Time

• The longer food is kept in aluminum cookware, the more aluminum it absorb. Keep food in aluminum kitchenware for as short a time as possible to minimize aluminum exposure.

Condition

• As aluminum kitchenware ages, it may develop scratches and pits. This will cause food to absorb more aluminum than normal.

Acidic Foods

• Foods high in acid, such as tomatoes, rhubarb, sauerkraut and citrus, will absorb more aluminum from cookware than less acidic foods.

Anodized Aluminum

• Anodized aluminum is sealed and is considered a better choice when cooking and storing acidic foods. Cookware made from anodized aluminum is a good choice for people who are concerned about their aluminum intake.

Alzheimer's Disease

• According to the United States National Library of Medicine, a study published in the February 2001 Journal of Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology suggests that the link between Alzheimer's disease and aluminum intake has been greatly exaggerated. The study further concludes that "no reports of dietary aluminum toxicity to healthy individuals exist in the literature."