Conference turris::cooks

    I had also heard that people with Alzheimer's disease were found
    to have large aluminum deposits in their brains during the autopsy
    after they died.
    
    This could point to Aluminum cookware.

    .1 is correct. The baffling question is, does the disease somehow
    cause a build up of the aluminum or did all that cooking with aluminum
    pots and pans, guzzling all that beer & soda out of aluminum cans
    and eating all those TV dinners out of those foil containers somehow
    cause the build up making the person more susceptible to this kind
    of nerve damage.
    
    Darned if I know, but my wife and I bought all new stainless steel
    pots and pans last summer. They probably cause something else....
    
    Alas,
    
    pds
         

    I recently read:
    
    1. That there is still no clear connection between Alzheimer's Disease
    and aluminum.
    
    2. That the amount of aluminum that might leech out of an aluminum
    cooking utensil is several orders of magnitude too low. (That is,
    the amount of aluminum is 1000 to 10,000 times too low.  
    
    3. The article pointed out that some people have ingested several grams
    of aluminum salts per day (as part of treatment for an unrelated          
    ailment) without adverse effects. 
            
    No, I don't remember where I read it; I'll see if I can find the
    article and post it.  However, the gist was clear: aluminum cookware
    apparently doesn't pose a health hazard (at least in terms of
    Alzheimer's).
    

    I HAVE HEARD THAT ALUMINUM IS A ACUMATIVE METAL AS IS LEAD IF ONE
    BOILS WATER IN A ALUMINUM PAN THEN POUR IT INTO A GLASS IT WILL
    BE QUITE A SURPRISE TO SEE SO MUCH ALUMINUM FLOATING IN THE WATER,
    THE BODY DOESN'T RID IT SELF OF SOME METALS SO YOU CAN SEE WHY IT
    MAY BE BETTER TO COOK IN STAINLESS AND NOT WORRY ABOUT THE FUTURE
    AND ONE'S HEALTH.         
    
    
                       DON
    

    The only caveat with aluminum is not to STORE acidic foods in pots,
    pans etc.  Fry pans/Pots treated as in Calphalon or Silverstone
    pose no threat.....However, an Ozone hole could open up over your
    house and Gamma you to death in a matter of moments.
    
    Larry

      What about when you wrap leftovers in aluminum foil or freeze
    them? Does any aluminum get into the food?
    
    
                                               gina
    

    re: .0
    
    Stories of these types have been around ever since Aluminum first
    came out. They were prevalent in 1960 when I sold Aluminum Cookware,
    and is nice to see that times haven't changed.
    
    There have been similiar stories about other  materials: 
    For example: Tin Cans have been linked to many "Food Poisoning"
    stories, when it was found that food stored in tin lined steel cans
    developed leaks over time.
    
    In Michigan, in 1967, several people died from Botulism, as a result
    of eating processed fish packed in Glass Jars, and sealed with metal
    covers with neoprene seals.
    
    Copper has been associated with Cupric Poisoning, and "improperly
    processed" stainless steel hs likewise been linked to sevaral
    poisoning stories.
    
    To get "all the facts" about various types of poisonings, talk to
    the sales people who are selling competing products, or read 
    "The National Enquirer". 
    
    If you want "true" facts, the US Government publishes various "Consumer
    Bulletins", which "Should" be available from your local
    congress<person>. 
    
    Bob
    
    

    I did as you suggested and contacted the GOVT the person I talked
    to couldn't or wouldn't commit but suggested I check with the regulators
    of all dairy products. It seems that all milk and milk products
    must be stored-processed  etc.--etc.  in ONLY STAINLESS STEEL
    containers before  pouring/transfering to Plastic , or treated paper
    for distribution. The inspectors will close them down if they use
    Aluminum. I am going to look more at this and have a talk with my
    cong/reps   Thanks for bringing it up  <DICK>
    

    While you're at it, you might ask about the aluminum chlorhydrate
    in anti-perspirants.  I recently read an article relating that to
    Alzheimer's and the aluminum scare.
    
    Roxanne

RE: .4

Aluminum has far too low a molecular weight to be a cumulative metal in the way
that lead or mercury are.  However, it does seem that some people sequester the
metal in their brains, which is what the possible Alzheimer's relationship is
all about.


RE: no aluminum cans for milk

I suspect it has more to do with the greater difficulty in keeping aluminum
cans clean than anything else.

--PSW

I have some heavy cast aluminum saucepans.  Each time I boil water in one of
them it turns black inside.  I assume it has something to do with our tap water.

Does anyone know what chemical(s) may be in the water which could be causing
this?  (Town water.)  Is this water safe to drink?  Will anything remove the
black stains in the pots?

Thanks very much...

    Your water is probably too acidic -- that's the usual cause for
    aluminum discoloration.
    
    Check the Ph (testing kits are available from pool supply houses.)
    
    Yes, it's probably safe to drink.
    
    Baking soda (or any alkaline) will remove the discoloration.
    
    					andrew
    

A report in this week's British Medical Journal *strongly recomends* that
pregnant women and families with young children *do not use* aluminum cookware
because of the risk of aluminum poisoning (linked to Alzheimers desease and
"other conditions")

The doctor who wrote the article suggested using only stainless steel or glass
cookware...

/. Ian .\

    During autopsies, people with Alzheimer's disease have been found to
    have elevated  levels of Aluminum in their brains -- so far there has
    been no evidence that Aluminum has any effect with regard to
    Alzheimer's.
    
    					andrew

I suggest you write to the BMJ and submit a refereed paper giving that opinion,

I'm sure they'd appreciate your professional contribution to the debate.

I however am only reporting what has been published - if the referees of the
paper are happy that there is sufficient evidence for the link between Aluminum
and Alzheimers and genetic birth defects, who am I to dispute it?

/. Ian .\

In regards to the original posting, boiling water mixed with cream of tartar
removed the stains nicely.  Thanks.

    Aluminum pots and pans have been discarded at Johnson and Wales
    Culinary School in Providence, RI, because of the danger of aluminum
    in cooking. Other professional cooking schools have or are in the
    process of doing this.  As for Calphalon-type aluminum cookware, the
    anodizing process is supposed to prevent the transfer of aluminum
    particles into food.  tjk

RE: .2, .3, .4

The point of the papers and the recommendation is that, although there is no
known mechanism or proven link between aluminum and Alzheimer's, there are (1)
evidence that a link may exist, and (2) many other alternatives to aluminum
cookware.  Prudence therefore dictates that those in high-risk groups, such as
pregnant women, should avoid the possible hazard until further study decides
the matter one way or the other.

--PSW

    One of the problems with the "known link" is that it is not known
    whether elevated levels of Aluminum cause Alzheimers or whether it
    is Alzheimer's causes elevated amounts of aluminum to be absorbed
    by the brain.
    
    My apologies if everyone already knew this.
    
    ed

    Quite aside from possible long term health damage, there is another
    theory out there, which I heard from a colleague in a previous job.
    
    It seem that people with "sensitive stomachs" may find that using aluminum 
    cookware can irritate the stomach lining.  I have converted to
    stainless steel and it _seems_ to have helped!  (The power of
    suggestion?  Who knows?)  Also, stainless steel is a lot easier to clean!
    
    Elizabeth (No cute name, sorry!)