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Let’s talk about cookware.
You’re buying organic veggies, cutting out seed oils, maybe even fermenting your own kraut. These are all great things that you should be doing. Unfortunately, I am here to tell you that the effort to better your health doesn’t stop there.
If you’re tossing all that gut-friendly goodness into a scratched-up non-stick pan or scooping it with a plastic ladle, you’re leaving serious gains to be had on the table. This is easy to overlook since we can’t really see or taste the difference, but your body knows.
We’re going to go over the most commonly used pieces of cookware we use on a daily basis, the options you want to go with, and the options to avoid.
Pots and Pans:
Your cookware is the foundation of every meal, but some materials can do more harm than good. Here’s the scoop on what to ditch and what to embrace for a gut-friendly kitchen.
🚫 Avoid These
Non-Stick Pans (Teflon, PTFE, etc.): That slick surface might seem convenient, but it’s coated with plastic polymers that break down over time—especially with heat or scrubbing. These coatings release microplastics, PUFAs and toxic fumes like carbon monoxide into your food, which can mess with your organs and disrupt your gut. Nah fam.
Aluminum Pans: Uncoated aluminum (including those flimsy foil trays) leaches heavy metals into your food, especially when cooking acidic stuff like tomatoes or lemon. Aluminum toxicity is linked to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and can throw your gut out of whack. Hard pass.
⚖️ Use in Moderation—Don’t Overdo It
Cast Iron & Carbon Steel: These are great for getting a killer sear, but they can leach iron into your food. In an era where foods are already fortified with iron, too much can lead to iron toxicity, especially if you’ve got gut issues. Use occasionally, and avoid cooking acidic foods in them. Also, some people love the ritual of seasoning them, others not so much.
Copper: Copper pans are fancy and great for precise heating, but like aluminum and cast iron options, they’ll leach copper into your food, which can cause imbalances over time. If you must, opt for copper-core pans lined with stainless steel.
✅ The Gut-Friendly Champs
Glass: The least toxic option—zero risk of metals leaching into your food. It’s not super common or practical for all cooking, but if you can find glass cookware, it’s a winner.
Ceramic: If you need a non-stick surface, go for ceramic with a natural coating (double-check there’s no sneaky synthetic non-stick layers). It’s not ideal for high-heat cooking, but it’s a solid choice for low-to-medium heat dishes.
Stainless Steel (3+ Ply): The holy grail of cookware that’s priced accordingly. High-quality stainless steel (minimum 3-ply) conducts heat evenly, lasts forever, and develops a natural non-stick patina over time with proper use. It’s the best overall pick for daily cooking—minimal leaching, easily maintainable, just pure gut-friendly vibes.
PRO TIP: If you’ve tried stainless steel in the past and gave up because food sticks too easily, it’s a skill issue. All you have to do is wait a few minutes for the pan to heat up before cooking with it. Here’s a short video further explaining.
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Cutting Boards:
Your cutting board is where the magic begins, but the wrong material can turn your magic in to dark magic rq. Here is how we rank common cutting board materials from worst to best:
Plastic: Fading plastic is a common theme with PoopMates, and every scratch on a plastic cutting board shaves off tiny bits of plastic that end up in your food. Plus, plastic isn’t antimicrobial like other options on the list, so bacteria love to hide out in those cracks and crevices. It’s a double whammy of microplastics and bacterial growth.
Bamboo: Sounds eco-friendly, but bamboo boards warp easily, are hard on your knives, and have a short lifespan. Not worth the hassle, but still better than plastic.
Wood: Naturally antimicrobial, wood is one of the best choices for your gut and kitchen. It requires a bit of maintenance (regular oiling to prevent drying out), and you’ll want to choose between edge grain (more affordable) or end grain (durable but pricier), but they will elevate the aesthetic of your kitchen instantly.
Rubber: The best low-maintenance alternative to wood. It’s gentle on knives, naturally resists bacteria, and doesn’t need much upkeep. A solid pick for busy kitchens.
China: Bowls, Plates, and Silverware:
Your dinnerware matters just as much as your cookware. Here’s how to keep your plates and utensils gut-friendly:
Avoid Melamine and Plastic: Melamine (a type of plastic often used in “durable” plates) can leach into your food, especially with hot meals. Studies show melamine levels in the body spike after eating hot soup from melamine bowls—yikes! Stick to natural materials. NO PLASTIC 🙅♂️
Go for Ceramic, Porcelain, or Glass: These materials are non-toxic and won’t leach anything into your food.
Silverware: Stainless steel is your best bet—durable, non-toxic, and easy to clean. Avoid plastic.
Water Bottles & Tupperware:
Say No to Plastic: “BPA-free” is just marketing facade. Most BPA-free bottles replace the use of BPA (Bisphenol A) with BPS (Bisphenol S), which is basically the same thing—an estrogenic endocrine disruptor that messes with your hormones and gut. And if you are using plastic, NEVER expose them to hot temperatures or you risk leeching up to 10-50x more.
Steel/Glass Maximalism: Stainless steel bottles are the way to go. They’re 100% safe, durable, and keep your water pure. Glass is not as practical, but looks slick.
tl;dr
We already have several credit cards worth of plastic in our ovaries, balls, brains, and more. One of the biggest sources of this plastic comes from cookware. Fade plastic, opt for glass and stainless steal when you can.
💩 SH*TTY MEMEZ 🤣
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That’s all for today, PoopMates. Go, fertilize the Earth. The planet needs you.
DISCLAIMER: The content provided in this newsletter is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call your doctor or dial 911 immediately.