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Doctor’s safe alternative to plastic cutting boards that doesn’t harm your health
Plastic cutting boards are one of the most common kitchen essentials that should be avoided at all costs. A doctor reveals an alternative that’s safe to use.
Aside from nutritious cooked food, the process of preparing is also crucial for health. Although it’s advised to peel fruits and vegetables to get rid of harmful pesticides as washing doesn’t suffice, you should never chop them on a cutting board made of plastic.
Doctor says you should avoid plastic cutting boards
Plastic is generally considered dangerous – for the environment and our health – although studies have shown bottles made of glass are less eco-friendly.
When it comes to cutting boards, plastic is not safe, as doctor Paul Saladino warns in his TikTok video. He demonstrates what happens each time you use it, and the amount of microplastic that can enter our system is truly alarming.
After using a plastic cutting board, the doctor shows tiny shreds of microplastic and macroplastic that’s been scraped off and warns that it can enter our food. So, he strongly avoids it.
For the unversed, microplastics are harmful as they can invade your brain tissue and other organs including lungs, placentas, reproductive organs, livers, kidneys, knee and elbow joints, blood vessels, and bone marrow.
Sadly, plastic fragments are present almost everywhere, including in drinking water. A recent study found around 240,000 detectable plastic fragments in an average bottle of water.
However, you can remove a large percentage of plastic from water using the boiling method and filters. Even though the effectiveness of the method may vary with different types of water, its still convenient and safer than drinking water directly from the tap.
Consider a safer option
Plastic cutting boards are best avoided; you can use one made of wood instead. “There’s no stain, there’s no sealant here,” says Dr. Paul.
He recommends using tallow to seal the wood before using it to cut anything. He further recommends cleaning it using vinegar as it can accumulate bacteria.
Dr. Paul Saladino is a double board-certified MD, host of the Fundamental Health podcast, and author of The Carnivore Code and The Carnivore Code Cookbook. He graduated from medical school at the University of Arizona in Tucson and completed his residency at the University of Washington in Seattle.
