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GO BEYOND POTS AND PANS When seeking out safe cooking practices, here are a few other tips to keep in mind. 1. Be mindful of utensils Some spatulas and stirring spoons can also contain

toxins. Plastic utensils may contain Bisphenol-A (BPA) and other hormone disruptors, which can leach into your food when cooking. And just because something is BPA free, doesn't mean

it's safer. "BPA is Bisphenol-A and a lot of times when it's removed, they'll replace it with Bisphenol-S (BPS) or F (BPF), which may have just as strong, if not higher,

endocrine disrupting or hormone disrupting properties as BPA,” says Tonya Harris, an environmental toxins expert. Be aware that metal utensils can scratch up your pans, potentially creating

more opportunities for chemicals to trickle into your food. “I personally use wooden utensils for cooking,” says Steven Gundry, M.D., a cardiothoracic surgeon and author of _The Longevity

Paradox: How to Die Young at a Ripe Old Age._ Harris says silicon can be a good option if you use high quality, food-grade versions. 2. Turn on the fan Since cooking with chemical-laden

nonstick pans can create harmful fumes, it's a good idea to turn the exhaust fan on when cooking. The fan can also help dissipate any smoke or gas from cooking on high heat. 3. Use

parchment paper If you can't find a nontoxic baking sheet, or aren't sure if yours contains harmful chemicals, Bradley suggests lining it with parchment paper before putting food

on top. “That's going to minimize the actual absorption of the chemicals,” she says. 4. Avoid takeout containers  Experts like Gundry warn that takeout containers made from foam or

plastic often contain endocrine disrupters. Even paper cartons may have a plasticized lining containing some toxins, he says. "When in doubt, and you have to have take out, bring your

own glass containers from home and transfer [the food] immediately.” 5. Don't microwave food in plastic This is a definite no-no, says Elizabeth Bradley, M.D., medical director for

Functional Medicine at Cleveland Clinic.