Experts point out that the effects of excessive aluminum on children are greater. Long-term excessive intake of aluminum can affect a child's bone growth and also have a certain impact on their intelligence.
Recently, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention has monitored and found that the aluminum content in the daily diet of our country's residents is high, with 40% of foods having aluminum content exceeding the national standard by 2 to 9 times. It is reported that excessive aluminum can delay the intellectual development process in children. In adults, excessive intake of aluminum can lead to various harmful diseases such as senile dementia. So, how can we avoid excessive intake of aluminum metal in our daily lives? A reporter interviewed Professor Jiang Zhuoqin, director of the Department of Nutrition at the School of Public Health of Sun Yat-sen University, on this matter.
Aluminum is not an element needed by the human body
According to research by the World Health Organization, the daily intake of aluminum per kilogram of body weight should not exceed 1 milligram. However, monitoring shows that the average daily intake of aluminum for residents in our country is 34 milligrams.
Experts point out that the effects of excessive aluminum on children are greater. Long-term excessive intake of aluminum can affect a child's bone growth and also have a certain impact on their intelligence. In addition, excessive intake of aluminum can also cause the following harm to the human body: lead to senile dementia; may cause osteoporosis, making fractures more likely; decrease the body's immune function; lead to non-iron-deficiency anemia. Even low concentrations of aluminum can accumulate, causing varying degrees of damage to the nervous system, bones, liver, kidneys, heart, and immune system.
It's best to eat less canned food
Professor Jiang Zhuoqin, director of the Department of Nutrition at the School of Public Health of Sun Yat-sen University, stated that aluminum is not a trace element required by the human body. It is added to food as an additive to improve flavor. The sources of aluminum in daily food come either from food additives or from leaching out of packaging materials, and aluminum can also be present in some foods to which alum is added.
It is reported that in addition to puffed foods, vermicelli, fried dough sticks, some chemically leavened steamed buns, and flour that has been strengthened with flour strengthening agents can all lead to excessive intake of aluminum. In terms of packaging materials, aluminum pots, lunch boxes, and kettles may leach aluminum when holding food. It is best not to use aluminum products to hold acidic, alkaline, and salty foods, and not to store food in aluminum boxes or pots for long periods. It is worth mentioning that cans made of aluminum alloy. Generally, the inner walls of safe cans that come into contact with beverages and other foods are coated with a protective layer. However, during the manufacturing process, it is inevitable that some areas may not be coated with the protective layer, or the coating may be too thin, causing the aluminum alloy of the inner wall to come into contact with the beverage. This leads to a gradual increase in the aluminum content of the beverage. Therefore, canned beverages should not be consumed frequently or in large quantities. This is especially true for children in a period of vigorous growth and development and the elderly with poor excretory functions; it is best for them to drink less. Normally, when drinking beverages, one should try to choose glass bottles or soft-packaged beverages.
Professor Jiang suggests that eating foods rich in vitamin C or supplementing with the trace element selenium can help expel aluminum. Of course, the most important thing is to have a balanced diet and improve metabolic function.