While researching homemade cleaning products, I made a shocking discovery. Did you know that many brands of baking powder use aluminum in their products? That’s right, a metal that is believed to be a potential cause of serious health problems could be lurking in your kitchen.
I’m guessing that many of you are familiar with the push to avoid antiperspirants, which contain aluminum. Now I’m not going to lie, that is not easy transition to make. Deodorants that work well and do not contain antiperspirants are few and far between. In fact, I don’t blame anyone for refusing to forsake their beloved antiperspirant.
But let’s be honest, does anyone have a brand loyalty to baking powder? Personally, I buy whatever is on sale. As long as it does its job, it works for me.
For that reason, when I found out that my Clabber Girl Baking Powder contained aluminum and that Walmart sells Rumford’s Aluminum-Free Baking Powder for virtually the same price (both under $2.00), I was more than willing to make the transition.
Am I late to the game on this one? Is it a known fact that many baking powders contain aluminum? (I wouldn’t be surprised…) I would also be interested to hear if any of you know of any other easy ways to cut out potentially harmful ingredients in food?
I have not heard about baking powder and aluminum in it. I heard about the anti persperant and aluminum but i have tried the salt stick "healthy" kind of deoderant and it doesnt work, it was like i wore no deoderant at all ick! And I am unaware of any "healthy" anti persperant that actually works all day especially in the heat, and that keeps a fresh scent to it, so I will stick to the never fail me brand–Secret 🙂
I use kiss my face athletic deodorant, and it works pretty well, although it's not an anti-perspirant.
Ellie
Hi Ellie I hope you are finding a little relief for your wrists! I wondered if you have any kind of pasta or other types salad recipes that you like for summer. I'm trying to think of something different to add to my memorial weekend picnic (Im REAL tired of potato salad wont be making that at all).
Greek pasta salad
Boil your choice of noodle ( macaroni is mine) add about 1 tbls. If mayo To coat the drained hot cooked pasta. Add Greek seasoning to your taste. Add green onions, pimentos, sliced bkack olives, cherry tomatoes, feta cheese. Really anything you think may go well or omit what you don't like. You may could even try olive oil instead of mayo for healthier- I have never done that before.
Hi there,
Thank you for the well wishes, and thank you to the person who posted that recipe. I just filmed a pasta salad recipe video and am going to post it soon.
Ellie
When we started researching healthy eating quite a few years ago we started the transition with avoiding 3 things: hydrogenated oils, high fructose corn syrup, and MSG. Over the years that list has gotten much longer but simple steps make a good beginning :)!
Blessings on your day!
What a coincidence, those are the three ingredients that I started with, too. My list has also grown. 🙂
Ellie
Ellie I use the Arm and Hammer baking powder . I look on the ingredients and it said sodium laminitis.
They aluminum free I try before gave me gas.
Hi there,
That's interesting, I've never seen an Arm and Hammer baking powder. does the label say aluminum free, or do you just not see aluminum on the ingredients list?
Ellie
Yikes, I did not know that about baking powder. Clabber Girl is the brand I tend to buy. Guess I'll be picking up new baking powder during my next trip to the store! Thanks for the warning, Ellie!
First I have heard about aluminum in baking powder! Thanks for the info. We have tried the aluminum free deodorant. It landed right in the trash. Has anyone tried making their own? With success??
Happy to help! I would also be curious to hear if anyone has tried making their own deodorant. I use kiss my face athletic deodorant, and it works well, but I'm always up for trying something new if it could end up working better.
Ellie
Yes, I make my own deodorant, works great, saves money and grocery store trips. I actually found the recipie for the deodorant at wellnessmama.com. She's got lots of other great diy recipies too:-)
Yes we've never bought baking powder or self-raising flour for that reason! We make our own baking powder with 2 parts cream of tartar, 2 parts arrowroot powder, and 1 part baking soda. For self-raising flour the ratio is 1 cup flour to 1 tsp baking powder. 🙂
Thanks for sharing, Bee! I had never heard that. 🙂
Ellie
interesting I didn't know that
Try deodorant from Radiantly You. It's not that expensive. Amazingly enough, it works. You could try to contact someone via the website, and you could even ask for samples, although I don't know if they can sample the deodorant… But I think it works incredibly well! About to face the summer heat, so we'll see if it works then, too.
Thanks for the tip! I will take a look at that.
Ellie
Oh, and I would recommend the Radiantly You Lavender deodorant. The smell is really nice. It might take a day or two to get used to, but I do think it's really nice (and I am not really even into the whole "everything has to be natural" mindset. You're probably not either, but it is sure nice to know what you're putting onto and into your body. But still, some things I haven't found a good natural alternative to or I haven't tried them yet…) I just checked out the RY website. Some of the new products are pricey, but you'll find the deodorant in the "Family" drop down tab. Let me know if you try any products from them, and if you like them. I have only tried a few of their products, but what I have tried, I quite like.
Thank you! I do like the smell of lavender. 🙂
Ellie
Hello, Ellie! I agree with the RY deodorant comment. I have the lavender, and it's been amazing. I'm a bit of a sceptic about this, but I know a lady who just uses coconut oil instead of deodorant or an anti-perspirant. She might be one of those few who simply don't sweat much, but it supposedly works as an anti-perspirant! God bless! ~Regina
I didn't know that baking powder contains aluminum, but I don't use it because I never bake. I did know that about antiperspirant which is why my husband and I never use it. It's just not worth the health risks. Anyway, sweating is totally natural and healthy, and as long as you shower regularly, it doesn't get too out of control. There's a reason armpits have so many sweat glands, it's not natural to stop them from working.
Another beauty product that usually contains aluminum is dry shampoo. I always read the ingredients before I buy anything.
I never knew that about dry shampoo. Thanks! I have used it a couple times though, and it does smell pretty toxic.
Ellie
I don't use deodorant except when I go to church, because if I sweat at home, who cares? Wash your pits. That's a perk of being a stay at home mom. 🙂 The one I put on for church is Tom's of Maine aluminum free.
A lot of people use aluminum foil for cooking, and don't put two and two together and realize that aluminum will leach into their food. YIKES! I never use it. Also, I was about to reply and say that baking soda contains aluminum as well, but then I looked it up and it doesn't. Apparently some companies label theirs aluminum free just because people may confuse it with baking powder and be concerned it may contain aluminum.
Lol.
I've heard that about baking soda, too. Actually, it was when I was researching aluminum and baking soda that I found out that many baking powders contain aluminum.
Ellie
LOL
I'm sorry, but I would never give up using my deodorant every day just because it has aluminum in it.
I was wondering if anyone knows of a healthy salad dressing or alternative to dressing that's tasty. Thanks! 🙂
That's a good question! I found a good balsamic dressing that happens to be organic at Aldi.
Ellie
that's what I wonder too. It seems the dressings that are tasty are the thicker more fatty type. But the problem is the thinner more "healthy" dressings tend to be full of sodium and I don't want to eat salty dressings either. I don't like Italian or Ceasar dressings for that reason.I also don't care to just put oil on my lettuce, ewww.
Just make your own dressing 🙂 It's way cheaper and you can adjust to your own taste. Lot's of options here: http://allrecipes.com/recipes/210/side-dish/sauces-and-condiments/salad-dressings/
I like to make an Italian one, so I use roughly one-third each vinegar (balsamic would be great but I normally just use white, also apple cider would be an option), olive oil, and a lighter oil such as sunflower. Add a pinch of black pepper, some salt (Himalayan Pink Salt is a great option), dried oregano, basil, and thyme. The vinegar gives quite a strong flavour so I often add a bit of sugar to take the edge off. 🙂
I make my grandma salad dressings. It's really good.
I make my grandma salad dressings. It's really good.
I use mayo and ketchup sale dressing with just a little bit of milk. And is really good.
This isn't about aluminum, but I know I've heard there are health hazards in heating plastic containers and toxins released in bottled water if it gets warm. Is that what BPA free is suppose to prevent? I recently bought a drinking cup with lid that is suppose to be BPA free and I thought it would be healthier and less expensive than drinking bottled water but noticed when I use it there is sometimes an after taste. Is plastic wrap bad for us too?
BPA is supposed to be healthier, but they're most often replacing it with BPB I believe, which is either almost as bad or worse than BPA… I think stainless steel bottles are meant to be the healthiest, at least that I've heard of.
*BPA free, oops!
All a lot of my diabetic stuff has aluminum in it but I need that to live. You do have aluminum in your cavities they are made out of aluminum metal I asked my dentist.
The cavities having aluminum metal in them was back in the 1970-1990.