Using an air fryer to cook your food has many advantages, and many of them are related to your health.
The most known benefit is the fact that you can fry your food without using any oil: this is beneficial because oil is basically fat and a high fat intake in your diet is related to high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, and high weight.
There is, however another important advantage for your health that people is usually less aware of.
It is the fact that you avoid using pans and therefore exposing your food and yourself to PFOA. What is it?
Key Takeaways
- PFOA is a man-made acid that is used to make pans non-stick.
- PFOA pollutes the environment severely and also causes heath diseases.
- If you want to avoid consuming PFOA, then an Air fryer is the best alternative to that.
What Is PFOA?
Many people don’t know that the vast majority of the pans we use in our kitchen are covered with a thin layer of PFOA.
PFOA is Perfluorooctanoic Acid, a man-made chemical that, used in pans, makes them non-stick. However, it is also used in other consumer products or household goods.
The best companies, however, have made a commitment to stop using this chemical in their pans… this should already let you understand how dangerous it can be. 1
Can PFOA Pose Risk to Health?
PFOA poses several health concerns other than affecting the environment (it’s highly polluting).
When a non-stick pan gets too hot, the PFOA is released, and it ends up inevitably on the food. Therefore, we eat more PFOA than we may think!
The effects of using non-stick pans for cooking your food once or every once in a while are minimal, but using them on a daily bases should be avoided.
If there is prolonged exposure to PFOA, it can increase the chance of developing certain diseases.
Furthermore, once it enters your body, PFOA tends to stay for a long time because our organism isn’t made to process such chemicals.
According to the lab test experiments conducted on rats, it is shown that large quantities of PFOA can cause:
- Liver damage
- Kidney cancer
- Thyroid diseases
- Changes in cholesterol level
- Changes in blood pressure and more
That’s why air fryers are considered an excellent alternative to non-stick pans. 2
Air Fryers: Other Advantages
Using an air fryer to cook your food instead of a non-stick pan has other advantages other than avoiding exposing you to the ingestion of this chemical.
We’ve already mentioned the absence of oil, but you should also consider that:
- With an air fryer, you avoid dirtying your kitchen.
- Air fryers allow for a quicker cooking process.
- With air fryers, you don’t have to do anything: you don’t have to check the food, and you don’t have to change its position.
- With air fryers, you can follow simple instructions to obtain the finest result even if you are a complete beginner in the kitchen or you’ve never used an air fryer before.
Conclusion
If you want to avoid the risk of ingesting any PFOA completely, the best solution is to stop using non-stick pans or, if you need one, purchase it from a brand that has the commitment to avoid the use of PFOA.
Furthermore, you can always avoid using a pan at all when you have an air fryer.
FAQ’s
How can I limit my exposure to PFOA?
To limit your exposure to this harmful chemical, you should:
- Avoid using non-stick pans
- Avoid items with having “fluoro” or “PTFE” in the ingredients list
- Eat fewer carry-out food items
- Avoid wearing water-repellant outerwear 3
What is being done about PFOA?
PFOA is not longer manufactured in the US, but other countries do it, and items from other countries containing PFOA may reach the US.
Does drinking water contain PFOA?
Yes, drinking water contains PFOA, and people who drink regular water has more levels of PFOA in their body. So start drinking filtered water or purified water to avoid getting exposed to this chemical.
Amit Gupta is the founder of National Planning Cycles, a company that helps startups, individuals, and small businesses with their financial planning. He has a vast amount of experience in the finance sector, having managed Google Play accounts for some of the world’s most successful unicorns. Amit is an expert in his field, and he uses his knowledge to help others achieve their individual goals.
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