Alzheimer's Society - Aluminium and Alzheimer's disease
http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/factsheet/406

"The overwhelming medical and scientific opinion is that the findings outlined above do not convincingly demonstrate a causal relationship between aluminium and Alzheimer's disease, and that no useful medical or public health recommendations can be made - at least at present (Massey and Taylor 1989)."

The Alzheimer's Society has held to this opinion since 1989, almost 20 years.


That said, I don't use aluminum containing anti-perspirants either, but I try to avoid all unneccessary use of any such consumer products. Most plastics, personal hygene products, cleaning supplies, air fresheners, textile coatings, it's all crap mostly. The cumulative effect of all of this is waste and ill-health. I keep it simple, and stick with safe materials that exist naturally. I have taken to using stuff like cheap gin mixed with water for after-shave, mouth-wash, and sparingly on under arms and feet and other body parts now and then. I get plain natural soap and shampoo and use it sparingly, but mostly depend on healthy exercise before I shower and clean hot water to stay clean and fresh. I wear wool, but wash it only when it is noticeably dirty or smelly, and usually then only a rinse. Only my underwear gets washed everyday.

I use any metal cookware, prefering stainless at home and not particular in the field, but I avoid plastics and plastic coatings, and food that is over processed and over packaged. Basically, I try and keep it natural. I use safe materials that exist in nature and the body in naturally adapted to. I am skeptical about ALL consumer products. I use materials, not brand names.

Ironically, the epoxy used to coat aluminum cans is not safe, but the aluminum is. It is usually a pretty thin coating, and safer than the Nalgene bottles, but I might still think twice before using an epoxy coated beer can or juice can metal for hot water. I think the coffee cans are uncoated.

Aluminum makes up 8% of the weight of the Earth's crust.
It's mostly in dirt, rocks, and ceramics as aluminum oxides and compounds.
It doesn't exist naturally as a metal, but it coats itself with its own oxide.
I might not use it for long term storage of tomatoes, but I would cook with it.
I wouldn't use aluminum-chloride as anti-perspirant, but I'm not afraid of clay.
Aluminum is a natural material. We just shouldn't do un-natural things with it. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />