11 Things that as a Naturopathic Doctor I Don't Use In My Kitchen-- and what I Use Instead!

As much as possible, it's important to create a home environment that contributes positively to our health. It's easier than you might think, and well worth the effort. Here are some things that you won't ever find in my house, and what you'll find instead!

1. Microwave: I haven't had a microwave in over 15 years. When I moved to my current home, I removed the microwave and sold it to a contractor. They are toxic (they emit radiation even when not in use), and they destroy the nutrition in your food. At the end of the day, they aren't necessary. I use an oven, or stove top instead.

2. Non-stick cookware: teflon and various other non-stick surfaces have been shown to be carcinogenic as well as endocrine disrupting. I use stainless steel, or cast iron instead. Don't fall for the newer non-stick tech. Just a little digging under the surface and you'll find the same health issues as teflon.

3. Vegetable oil or Margarine: vegetable oils essentially create a situation inside of your cells that is similar to rust on a car. This causes accelerated aging, oxidative stress, and inflammation. I cook with avocado oil, 100% grass fed butter, beef tallow, ghee, or coconut oil. Olive oil is only used for salad dressings, but I personally don't cook with it at all.

4. Plastic cutting boards or utensils: Plastic leeches microplastics in a pretty serious way, and this can cause all sorts of health issues, including hormone imbalance, infertility, and potentially even cancer down the line. I use stainless steel utensils, and natural wood or bamboo cutting boards.

5. Coffee Maker and Water Boiler: Again, this contributes to plastic exposure. If you heat a plastic coffee maker (which is always the case if you're enjoying a hot cup of coffee) then plastics will show up in your coffee. I use a glass carafe by Chemex instead. For boiling water, you can get 100% stainless steel boilers. If the lid is plastic, it will lead to plastics in your water.

6. Coffee Pods: single use plastics are well known for being a huge source of xenoestrogens, and they can lead, over time to pretty serious hormone imbalances. Switch it for organic, whole bean coffee that you grind yourself before your brew your coffee. This not only keeps your coffee clean, it also means that you're getting the most antioxidant value out of your coffee.

7. Conventional soap: Dawn, Sunlight, and other commercial soaps are full of fragrance, pthalates, and various other toxic chemicals that add up over time. Pick a more natural option, like dish soap by Nature Clean. I'm also a big fan of vinegar and baking soda.

8. Plastic tupperware: Plastic is a big theme in the kitchen. Same logic applies here. I buy only glass, ceramic, or bamboo tupperware.

9. Aluminum foil: aluminum is a known neurotoxin. When it is heated, more of it leaches into the food than you would expect. I buy pans and cookware that sometimes comes with a lid, so that if I need to cook something covered in the oven, it's ceramic, and I can ditch the aluminum.

10. Plastic Wrap and ziplock bags: This one is self-explanatory based on above discussions about plastics. Instead, I use bees-wrap, or glass reusable containers.

11. Table salt: regular table salt has no nutritional benefit, and potentially does increase blood pressure. I use Celtic sea salt. It is rich in minerals, it is a healthy electrolyte, and it promotes overall health.

I hope this helps!