Sustainable Words
Are You Plastic Positive?
Plastic has become a staple in our society. It’s cheap to produce, lightweight, durable and even recyclable. Like many modern conveniences, it has become so much a part of our lives that removing plastic from our homes would be a difficult undertaking. Plastic is used to make our water bottles and our baby’s bottles, it lines metal food cans, fast food containers and microwavable food packaging. Our shower curtains are made out of plastic, our blow-up mattresses are made out of plastic, and now, due to the ubiquitous and pervasive nature of this chemical, our bodies contain plastic.
In 2005 the CDC conducted a body burden analysis to determine how many people had bisphenol A (BPA), a common type of plastic, in their bloodstream and found that a whopping 95% of their participants were plastic-positive. Over the past 20 years, numerous studies have detected BPA in breast milk, serum, saliva, urine, amniotic fluid and cord blood. And the pervasiveness of this plastic doesn’t end with our bodies. BPA is so common in products and industrial waste that it pollutes rivers, sediment, house dust and air. You would be hard pressed to find a corner of the earth that BPA hasn’t touched.
BPA enters out bodies mainly through the foods that we eat. Its chemical bond is very weak, allowing it to break down easily and leach into foods and beverages contained within BPA-laden packaging. Heat enhances BPA’s ability to break down, an especially troublesome factor when you consider that metal food cans (lined with BPA) are exposed to intense heat during the sterilization process.
Last year the Environmental Working Group investigated the prevalence of BPA leaching into food from metal containers. 97 cans of name brand foods were tested and they found that 1 out of every 10 cans of food and 1 out of every 3 cans of infant formula contained enough BPA in a single serving to expose an adult (or infant) to “levels more than 200 times the governments traditional safe level of exposure for industrial chemicals.”
When BPA enters the body it acts like the hormone estrogen. It is a synthetic form of estrogen, but the body can’t tell the difference between the real thing and the synthetic imposters. BPA levels within the body increase the levels of estrogen, which can lead to very serious health problems including breast cancer, testicular cancer, and reproductive disorders.
A recent report by Dr. Angel Nadal linked the widespread use of plastic in beverage and food containers to the obesity and diabetes epidemics occurring within the United States. In a study conducted by Dr. Alonso-Magdalena et al., chronic exposure to BPA at very low levels induced insulin resistance in mice. Insulin is produced by the pancreas and needed to escort glucose into the cells. If the cells become resistant to insulin, glucose isn’t able to enter and begins to flood the bloodstream, eventually resulting in diabetes.
Dr. Alonso-Magdalena said of the study findings, “What is striking is the low level at which BPA caused changes in glucose and insulin metabolism in these experiments.” The doses in the study were 5 times lower than the EPA safety standard and below the level reported in infant cord blood at birth.
Other studies show that BPA exposure in early life can lead to obesity in adulthood. It is believed that the synthetic estrogen does so by triggering fat cell activity. Both obesity and diabetes are on the rise in the US and researchers say that you don’t have to look farther than your plastic water bottle for a reason.
Ridding your life of plastic can be a challenge- it’s true. When I suggest to my patients that they remove all plastic from their homes I’m often met with resistance. My simple answer to them is this: When you make choices about items that you buy for your home, choose plastic alternatives. For example, use glass containers instead of plastic to store your leftovers in. For your baby, select glass bottles instead of the standard plastic bottles. Choose a shower curtain that is BPA-free (an affordable alternative is available in most bed and bath stores). Try to limit your use of canned foods whenever possible. And if you must use plastic, stay away from those with recycle codes 3 and 7, which both contain BPA.
Plastic is the most common toxin that I see in my patients. Symptoms of plastic toxicity vary widely and include fatigue, poor concentration, headaches, inflammation, tremors, rapid heart rate, convulsions, and stomach irritation. When I suspect that toxins may be at the root of a patient’s health problems, I order a simple urine test that can detect environmental pollutants, including plastic, within the body. After reviewing the patient’s results I am then able to tailor a detoxification protocol that suits their specific issues. Detoxification is always necessary in order to begin the healing process.
Plastic has become ubiquitous in our lives, but only because we’ve allowed it. Just as degenerative diseases are on the rise, so is our plastic consumption. Don’t allow your need for convenience outweigh your desire to live a long and healthy life. You and your family deserve to live plastic free!
In 2005 the CDC conducted a body burden analysis to determine how many people had bisphenol A (BPA), a common type of plastic, in their bloodstream and found that a whopping 95% of their participants were plastic-positive. Over the past 20 years, numerous studies have detected BPA in breast milk, serum, saliva, urine, amniotic fluid and cord blood. And the pervasiveness of this plastic doesn’t end with our bodies. BPA is so common in products and industrial waste that it pollutes rivers, sediment, house dust and air. You would be hard pressed to find a corner of the earth that BPA hasn’t touched.
BPA enters out bodies mainly through the foods that we eat. Its chemical bond is very weak, allowing it to break down easily and leach into foods and beverages contained within BPA-laden packaging. Heat enhances BPA’s ability to break down, an especially troublesome factor when you consider that metal food cans (lined with BPA) are exposed to intense heat during the sterilization process.
Last year the Environmental Working Group investigated the prevalence of BPA leaching into food from metal containers. 97 cans of name brand foods were tested and they found that 1 out of every 10 cans of food and 1 out of every 3 cans of infant formula contained enough BPA in a single serving to expose an adult (or infant) to “levels more than 200 times the governments traditional safe level of exposure for industrial chemicals.”
When BPA enters the body it acts like the hormone estrogen. It is a synthetic form of estrogen, but the body can’t tell the difference between the real thing and the synthetic imposters. BPA levels within the body increase the levels of estrogen, which can lead to very serious health problems including breast cancer, testicular cancer, and reproductive disorders.
A recent report by Dr. Angel Nadal linked the widespread use of plastic in beverage and food containers to the obesity and diabetes epidemics occurring within the United States. In a study conducted by Dr. Alonso-Magdalena et al., chronic exposure to BPA at very low levels induced insulin resistance in mice. Insulin is produced by the pancreas and needed to escort glucose into the cells. If the cells become resistant to insulin, glucose isn’t able to enter and begins to flood the bloodstream, eventually resulting in diabetes.
Dr. Alonso-Magdalena said of the study findings, “What is striking is the low level at which BPA caused changes in glucose and insulin metabolism in these experiments.” The doses in the study were 5 times lower than the EPA safety standard and below the level reported in infant cord blood at birth.
Other studies show that BPA exposure in early life can lead to obesity in adulthood. It is believed that the synthetic estrogen does so by triggering fat cell activity. Both obesity and diabetes are on the rise in the US and researchers say that you don’t have to look farther than your plastic water bottle for a reason.
Ridding your life of plastic can be a challenge- it’s true. When I suggest to my patients that they remove all plastic from their homes I’m often met with resistance. My simple answer to them is this: When you make choices about items that you buy for your home, choose plastic alternatives. For example, use glass containers instead of plastic to store your leftovers in. For your baby, select glass bottles instead of the standard plastic bottles. Choose a shower curtain that is BPA-free (an affordable alternative is available in most bed and bath stores). Try to limit your use of canned foods whenever possible. And if you must use plastic, stay away from those with recycle codes 3 and 7, which both contain BPA.
Plastic is the most common toxin that I see in my patients. Symptoms of plastic toxicity vary widely and include fatigue, poor concentration, headaches, inflammation, tremors, rapid heart rate, convulsions, and stomach irritation. When I suspect that toxins may be at the root of a patient’s health problems, I order a simple urine test that can detect environmental pollutants, including plastic, within the body. After reviewing the patient’s results I am then able to tailor a detoxification protocol that suits their specific issues. Detoxification is always necessary in order to begin the healing process.
Plastic has become ubiquitous in our lives, but only because we’ve allowed it. Just as degenerative diseases are on the rise, so is our plastic consumption. Don’t allow your need for convenience outweigh your desire to live a long and healthy life. You and your family deserve to live plastic free!
Copyright 2008 Sustainable Words
The information and files contained on this website are the property of Gina Reed, owner of Sustainable Words.
All rights reserved.
