A new study by Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health reveals that the chemical compound in non-stick cookware may impact babies' weight. According to Fox News, researchers studied blood samples from 450 British women who were pregnant in 1991 and 1992, looking for the concentration of polyluoroalkyl compounds (PFCs). PFCs are a chemical that is commonly found in non-stick cookware items such as frying pans.
Study researchers claim that mothers who had high levels of this chemical in their blood during pregnancy had lower birth weight babies than other moms. Although the babies were smaller to start, at 20 months, these same babies were larger in size than their counterparts. While the study does not conclude why this happens, researchers did suggest that PFCs may impact how fat is metabolized by the body.
What does this mean for pregnant moms? Simply stated, it suggests that you might want to avoid using non-stick pans and other similar cookware during pregnancy. This chemical is also found in other items such as water-resistant clothes and some packaging products. While it might not be entirely possible to avoid PFCs, pregnant women can do their best to keep their exposure to a minimum.
It should be noted that the data collected during this study is 20 years old, meaning that the current levels of PFCs in products (or the environment) may not be the same. While PFCs are still in non-stick cookware, researchers believe that the modern push toward environmentalism and more stringent health standards could mean that the amount of this chemical in the general environment is lower. In turn, a lower general environmental level of PFCs may mean that the overall concentration of this chemical would be lower in a pregnant mom's blood than that found 20 years ago.
Given the latest weight statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), stating that 17 percent of U.S. kids between two and 19 years old are considered obese, it doesn't hurt to give your little one the best start possible. If some scientists believe that using non-stick cookware may lead to bigger babies, then avoiding the connected chemical may just be the right way to go.
Does this research change the way that you cook? Would you plan on giving up your favorite non-stick items during pregnancy to keep your child's weight down? Tell us below in the comments section!
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