What about those Plastic Bottles?

A few months ago I decided to stop drinking out of plastic bottles.  Besides the continual search to become greener, I am concerned about the level of BPA or endocrine disruptors that can be part of the plastics.  I know some plastic is deemed “safe” but wanted to see if I felt better if I avoided it.  One thing I recommend to clients when they ask me if they should stop or start something new is to give it thought a “30 day experiment.”  If you feel better after 30 days continue and if not abandon ship.

Since it seems almost everything affects your metabolism and health after 40 it’s hard to tell but I did notice a difference even after just one week.  Therefore, I happily continued making my pot of green tea every morning and poured it into a few glass bottles to go to work.

Drinking out of glass tastes very “clean” and refreshing.  About a week ago I went to a party and was there longer than I planned for and was offered a bottle of water.  Since I was rather thirsty I decided to have it rather than getting dehydrated.  It was interesting how much I tasted the plastic and it made me wonder…

If I was actually able to taste the plastic what was it doing to my body?

Jeffrey brought home a “box” of water from a new company called Boxed Water is Better.  It does not have the plastic taste and provides a better alternative for water on the run…and the box is biodegradable.

With an estimation of up to six times the amount of plastic particles versus plankton in our ocean’s waters today we have an obligation to cut down on our plastic consumption and find other ways to meet our conveniences.

And for health we all know not to use plastic in the microwave and avoid leaving water bottles in a hot car.  But if you think about it how are those water bottles transported?  Many are in hot trucks in tow to their location which is not exactly like the microwave but how much is it affecting our health, hormones and happiness?

Research is still young, but I’m still going to continue making my tea and using my glass bottles for now.  Besides helping the environment, my body is telling me it prefers glass so I’m paying attention. 

Now that is stepping out of the box….or better yet, plastic.

What is Bisphenol A?

Until recently I had not paid much attention to Bisphenol A (BPA) but with the onslaught of recent studies I finally had to listen up.

What is BPA and how does it affect us?  BPA is a chemical substance used to make plastics and resins or coatings on the insides of many food and beverage containers.   It has been known to disrupt the endocrine system since it mimic’s the body’s own hormones (particularly estrogen) which can cause negative health effects.

Recent studies have shown several concerns:

• BPA suppresses a hormone that protects people from heart attacks and type 2 or adult onset diabetes
• Exposure to BPA can be linked to linked to life-long fertility defects and gene changes in babies
• BPA has been linked to increasing rates of asthma

After analyzing these studies I went on a search to find out if any of the plastics I used had BPA.  I looked at my water bottle for the gym, my favorite peanut butter from Trader Joe’s, and everything else plastic in my house.

With a little research I found out what to look for.  If a plastic has BPA it will have a “7” with a triangle around it and “PC” under the triangle, also known as polycarbonate (PC).  Many plastics are “7” but do not contain PC.  Many baby bottles have BPA in them so be sure to check those if you have an infant.

My water bottle had a 7 but no PC under it so I was safe there.  One of the plastic water containers I use at home for drinking did have the 7 and PC so I tossed that but the rest were okay.  My Trader Joe’s peanut butter was safe as were the rest of the plastic containers in my home.

So what about canned foods?  This topic is controversial but from what I have read canned tomatoes can contain the highest levels of BPA, since they are lined to prevent the acid from leeching into the can’s metal.  According to consumer reports, canned green beans and soups have been found to have higher levels of BPA as well.

So what’s the take home message?  If you have any plastics in your home and chances are you probably do, look at the bottom to ensure there is not a 7 with a PC under it.  Cook with as many fresh foods as you can, and keep your intake of canned products to a minimum.  It is not logical to eliminate canned foods from your diet but exercising caution is the key to preventing overload of BPA in your system.