5 Ways to Keep BPA Out of Your Food

With new studies linking bisphenol A, a chemical found in the linings
of food and beverage cans, to diabetes and heart disease, you may be
wondering what you can do to minimize your exposure. Here are some good
rules of thumb for reducing your intake of BPA:

1. Buy your tomato sauce in glass jars

Canned tomato sauce is likely to have higher levels of BPA, because
the high acidity of the tomatoes causes more of the chemical to leach from
the lining of the can.

2. Consume fresh fruits and vegetables instead of canned

In addition to their BPA-free benefit, fresh produce usually has
more nutrients, which often get lost in the process of canning.

3. Purchase beverages in plastic or glass bottles

Canned soda and juice often contain some BPA.

4. Use powdered infant formula instead of ready-to-serve liquid

An assessment from the Environmental Working Group found that liquid
formulas contain more BPA than powdered brands.

5. Think in terms of moderation

Follow a sensible approach, eating less of those foods that are
higher in BPA.

Sources:
a.. U.S. News & World Report September 17, 2008
a.. Journal of the American Medical Association September 16, 2008;
300(11):1353-5
a.. Journal of the American Medical Association September 16, 2008;
300(11):1303-10

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

It's finally becoming more common knowledge that plastic is not
an inert substance, which is what its manufacturers would like you to
believe. Plastic contains chemicals like BPA and phthalates, which mimic
hormones in your body. Even tiny concentrations can cause problems, and you're
likely being exposed from all angles. Aside from canned goods, they're found
in reusable food containers, plastic wraps, water bottles, personal care
products, you name it.

Plastic is used everywhere.

The Many Health Hazards of Bisphenol A (BPA)

Plastic is so prevalent that according to a Centers for Disease
Control (CDC) study, BPA was detected in the urine of 95 percent of people
tested!

This is alarming when you consider the problems it's been linked
to, including:

a.. Structural damage to your brain
b.. Hyperactivity, increased aggressiveness, and impaired
learning
c.. Increased fat formation and risk of obesity
d.. Altered immune function
e.. Early puberty, stimulation of mammary gland development,
disrupted reproductive cycles, and ovarian dysfunction
f.. Changes in gender-specific behavior, and abnormal sexual
behavior
g.. Stimulation of prostate cancer cells
h.. Increased prostate size, and decreased sperm production
I've already discussed the dangers of using plastic containers
and bottles on several occasions; anytime you eat or drink something out of
plastic, you risk exposure. Plastics that are worn out or scratched may
leach even more chemicals into your food, as do hot beverages. Just by
drinking coffee from a plastic-lined paper cup, you could be exposed to 55
times more BPA than normal.

But what's your risk when you use canned goods?

Independent laboratory tests conducted by the Environmental
Working Group (EWG) detected BPA in over half of 97 cans of name-brand
fruit, vegetables, soda, and other commonly eaten canned goods.

There are no government safety standards limiting the amount of
BPA in canned food, and the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) safety
standard is 25 times the dose NOW KNOWN to cause birth defects in lab
studies. Their safety standard for BPA has not been updated for 20 years.

But studies in the past decade have shown that low-level
exposures to BPA may actually be MORE dangerous than high-level exposures!

Where traditional toxicology asserts that higher doses does
greater harm, bisphenol A tests show that low doses can be the most toxic of
all, partly because at low levels it can fall below the radar of your body's
natural detox mechanism.

For example, one study found that a low dose of BPA produced a
70 percent higher growth rate of prostate cancer cells in lab animals than
did higher doses (Wetherill et al. 2002). In another; lower doses of BPA
resulted in higher rates of breast cell growth that can precede cancer
(Markey et al. 2001).

Then again, just last month the Journal of the American Medical
Association (JAMA) published a study that found higher urinary BPA
concentrations were associated with cardiovascular disease and diabetes in
adults.

Perhaps our dependency on plastic plays a larger role than
anyone ever imagined in the rise of the big three: cancer, heart disease and
rampant diabetes?

BPA and Your Baby - What's the Risk, and What's the Solution?

As usual those most at risk are children and fetuses, which is
why it's appalling to think that these chemicals are commonly used in
everything from the infant formula, to the bottle it's served in, to the
teething rings, and the toys your baby plays with on a daily basis.

Sadly, of all foods tested, infant formula was among the top
three foods that had BPA levels of highest concern.

Just one to three servings was found to contain BPA levels that
have caused serious adverse effects in animal tests. And, for 1 in 3 cans of
infant formula, a single serving was found to contain enough BPA to expose
an infant to BPA levels more than 200 times the government's traditional
"safe" level of exposure for industrial chemicals!

Although the article above recommends using powdered infant
formula instead of ready-to-serve liquid varieties to cut down on BPA
exposure, I want to remind you that nothing beats breast feeding when it
comes to feeding your baby.

Breast milk contains antibodies, immunoglobulins, white blood
cells, lactoferrin, lysosomes, bifidus factor (which helps friendly bacteria
grow in the intestines to ensure acid environment), vitamin B12 binding
protein, and many, many other substances. It also contains essential fatty
acids that help bolster your baby's body against the impact of toxic
chemicals.

And of course, if a mother follows my dietary recommendations,
she will have the best chance of being optimally healthy, and her breast
milk will be even more nutritious.

So remember that if you want the very best by far for your
babies, breastfeed them if at all possible. But if you are going to use
commercial formulas, then using a powdered formula may reduce your baby's
exposure to BPA. According to the EWG's calculations, babies fed
reconstituted powdered formula likely receive 8 to 20 times less BPA than
those fed liquid formula from a metal can.

However, a far better option than commercial formula would be to
try the Infant Formula Fortification Protocol developed by Dr. Patricia Kane
and myself. In addition, the Weston A. Price Foundation has its own infant
feeding recommendations, which are another healthy option.

10 More Tips to Reduce Your Exposure to BPA

1. Only use glass baby bottles and dishes for your baby

2. Get rid of your plastic dishes and cups, and replace
them with glass varieties

3. Give your baby natural fabric toys instead of plastic
ones

4. Store your food and beverages in glass -- NOT plastic --
containers

5. IF you choose to use a microwave, don't microwave food
in a plastic container

6. Use glass, ceramic, or stainless steel travel coffee
mugs rather than plastic or Styrofoam coffee cups

7. Avoid using plastic wrap (and never microwave anything
covered in it)

8. If you opt to use plastic kitchenware, at least get rid
of the older, scratched-up varieties, avoid putting them in the dishwasher,
and don't wash them with harsh detergents, as these things can cause more
chemicals to leach into your food

9. Avoid using bottled water; filter your own using a
reverse osmosis filter instead

10. Before allowing a dental sealant to be applied to your, or
your children's, teeth, ask your dentist to verify that it does not contain
BPA

In the event that you do opt to use plastic containers for your
food or beverages, be sure to avoid those marked on the bottom with the
recycling label No. 7, as these varieties may contain BPA.

Containers marked with the recycling labels No. 1, No. 2, and
No. 4 do not contain BPA (however they may contain other unsavory chemicals
that you're best off avoiding by using glass instead). If in doubt, remember
this handy saying from The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy:

"With your food, use 4, 5, 1 and 2. All the rest aren't good for
you."