Aluminum: Ubiquitous Yet Controversial
From our grandmother's casseroles to modern deodorants, aluminum has been a part of our daily lives for decades. This lightweight, versatile metal is the most abundant in the earth's crust, yet it plays no essential role in the human body. Over time, concerns have grown about the health risks associated with aluminum exposure.
In this article, we explore the sources, uses, and potential dangers of aluminum, shedding light on how to minimize its impact on our health.
What is Aluminium?
Aluminum is a silvery-white metal, mined primarily from bauxite. Its distinguishing features include lightness, softness, malleability, and resistance to heat and oxidation. These properties make it widely used in a broad range of products, including cans, kitchen utensils, window frames, power lines, and food packaging.
Although it is not classified as a heavy metal due to its low atomic weight (13), aluminum is considered a toxic metal when accumulated in the body.
Aluminium is Almost Everywhere!
Aluminum is highly abundant in the natural environment and is found in small amounts in foods from all sources, whether plant, animal, or marine. Due to its extensive industrial use, aluminum is now common in many everyday products, such as:
☑ In the Kitchen
Remove all old aluminum pans from your kitchen and avoid using aluminum cookware.
Avoid aluminum foil for wrapping; cook only the amount of food you can eat to prevent aluminum leaching.
To put things into perspective, if you store 100 grams of tomatoes in aluminum foil overnight, they can absorb approximately 6.5 milligrams of additional aluminum by the next day.
Be cautious with foods and drinks packaged in aluminum cans.
Tap water can be contaminated by aluminum, either from environmental pollution or through the use of aluminum salts in water treatment. The WHO recommends a maximum concentration of 0.2 mg/L.
Bakery products and industrially prepared meals often contain higher levels of aluminum, either as an additive or preservative, especially in the form of aluminum sulfate.
☑ In Cosmetics
Aluminum salts are additives in many cosmetics, most notably antiperspirants and deodorants.
Aluminum is used as an adjuvant in many drugs and vaccines, including antacids and gastrointestinal dressings.
Aluminium Toxicity and Health Risks
Aluminum is poorly absorbed in the intestines, leading to the belief that it is harmless. However, studies have shown its high toxicity when absorbed over long periods. The primary risk of this toxic metal lies in its impact on the brain and nervous system.
Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease
A study on the Paquid Cohort found a 2.2 to 2.3-fold increased risk of developing dementia or Alzheimer's disease in people living in areas where water contains an aluminum concentration greater than 0.1 mg/L, which is only half the maximum dose recommended by the World Health Organization.
Autopsies of patients with Alzheimer's disease revealed concentrations of aluminum in their nerve cells four times higher than normal.
Encephalopathy and Osteomalacia
Several cases of encephalopathy and osteomalacia have been observed in patients with renal failure treated long-term with dialysis fluid containing aluminum hydroxide.(1)(2)
Macrophagic Myofasciitis
Aluminum salts are used as adjuvants in many vaccines to enhance effectiveness. In 1998, Professor Gherardi discovered Macrophagic Myofasciitis, a degenerative disease caused by the aluminum present in vaccines.(3)
Breast Cancer
Deodorants contain aluminum salts that easily pass into the bloodstream and can be a significant cause of breast cancer.(4)
Excess aluminum in our body may cause premature dementia, language disorders, gastrointestinal irritation, colic, and rickets.
Aluminium in Food
The food industry frequently uses aluminum as an additive, resulting in its presence in many items on our dining tables. Confectionery, icing, cheese rinds, fruits, and vegetables are just a few examples of foods that often contain significant amounts of aluminum-based additives.
Additionally, baking powders, processed cheeses, and some pickled foods also include aluminum to enhance texture and shelf life.
One of the primary reasons aluminum is used in food processing is its ability to act as a firming agent, leavening agent, and stabilizer. For instance, in baking powders, aluminum compounds such as sodium aluminum phosphate or sodium aluminum sulfate help dough rise evenly and maintain moisture. Similarly, aluminum-containing additives can help processed cheese retain its smooth texture and prevent clumping.
Moreover, aluminum contamination can occur indirectly through food packaging and cooking utensils. Aluminum foil, cans, and containers can leach aluminum into food, especially when cooking or storing acidic foods like tomatoes or citrus fruits.
According to experts, our diet causes us to ingest an approximate amount of aluminum ranging from less than 10 mg to more than 100 mg per day depending on our lifestyle
What To Avoid?
☑ Prepared Meals
Many prepared meals contain aluminum as an additive or preservative. Always read labels before purchasing to avoid such products. For enlightenment, here are three common aluminum-based additives:
- E173 ➯ aluminium
- E180 ➯ aluminium and calcium salts
- E520 ➯ aluminium sulfate
☑ Aluminium Foil
Avoid using aluminum foil for cooking or wrapping food as it can leach into your meals, especially with acidic foods.
What To Choose Instead?
☑ Safe Utensils
Opt for utensils made of stainless steel, cast iron, porcelain, or wood for safer cooking and food preparation.
Opt for utensils made of stainless steel, cast iron, porcelain, or wood for safer cooking and food preparation.
☑ Aluminum-Free Cosmetics
Choose aluminum-free cosmetics, widely available in the market, to reduce your exposure to aluminum.
Choose aluminum-free cosmetics, widely available in the market, to reduce your exposure to aluminum.
☑ Home Cooking
Choose home-cooked meals using aluminum-free utensils to minimize aluminum intake from food.
Choose home-cooked meals using aluminum-free utensils to minimize aluminum intake from food.
☑ Consume more calcium, magnesium, and vitamin B6
These nutrients are believed to reduce the absorption and toxicity of aluminum. Ensure your diet includes foods rich in these nutrients to mitigate the risk associated with this toxic metal.
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These nutrients are believed to reduce the absorption and toxicity of aluminum. Ensure your diet includes foods rich in these nutrients to mitigate the risk associated with this toxic metal.
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