The Teflon Flu?
Even more red flags were raised by the Environmental
Working Group when rumors of a ‘Teflon
Flu’ were ignited. Houlihan stated that cooking
with a Teflon® pan can make a person sick with
symptoms of the flu if the pan becomes overheated. “It feels like the flu,” said Houlihan, “headaches,
chills, backache, temperature between 100 and
104 degrees.”
DuPont agrees that fumes are released when it is
overheated, but says that during normal cooking,
the temperatures required to cause such a reaction
are not achieved.
In the 20/20 on-air demonstration, however, the
pan reached temperatures high enough in a just a
few minutes to reject DuPont’s defense.
DuPont’s reputation was further clouded when
they admitted to knowing about the ‘Teflon Flu’
for a number of years. “You get some fumes, yes,”
said Chowdhry, “and you get a flu-like symptom,
which is reversible.” Chowdhry said the flu is temporary
and lasts at most for a couple of days. She
also added that a warning about the flu, while not
on the pans themselves, is on the DuPont web site.
DuPont Defends Teflon®
SOURCE: http://www.teflon.com
Teflon® is a brand name, not a chemical.
Teflon® is a brand name and a registered trademark
of DuPont. Teflon® is not PFOA. The improper
use of the Teflon® brand as a synonym for PFOA is
not only inaccurate and misleading to consumers
but also constitutes a trademark violation. PFOA
(perfl uorooctanoic acid), also known as C-8, is an
essential processing aid used to make fluoropolymers -- high performance plastics manufactured by
a number of companies. PFOA and Teflon® are
entirely different--one is a processing aid, the other
is a product brand.
Read the full response at Teflon.com!
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THE TEFLON PAN CONTROVERSY
Non-stick cookware...is it safe?
Can a product marketed for
convenience and making life in the
kitchen a little easier actually be
hazardous to your health? That question was answered with a
resounding yes when the DuPont
Company, based in Parkersburg, W.
Va., became the center of controversy
and was forced to explain the
chemicals found in its widely-used
Teflon® non-stick cooking products. 
ABC News’ nighttime 20/20 program
first broke this story in November
of 2003 when they broadcasted
the findings of the Environmental
Protection Agency’s (EPA) report on
the chemicals found in Teflon®.
The chemical ammonium
perfluorooct-anoate, more commonly
known as C-8, has been linked
to cancer, organ damage and
other health effects in tests on
laboratory animals.
Jane Houlihan, vice president for
research at the Environmental
Working Group told ABC News
that the chemical C-8 is found in the
blood of virtually every American in
varying levels.
The reason? C-8 and chemicals
like it are found in a huge variety of
consumer products including stain-resistant
carpeting and clothing and
are thereby absorbed into the skin
through everyday contact.
Uma Chowdhry, DuPont’s
vice president of research and
development, claims that the
substance is completely safe, despite
the fact that the key chemical, C-8, is
in everyone’s blood.
A Notice to Bird Owners
While the DuPont Company remains
tight-lipped about its knowledge of
the effects its Teflon® products have
on humans, it does issue a warning to
bird owners.
It has been shown that the fumes released
by cooking with the non-stick coated
pans are highly dangerous and usually fatal
to birds. Bird owner groups say thousands
of birds have been killed by Teflon® fumes.
DuPont says this occurs because birds have
small and sensitive lungs.“People should not have birds in an
unventilated kitchen,” said Chowdhry.
A Word To The Wise
Our recommendation is to incorporate healthy living
into all aspects of your life.
If you are preparing foods using synthetic cookware
such as Teflon®, be aware that the cooking surface is
reactive to high temperatures.
You may be preparing a healthy, organic meal, but the
cookware you are exposing your food to may very well
be anything but organic.
Stainless steel is the least reactive metal, thus being
the most healthful cookware option. Yes, cleanup may
sometimes require a bit more effort on your part, but it
is well worth it in the long run.
Cooking with Non-Stick
If you simply cannot live without your non-stick
cookware, use caution by following these few simple
words of wisdom: Never heat the pan empty.
Never leave the pan on the stove unattended.
Other than it being a fire hazard, it can cause
overheating and therefore allow toxic fumes to be
released into the air.
Do not scour the pan. Tiny particles from a
scratched non-stick pan may be hazardous to
your health.
 Naturally Non-Stick!
For a natural, non-stick surface to coat your
stainless steel cookware, you can make your own
cooking spray.
Pour olive oil in a pump bottle or combine olive oil
with lecithin (derived from soy), which acts as
an emulsifier.
If you just want to cut back on the amount of oil
you use, instead of pouring it, apply it to pans with
a pastry brush.
DELICIOUS, HEALTHFUL TEAS
Black, Green or White?
Tea drinkers rejoice! There have never been more
reasons to steep a hot pot of tea. Much like coffee, the
variety of available teas has  expanded tremendously
over the last several years.
Black tea, or “red tea” as the Chinese refer to it, is the
most commonly consumed tea. However, it should
be noted that black tea, after its process of oxidation,
retains the least amount of antioxidants.
Green tea, on the other hand, is heat-treated to prevent
fermentation or oxidation as it is also referred to. As a
result, green tea is loaded with rich antioxidants.
White tea trumps green tea in terms of health benefits.
It is produced on a very limited scale compared to the
other varieties of tea. The tea buds are plucked before
they open and are dried. Tea drinkers may prefer the
more potent flavor of green tea, but those looking for
a more delicate and subtle blend will choose white tea.
FYI! All teas come from the same plant. The
differences stem from how they are processed. |
 GETTING YOUR ZZZ's
The Neccessity of Sleep
Forget your lengthy “To Do List.” When it’s time
for bed, it’s time for bed. You might feel like you are
wasting time by sleeping, but sleep is one of the most
important functions of the body. After sustained periods of wakefulness, the brain’s
metabolic activity greatly decreases. Sleep deprivation
also leads to low body temperatures, a decrease in the
production of white blood cells, and the increase of
heart rate variations.
More noticeable side effects include reduced
concentration and the lack of physical stamina.
Prolonged sleep deprivation may also lead to
hallucinations and mood swings.
Having trouble falling asleep? Try Yoga, Pilates, or
deep breathing exercises to relax the mind before sleep.
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