Today we’re sharing crucial information about avoiding BPAs, a harmful chemical found in plastics and canned food. Armed with this knowledge, you can take simple steps to protect your health. Remember—your health is the greatest wealth!
When it comes to BPAs (bisphenol A), I really can’t say a good word about them. They’re bad for the earth and terrible for our bodies, so the less we ingest (knowingly or not) the better. When you feel as strongly about sustaining wellness as I do, the best way to deal with BPAs is to get them out of your life.
And how do I loathe BPAs? Let me count the ways. Biosphenol A is an industrial chemical, an endocrine disruptor, a suspected carcinogen, and proven synthetic hormone that mimics the effects of estrogen! BPAs have been linked to increased risks for heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, as well as liver and brain problems. BPAs are also credited with contributing to erectile dysfunction and the growth of breast cancer cells in adults plus developmental problems in children. Need I go on? Clearly, it’s time for all of us to kick it to the curb.
Here’s How to Start your BPA Purge, Preferably Today:
Kick the Can
Virtually all canned food liners contain BPAs, which leech into the food (yuck!). My advice? Don’t buy canned food. It’s as simple as that. Buy glass bottled items instead. Better yet, buy fresh, whole, organic foods and prep them yourself to minimize BPA exposure. If you can’t kick the can completely, just be sure to use canned goods as little as possible.
Keep it Glassy
Store foods in glass containers to eliminate BPA leeching. Reheat items in glass as well to banish the BPAs. If you have a lot of plastic microwavable containers in your pantry, slowly start decommissioning them and start transitioning over to an all-glass or ceramic-container kitchen. The older the plastic container, the sooner you should throw it out.
Be Kinder to the Earth
Another reason to go with glass? It’s kinder to the earth and can be easily recycled. Better yet, you use less energy and water by using one-dish glass cookware that goes straight from the oven to the table. The same is true for ceramic cookware.
Put Down the Spatula
Particularly if it’s made of plastic. Some of the cheaper brands made in countries with fewer safety regulations may contain BPAs, so be conscious of what your cooking utensils are made. A better bet is to switch to sustainable, earth-friendly cooking utensils, such as bamboo, that won’t melt or leech chemicals into food with every stir of the soup.
Know your BPA-Free Numbers
Pay attention to recycling codes on the bottom of the container. If they’re tagged with a number one, two, four, or five, they’re BPA-free, so okay for short-term, single-occasion use, but, again, the less you buy, use, and dump in a landfill, the better.
Know the Bad Guys
Stay far away from the threes and sevens. The threes are made of PVC, also known as vinyl, a notorious toxic off-gasser. Items marked with the seven recycling code are made with BPAs, so leave them at the store.
Hit the Bottle
Just not plastic ones. If you like to carry water wherever you go, then portable bottles made of stainless steel are the BPA-free way to go. However, you should remember to check that the bottle doesn’t have a plastic liner, which may contain BPAs. If you do buy bottled drinks in BPA-free plastic bottles (usually marked with the “number one” recycling code), never re-use them, as they’re not designed to withstand hot water washings or repeated usage.
Have a happy and BPA-free day!
Dr. Frank Lipman is an acclaimed Integrative Physician and the founder and director of the Eleven Eleven Wellness Center in New York City. For over 20 years his personal brand of healing has helped thousands of people reclaim their vitality and recover their zest for life. Focused on sustainable wellness—instead of quick fixes—he offers patients a customized blend of Western medicine with acupuncture, nutritional counseling, vitamins and herbs, relaxation techniques, physical therapy, and bodywork. In 2010 he developed Be Well by Dr. Frank Lipman, a line of leading-edge supplements and health programs. He is the author of Revive: Stop Feeling Spent and Start Living Again and Total Renewal: 7 Key Steps to Resilience, Vitality and Long-Term Health.
For more on Dr. Lipman, please visit his resourceful WEBSITE or on FACEBOOK or TWITTER.
*Photo by by Klearchos Kapoutsis.
