Harmful or not?
According to the Nutrition Center, aluminum in your food is not directly harmful with a healthy diet. The small amounts that you ingest are removed through the kidneys. Well-functioning kidneys are therefore important to be able to dispose of these substances. If the kidneys do not work properly, it can lead to accumulation, which is harmful to health.
The substance is used in many products and is therefore difficult to avoid. When preparing acidic or salty food, extra aluminum is released because it is soluble. It is therefore recommended not to use materials and foil that contain aluminum with this food. Think of the pans, cooking utensils, dishes and foil.
How much aluminum is dangerous?
Research by the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that an adult can absorb up to 2 milligrams of aluminum per kilogram of body weight every week without serious health risks. For now, this doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to consume the maximum amount each week.
Alternatives
The amount of aluminum you ingest is difficult to monitor. Is that why you don’t want to take any risks? Then choose (sustainable) alternatives. For example, use beeswax cloth to cover food, dishes and containers. You protect the environment, your health and beeswax cloth also has a preservative effect!
For warm preparations in the oven, it is better to choose a porcelain or glass bowl, instead of wrapping the dish or placing it on aluminum (foil). Do you often use aluminum containers on the barbecue? You can also use banana leaves instead. You may have to put in a little more effort to find the leaves. They will probably sell it in one of the stores near you.
It is also not recommended to place sausages, burgers or other barbecue products directly on the fire, because the intense heat can create carcinogenic soot, which is even more dangerous for your health.