This is why it is best not to use a plastic cutting board

When we think of hormones, we often think of the menstrual cycle, menopause, or pregnancy. But hormones affect everything about us: our mood and thoughts, our body temperature, and our libido. From the sleep hormone melatonin and the stress hormone cortisol to the thyroid hormones and insulin; They are indispensable for our daily work.

Hormonal imbalance

What happens when this finely tuned hormonal balance is disrupted by external chemicals? We are surrounded by hormone disruptors, which we call endocrine disruptors or xenoestrogens. These chemicals, which we encounter in everyday products such as pesticides, plastic additives and some cosmetics, can be harmful. They can affect the production, secretion, transport, metabolism and disposition of our natural hormones and even disrupt the interaction of hormones with their target organs. This is how you enter the hormonal imbalance.

“If you are healthy, your body can also solve the problem better,” explains Francesca van den Berg. “But many women with hormonal complaints actually have an imbalance and so these hormonal disturbances can have a significant impact.”

Cutting boards

“Not only cosmetics and food items, but also kitchen utensils can contain these hormone disrupting substances,” Francesca explains. “Plastic cutting boards often contain Chemicals such as phthalates and bisphenol. These substances can be released from the plastic and come into contact with food, especially if the plastic is exposed to heat, acids, or fats. These hormone-disrupting substances enter your food through the plastic cutting board, affecting the hormonal balance in your body.

“Pay special attention to phthalates and bisphenols. These are released when heated, including when you put a plastic cutting board in the dishwasher,” Francesca notes. “This of course also applies to other plastics, like the food containers you use in the microwave.”

Choose your kitchen tools wisely

She emphasizes how important it is to choose your kitchen utensils consciously. “Switch to wood, bamboo or glass. I work with wood myself and really love it, but of course you also have to clean it properly. When using wooden cutting boards, it is important to use different boards for meat, fish and vegetables for health reasons.” And if you choose plastic, avoid plastic Labeled 3 (may contain phthalates) and 7 (may contain bisphenol A or other bisphenols).”

No matter how hard you scrub with your dishwashing brush, your wooden cutting board never seems to get clean. Fortunately, we have a solution! All you need is some salt and lemon.