So, starting a blog is harder than I expected! Hopefully, we'll get more info out there soon! Once a week might be harder than I thought...
An article appeared in the USA Today recently, talking about BPA in cans. Here is the link for that article: http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2010-05-19-cans19_ST_N.htm
I've gotten many questions about it, so I'd like to share my response to that article that we keep in the office as part of our "Article of the Week":
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For many years now, I’ve been talking, learning, reading, and studying about BPA and possible dangers. In science, it’s always important to look at the full body of evidence. As the end of the article suggests, there are many studies to suggest that BPA is safe. However, many of those studies are funded by the same groups who stand to profit from those findings. Many other studies have shown that the synthetic estrogen leached from plastics can really be dangerous to us. So how do we know what’s right?
In my opinion, in the absence of solid proof, logic must prevail. We know that synthetic estrogen is dangerous. It’s applications in many other areas have been shown to be carcinogenic and unhealthy. However, like the article says, it’s going to be very difficult to remove ourselves from contamination with current production methods. Therefore, you won’t be able to completely remove yourself from exposure, but it would be prudent to limit that exposure as much as possible.
Here are some tips:
1. Don’t heat plastics, no matter what they say about safety. We know that more BPA is leached out when they’re heated, so keep plastic out of the microwave, oven, sun, etc. That means you folks who like to heat things in gladware, or keep cases of bottled water in your car back seat! Use only crockery in the microwave (if you must use it). Also, don’t cover your items that you heat in plastic. That can leach BPA too, as well as leave behind a smell and aftertaste.
2. Don’t buy things encased in plastic that aren’t chilled whenever possible. This even includes paper cartons like those used for milk or orange juice. Guess what they use to coat the inside… that’s right! Plastic!
3. Buy fresh foods to avoid packaging. As the article suggests, canned foods typically have some exposure, as they are lined with plastic too. Be especially wary of tomato and other high-acid products in cans too, as they are more likely to leach. Also, just because they are room-temperature in the grocery store doesn’t mean they always have been. You don’t know whether or not they’ve been heated in transport.
4. Stainless steel and glass are your friends! To the best of my knowledge, there is little danger from using these materials. Bowls and bottles made from these materials can be sterilized and won’t leach. Get a filter at home and fill your bottles at the start of the day. Even if they get warm, they wont leach out harmful chemicals. (Note: Be wary of the aluminum bottles that have become more popular. Aluminum can be very toxic as well, which is why they line them with… guess what!... PLASTIC!... which defeats the purpose of buying them in the first place!).
This can also be an avenue to eat healthier inadvertently! Remember my biggest rule to eat healthy: When you shop, don’t buy anything in a box or bag unless you put it there (excluding the fried chicken, of course! ). Most processed foods come in some sort of plastic packaging!
Remember, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”! You can live healthy now with a better future, or eat like crap today and pay more for it later!
Good luck! - Dr. Drew
