While surfing TV channels the other day, I chanced to hear a commentator, purportedly an expert, speaking on food and preservation. He pointed out that in most families it is a habit to cook meals early in the morning in an aluminium vessel, a pressure cooker actually, and eat out of the same for lunch and again for dinner. He went on to strongly suggest that food stored for so many hours in aluminium becomes poison.

We live in a very plastic world. Nearly everything we eat, drink, or own contains plastic or is contained in plastic. Some plastics, like those that contain BPA or other harmful chemicals, can negatively affect our bodies or the world we live in. Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical used in the manufacturing of polycarbonate plastics. It’s also used in epoxy resins that coat the insides of canned goods and water supply pipes.

Discard any plastic containers you’ve had since before 2012. That’s the year the FDA Trusted Source banned the use of BPA in sippy cups, baby bottles, and baby formula containers.

BPA leaches into food and water supplies easily. More than 93 percent of the urine samples examined in a CDC study contained BPA concentrations. Although the FDA has said that small amounts of BPA are safe for humans, some environmental and health experts are concerned that exposure to BPA could lead to problems with brain development, immune function, learning abilities, reproductive disorders, and other health issues.

Plastic containers are very common in use to store food but many takeout containers are neither microwave nor dishwasher safe, which means harmful BPA could leach from the plastic into your food if you choose to aggressively heat them. Be sure heating plastic containers that aren’t   “microwave safe” is dangerous. Microwave safety is also a feature many tend to assume applies to all storage containers, which simply isn’t the case. Make sure you only clean containers in the dishwasher that are clearly marked “dishwasher safe.” The high heat of the appliance can actually cause lids to warp (goodbye, tight seal) even if they are dishwasher safe, so consider hand washing your most precious plastic containers. You could also consider making the switch from plastic to glass storage containers, which have a much longer lifespan.

Polypropylene, a complex plastic, is generally considered safe for humans. But what do we know about this useful and ubiquitous product? Polypropylene is a plastic. Of the commercial plastics on the market today, polypropylene is considered one of the safest. Polypropylene remains a safer alternative to some other types of plastic, but the manufacturing process for plastic products itself may not be good for the environment.

It’s FDA-approved for food contact, so you’ll find polypropylene in food containers like those that hold yogurt, cream cheese, and butter products. Because it has a high heat tolerance, it’s also often used in packaging of food that can be heated in a microwave. Some surgical devices and implants are also made of polypropylene, and polypropylene fibers are commonly used to weave area rugs for indoor and outdoor use.

Polypropylene, which is derived from petroleum, is considered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to be a safer choice than some other types of plastics. It’s not known to cause cancer in humans, and it’s less flammable in fabrics than wool. It’s important to note, however, that some newer research does point to toxicity in certain polypropylene containers also.

CLAY POT WATER STORAGE- AN IDEA WORTH REVIVING

Even today, many Indians swear by the practice of storing water in a clay pot during summers. This practice of drinking matka water is not only a substitute for steel and plastic containers, but also has its own set of health benefits. No surprises then why many households still swear by the clay pot, as it has many therapeutic benefits.

Listed below are some amazing health benefits of drinking water from a clay pot in summers:

·         Matka water provided chilled water back in those days when there were no refrigerators. These pots work on the principle of vaporization, which helps in cooling down the water. As the clay pot is porous, it gradually chills down the water which is a quality no other container has.

·         While the fridge water is too chilled and water kept outside is too warm, matka provides the perfect drinking water in summers. With its perfect cooling effect, it is gentle on throat and can be easily consumed by people suffering from cold and cough.

·         Sunstroke strikes a lot of people in hot summers. The vitamins and minerals from the water stored in clay pots  help in maintain the body glucose levels and  also provide a gentle cooling effect to your body.

·         The human body is acidic in nature, while clay is alkaline. Water from these alkaline pots when consumed by you reacts with the acidic nature of our body and helps in creating a proper pH balance. This is the reason why drinking matka water helps in keeping acidity and stomach problems at bay.

·         When we drink water stored in plastic bottles, it contains toxic chemicals like Bisphenol A or BPA, which harms the body in many ways. It is said to bring the testosterone levels down and is also known to be endocrine disruptor. Whereas, drinking water from a clay pot balances testosterone levels and even improves your body’s metabolism.