Fancy buying that colorful plastic water bottle that looks so awesome? I suggest you think twice.
Plastic is domineering our world, it is the most used material on the planet. I bet you can find at least three things made of plastic if you look around right this second.
It’s been absorbed into the natural system for a long time now. This provokes many concerns over potential dangers of plastic, especially the plastic that you eat. Yes, you heard me right. Chemicals used to make plastic containers may leach into your food and drinks and have adverse effect on your health. But one step at a time.
What’s the worst thing about plastic and why it concerns you as well?
Many things made of plastic contain BPA which is short for Bisphenol A. It is an industrial chemical used in the manufacture of many plastic items that we use daily such as:
- food containers
- water bottles
- eye lenses and eyewear
- feminine products
To name a few.
Why you don’t want BPA anywhere near you
BPA is a toxic chemical that has been proven to alter hormones and disrupt endocrine system.
It masquerades as estradiol, a vital hormone, especially for women’s health. And in a long run it may damage your body and have irreversible consequences for your health.
What can be done to reduce BPA exposure:
- Create cleaner environment for yourself and your family. Get rid of plastic containers and swap them for porcelain, copper, stainless steel, clay and glass containers for food and beverages.
- If there’s no way around plastic or you haven’t found a suitable replacement, at least try buying products with ‘BPA-free’ label, i.e. plastic that doesn’t contain BPA chemical. BPA-free products are trending, so they are not hard to come by.
- Avoid heating your plastic containers even if the cover says you can. When exposed to heat the plastic may break down seeping chemicals right into your food and drinks thus allowing your body to absorb it along with your meals.
- Check the bottom of your plastic containers. And though all the more people are skeptical about such thing as ‘safe plastic’ since it’s all made of fossil fuels there are products marked with the numbers ‘2’, ‘4’ and ‘5’ that are considered to be the safest choices. However, it’s still best if you avoid reusing plastic items labeled ‘2’ and steer them clear of warm and hot liquids.
If the negative effects don’t show right away it doesn’t mean they are not there. But with careful selection of plastic products you use and special attention to the way you use them you can reduce your exposure to harmful chemicals and protect your health in a longer run.
