You Are What You Eat... Pt. 4

BPA and you. What's BPA? Most people have heard of this by now and has been mostly associated with water bottles. It is Bisphenol-A (BPA), a toxic chemical that’s making us sick. It leaches into us from plastics, paper coatings and canned foods. 90% of us carry measurable amounts of BPA in our bodies. 90% of us!—that means it’s everywhere, practically unavoidable. How? Why?

Whether you know it or not, you most likely are consuming BPA in your daily diet. If you drink from plastic or soda can, cook something from a can, handle a receipt at a store and even on DVDs that you pop in your machine. Hundreds of research studies have shown that the chemical mimics the hormone estrogen in the body, disrupting the natural functioning of the hormonal system. This is serious cause for concern. Higher concentrations of BPA in the body have been associated with recurrent miscarriages, altered gendered behaviors in children, and altered hormone levels in men. Workers who had been exposed to BPA on the job reported significantly higher rates of erectile dysfunction than those who had not been. Other studies have linked it to heart disease, diabetes, and other metabolic disorders.

Here are 7 tips for avoiding as much of it as you can:

1. Avoid drinking out of plastic bottles. Use unlined stainless steel ones instead.
2. Avoid canned foods and those that are sold in plastic containers. Buy products in glass or cardboard “brick-packaging” for a BPA-free alternative. Choose dried beans instead of canned ones, and stick with fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables. If you can’t avoid canned fruits, vegetables, or beans, rinse the contents well before serving.
3. Store leftovers in glass containers instead of plastic ones.
4. Never microwave food in plastic containers or while covered in plastic wrap. Use glass or ceramic containers instead.
5. Don’t take receipts or wash your hands after touching one. The thermal paper used by many retailers for receipts contains high concentrations of BPA.
6. Check recycling numbers on plastics. Types 3 and 7 are likely to contain BPA, so avoid these.
7. For Parents with Young Children: Unfortunately, many BPA alternatives are still being tested for safety and it is difficult to determine what products are truly better. For developing brains and bodies, cut to the chase and avoid plastics altogether.
   • If you feed your infant formula, choose the powdered version instead of the liquid kind.
   • Use glass or stainless steel containers for bottles and sippy cups.
   • Avoid plastic toys, especially items that will be put into mouths.