Using aluminum foil for cooking, is it safe?

Are you the one who often uses aluminum foil for cooking? How often? Usually aluminum foil is used for baking food so that the heat received by the food is evenly distributed and the food cooks quickly, or to prevent food from losing its moisture when cooking. However, is it safe to use aluminum foil for cooking? Isn't it dangerous?

The aluminum content in food can increase

What exactly is aluminum foil? Aluminum foil is a thin sheet of aluminum metal, less than 0.2 mm thick. You probably use it for cooking a lot. But be careful, too often using aluminum foil for cooking may not be good for your health.

Research shows that using aluminum foil for cooking can allow aluminum to enter your food. Thus, the aluminum content in food increases.

In fact, some foods contain natural aluminum, such as in vegetables, fruits, meat, fish, nuts, and dairy products. The content of aluminum in food is obtained from the environment, such as from the soil. However, the aluminum content in these foods is not a problem because only a small portion of aluminum from food is actually absorbed by the body and the rest will be excreted through feces.

However, if you use aluminum foil when cooking food, the aluminum content in food can increase. This depends on:

Cooking temperatures, cooking at higher temperatures allows aluminum from aluminum foil to enter the food
The acidity of the food, the more acidic the food is (such as the presence of tomatoes and lemons) the more likely it is for aluminum to interact with the food and get into it
The addition of certain ingredients, such as salt and spices, also allows aluminum to enter food

Is it safe to use aluminum foil for cooking?

If you frequently use aluminum foil for cooking, the more aluminum content in food will enter your body. This is certainly not good. Research has also shown that regular use of aluminum foil when cooking can be harmful to health. However, many studies have also proven that aluminum foil is safe to use.

According to Ghada Bassioni, a professor and head of the chemistry division at Ain Shams University, how aluminum can harm your health depends on many factors, such as your overall health and how capable your body is to handle aluminum buildup in the body.

The World Health Organization or WHO itself agrees that aluminum content in the body of less than 2 mg per 1 kg of body weight per week will not cause health problems. However, most people digest more than this aluminum in their bodies.

What if there is too much aluminum in the body?

Although aluminum may enter your body in small amounts, if it occurs frequently, the buildup of aluminum in the body can take years. This too can have an impact on your health.

A study has found that there is high levels of aluminum in the brain tissue of patients with Alzheimer's. Research has also shown that high levels of aluminum in the body are associated with decreased growth rates of brain cells. However, the exact role of aluminum in the development of Alzheimer's disease has not been determined.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States also reports that high levels of aluminum in the body are associated with the nervous system, brain, bone disease, and a risk of anemia. So, it is important for you to reduce its use.

Conclusion

Using aluminum foil for cooking is still considered safe. Although there may be an increase in the aluminum content in food, your body can excrete a small amount of aluminum which is absorbed by the body. Even so, it's a good idea to limit the use of aluminum foil in food, not too often. Because, it could be that the habit of using aluminum foil causes aluminum buildup in the body, which can lead to health problems.