum - you should use glass containers.

Never use Styrofoam cups - especially for hot drinks.

Some plastic cookware handles may get hot and emit toxic fumes.