How aluminum foil endangers health: Safer alternatives for food storage

Aluminum foil is a product found in nearly every home. Many use it to grill meat, fish, and vegetables, bake cakes in the oven, and cover hot dishes.

We reach for it out of habit when we want to pack food to go. Not everyone knows about the dangers associated with this. By wrapping sandwiches, vegetables, or fruits in aluminum foil, we are putting our health at risk.

Aluminum, from which the foil is made, is aluminum. Too high a concentration of this element in our body can be toxic. Most aluminum is expelled from our body through urine, but it can be hazardous for people with kidney problems. What diseases can it contribute to?

The accumulation of this element in cells increases the risk of Alzheimer's disease, osteoporosis, hormonal disorders, or reproductive system problems. The longer food has direct contact with aluminum foil, the more toxic substances leach into it - and the greater the health risk.

One type of food, in particular, should never be wrapped in this type of foil. It concerns acidic food products. When they react with aluminum, they form harmful aluminum salts. Foods that should not be wrapped in aluminum foil include citrus fruits, sauerkraut, pickled cucumbers, tomatoes, and apples.

The same applies to sandwiches containing these products and foods with many spices.

Since aluminum foil can be harmful, what should we store food in? It's worth thinking about our health and replacing aluminum foil with, for example, wax paper or reusable containers.

We will then be sure that aluminum won't leach into our bodies along with food.