Cast Iron and Parkinsons
QUESTION:
Debra,
Have you heard of the link between Parkinson's Disease, and possibly MS, and cast iron cookware? My son's Naturopathic Physician said that iron from cast iron gets through the blood brain barrier into the brain, and can actually attract other metals there. She said that research was originally done by Dr. Paul Cutler of Niagara Falls which demonstrated this, and another West Coast research team tried to disprove this, but found the same results, which made them conclude that "this should be further studied." Have you ever heard this? When I asked if people hundreds of years ago were ill from using their cast iron, she said that they did not live long enough to get Parkinsons. What do you think? We use a lot of cast iron here -- we thought it was the best for health! Thanks for all you do! Donna
POSTED BY DONNA :: NEW YORK USA :: 10/21/2009 1:09 PM
DEBRA'S ANSWER:
I have never heard of this. As you say, cast iron has been in use a very long time with no ill effects associated with it.
One of the problems today is that there are many many more toxic chemicals and metals in our immediate environment than in times past. It may be that cast iron gets into the brain and attracts metals, and that it wasn't a problem in the past because people were exposed to fewer metals. So is the problem cast iron or the huge amount of metals we are exposed to?
It is true that cast iron cookware releases iron into the food cooked into it. Whether or not this is a health problem is probably entirely individual.
It would be helpful if you could provide links to the research you cite.
Debra :-)
