Teflon and Menopause

Teflon, also known by it's chemical name polytetrafluoroethylene, is used to make cooking pans slippery so food doesn't stick to the surface and makes cleaning easy. While it does achieve these goals, it may potentially cause problems in other areas...such as your health. Concerns over the safety of Teflon-coated pans has been in the news for decades which partly stemmed from the discovery that the pans, when heated to high temperatures have a toxic affect on pet birds. A valid question has been posed as to what effect this has on humans.

A recent study is presenting data that suggests it's role in triggering earlier than normal menopause. The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, found that the higher the level of perfluorocarbons in the body created higher than normal odds of early menopause. Read the details on how they compiled the data to draw a link to this household chemical. Even though these PFC's are used in a number of consumer products, including stain resistant fabrics, carpets and electronic equipment, one of the pervasive avenues for exposure is your cookware. The best of all possible solutions is to avoid the use of non-stick cookware that uses PFC's in their manufactering. If you currently use these, be certain that they are not scratched and do not heat them to temperatures broaching 500 degrees. Keep the dial on the stove at medium heat or lower when using these pots and pans. This way of cooking also retains the quality of the food that you are taking the time out of your day to prepare, so why not make it healthier!