Is your Health on Hold?

“I’ll start working out after the project is over.”

“I’ll go back to my healthy eating plan after my vacation.”

Have you ever found yourself delaying healthy eating or exercise?  Unfortunately our health does not go on hold – your arteries do not take a vacation and are working around the clock to bring nourishment to all parts of your body.

Can we push the pause button?

Life does happen, the schedule gets hectic and the best laid plans get pushed aside.  Can we really push a pause bottom during these times and hope the body will not notice?

In reality, all the cells and organs of our body age with time.  What we eat and how we move are lifestyle factors that influence the aging process…and the good news is we can alter aging or at least keep it in check.

Current research shows our body can change within 2 weeks of a starting a healthy eating or exercise regimen…and actually alter the way your DNA responds to your genes.  If you are programmed towards diabetes or heart disease, lifestyle changes can change the programming towards normal blood sugars and a healthy heart.

Your health does not go on hold or take a vacation…

it is either going in one direction or the other.  Why not stop the excuses and realize your life is not a dress rehearsal and you have the power to alter your destiny towards the health and happiness you deserve. 

The project or excuse may always be there…but your health is one thing precious to hold onto and it is waiting for you to release the lifestyle hold button.

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.