holly@hpfcla.UUCP (holly) (07/31/85)
Recently I had a friend who went on the Macrobiotic diet (she had terminal cancer). One of the things the diet stresses is to NOT use aluminum pans. I have also heard through the media that there could be some sort of connection between Alzheimer's Disease and the use of aluminum pans. Does anyone have any information about this? I would really like to know more. (I am also posting this to net.med.)
knf@druxo.UUCP (FricklasK) (08/05/85)
The reason macrobiotic diets stress not using aluminum pans
is that you are supposed to use IRON cookware. Many macrobiotic
diets need some sort of iron supplement. Cooking in iron cookware
is a major source or iron in one's diet. Some doctors attribute
the fact that many more people have iron deficiencies now than in the past
to the change from iron to aluminum or stainless cookware.
'`'`'
Ken
'`'`'leiby@masscomp.UUCP (Mike Leibensperger) (08/06/85)
In article <5400015@hpfcly.UUCP> holly@hpfcla.UUCP (holly) writes: >Recently I had a friend who went on the Macrobiotic diet (she had terminal >cancer). One of the things the diet stresses is to NOT use aluminum pans. >I have also heard through the media that there could be some sort of connection >between Alzheimer's Disease and the use of aluminum pans. My latest issue of the _Tufts University Diet and Nutrition Newsletter_ has an article on this very subject. The bottom line: although higher than normal concentrations of aluminum have been found in the brains of deceased Alzheimer's victims, there is no evidence that using aluminum cookware can cause the disease. I will try to remember to bring the article in to work and post the text. As I'm not a net.med reader and don't know if this subject has already been covered *ad nauseum* over there, I will only post it to net.cooks. [Note to SubGenius netcooks (netkooks?): Sure, the Conspiracy is behind it, but what the hell.... THEY will get you anyway, so pig out!] p.s. Send one dollar to the SubGenius Foundation, Box 140306, Dallas, TX 75214 and ask for their "Recipe for New World Ravioli." Tell 'em Reverend Mike sent ya. You'll be glad you did. -- Rt. Rev. Mike Leibensperger, Archbishop of Chelmsford Church of St. Clint the Righteous ("Feel lucky, Pink Boy?") Masscomp; 1 Technology Park; Westford, MA 01886 {decvax,ihnp4,tektronix}!masscomp!leiby
andyb@dartvax.UUCP (Andy Behrens) (08/06/85)
> Holly@hpfcla.UUCP asks about the connection between aluminum pans > and Alzheimer's disease. The connection was discussed in a fairly long posting about two years ago. (Does anyone archive net.med that far back?) That article was taken from the Sept/Oct 1983 issue of "American Health." I don't know whether the facts in the article were correct, but here's a brief summary: - Alzheimer's patients had an aluminum concentration in their brains that is four times higher than normal. - There was *not* any evidence that the disease was caused by the aluminum. - Although there are many sources of aluminum in the environment, it is not known which, if any, are responsible for high aluminum levels in the brain. - The typical daily intake of aluminum is 22 milligrams. - Source of aluminum include Water (clarifier in municipal water-treatment) Baking powder, self-rising flour (leavening) Processed cheese (emulsifying agent) "A single slice of processed cheese may contain 50 mg of aluminum" Nondairy creamer (anti-caking agents) Antacids, buffered aspirin Antiperspirants Aluminum pots and cans, when used to cook or store acidic foods and carbonated drinks. -- Andy Behrens {astrovax,decvax,cornell,ihnp4,linus}!dartvax!andyb.UUCP andyb@dartmouth.CSNET andyb%dartmouth@csnet-relay.ARPA
antics@druak.UUCP (GeigerL) (08/08/85)
> The connection was discussed in a fairly long posting about two years ago. > (Does anyone archive net.med that far back?) That article was taken from > the Sept/Oct 1983 issue of "American Health." > - Source of aluminum include > > Water (clarifier in municipal water-treatment) > > Baking powder, self-rising flour (leavening) > > Processed cheese (emulsifying agent) > "A single slice of processed cheese may contain 50 mg of > aluminum" > > Nondairy creamer (anti-caking agents) > > Antacids, buffered aspirin > > Antiperspirants > > > Aluminum pots and cans, when used to cook or store acidic > foods and carbonated drinks. > > > -- > Andy Behrens Baking powder is available without aluminum in grocery stores. It rises just as well, but doesn't leave that green-banana feeling on your teeth. I get it in the regular baking powder sections. Cheese is available that is not commercially processed. Try alta dena, available in the special foods section of grocery stores. Or, go to a health food store that carries the cheese in bulk -- it's less expensive. Instead of nondairy creamer, switch to milk or cream. Use stainless steel and cast iron instead of aluminum. I can't understand why anyone would use products like baking powder with aluminum, nondairy creamer or processed cheese when there are so many good tasting foods in this world! Lisa Geiger ihnp4!druak!antics
leiby@masscomp.UUCP (Mike Leibensperger) (08/08/85)
[Since a net.med reader asked me to, I'm posting this to both groups...]
Here's the blurb I saw in the _Tufts_University_Diet_&_Nutrition_Letter_,
vol. 3 no. 5 (July 85). I recalled incorrectly that it was a large article;
it's really just a quick question in a sort of question&answer page filler
section:
Q: I have heard that Alzheimer's disease may be linked
to accumulation of aluminum in the brain. Does this
mean that I should get rid of my aluminum cookware?
A: Some people believe that aluminum has something to do
with the development of Alzheimer's disease because
high aluminum levels have been found in the brains of
some Alzheimer's victims. Just how aluminum may get
into the brain remains an unknown, but rest assured
that there is no sound evidence showing that foods
cooked in aluminum pans can cause abnormally high
levels of the metal in the brain.
--
Rt. Rev. Mike Leibensperger, Archbishop of Chelmsford
Church of St. Clint the Righteous ("Feel lucky, Pink Boy?")
Masscomp; 1 Technology Park; Westford, MA 01886
{decvax,ihnp4,tektronix}!masscomp!leibycindy@ada-uts.UUCP (08/09/85)
>The reason macrobiotic diets stress not using aluminum pans >is that you are supposed to use IRON cookware. Many macrobiotic >diets need some sort of iron supplement. Cooking in iron cookware >is a major source or iron in one's diet. Some doctors attribute >the fact that many more people have iron deficiencies now than in the past >to the change from iron to aluminum or stainless cookware. If this is the reason, which to me seems to be the most reasonable, then why don't the books say so? These books always say DON'T USE ALUMINUM!!! but they never say why... ----------
chai@utflis.UUCP (Henry Chai) (08/16/85)
In article <9700005@ada-uts.UUCP> cindy@ada-uts.UUCP writes: > then why don't the books say so? These books always say DON'T USE > ALUMINUM!!! but they never say why... I always thought that it was because some foods causes aluminum to discolor, so some foods are discolored by Al. (I think meringue will turn yellowish if it's beaten in an Al pot.) -- Henry Chai Faculty of Library and Information Science, U of Toronto {watmath,ihnp4,allegra}!utzoo!utflis!chai