The Dangers of BPA

My Dear Readers,

Bisphenol A (BPA)/Bisphenol S (BPS) are industrial chemicals that has been used to make certain plastics and resins since the 1960’s. BPA is found in polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. These polycarbonate plastics are often used in containers that store food, beverages, and ie. plastic water bottles. The BPA chemicals leach their toxins into the foods stored in them. Some dental sealants and composites may also contain BPA. BPS is alternative chemical used in the place of BPA, but may be just as dangerous to the human body. These chemicals do not leave the body easily…it does it’s damage first.
BPA/BPS are an endocrine disrupters which means that they mimic or interfere with your body’s hormones and disrupts your endocrine system. The glands of your endocrine system and hormones that they release are instrumental in regulating mood, growth and development, tissue function, metabolism as well as sexual function and reproductive processes. BPA can behave a similar way to estrogen and other hormones of the human body. High doses of BPA can cause infertility and other health issues. Everyday use of BPA, damages brain cells, affects mood and memory, learning abilities as well as depression. It is important that Alzheimer’s patients and persons who have  ADHD should not be drinking their water or eating any foods from plastic containers or cans that are not BPA free due to the excess chemical toxicity in these containers, use glass or food grade stainless steel. This chemical is especially damaging the growing bodies of young children. BPA baby bottles were banned in 2012, and the manufactures are now using Bisphenol S (BPS) and other chemicals. Recent studies are showing that this new approach is just as bad if not worse than the original. 80% of Americans have detectable levels of BPS in their urine.
The FDA continues to support the use of BPA in current food packaging because they claim the amount that leaches into the food and beverages is small. The thing is…a poison is still a poison no matter what the amount. BPA can be detected in the urine of 93% of Americans. The typical Standard American Diet includes canned  and packaged goods, frozen plastic containers ready to microwave, BPA plastic water and beverage bottles. NEVER microwave in ANY plastic container! Even when not heated baby bottles and plastic bottles leach their chemicals into the water we drink.  The highest concentration of BPA is found in canned soups, pasta, tomato products and infant formulas.
It’s almost impossible to avoid BPA contact because in addition to being in most packaged food items it is an environmental contaminant. It is even in the cash register reciepts.  Even when buying and using glass jars and bottles the hiding spots are the lids of glass jars; baby foods, jelly, pickles, salsa and other condiments. Other places are aerosol cans for whipping cream and non-stick sprays, bottles and tins of cooking oil, aluminum beverage cans, metal coffee cans, and beer kegs. BPA at levels found in the American diet have triggered symptoms of IBS, commonly seen in ulcerative colitis and possibly Crohn’s disease symptoms. Studies have also found that BPA lowers Vitamin D levels in the bloodstream…also disrupting normal reproductive and thyroid function. 
Plastics of Polystyrene (#6) known as Styrofoam to make cups, plates, bowls, and takeout containers, meat trays etc. Polystyrene is known to leach styrene into your food, which can damage your nervous system and is linked to cancer. Temperature has been found to play a role in how much styrene leaches from polystyrene containers, which means using them for hot foods and beverages (coffee) may be the worst of all. 

Symptoms, warning signs of BPA toxicity:

*You are overweight…Historically, the concept of obesity was one of “calories in, calories out”. It is now due to the high intake of chemicals within the body from the foods we eat and the containers they come in.
*Early puberty. BPA disrupts our hormones.
*Erectile dysfunction
*Your blood pressure is too high.
*You have ADHD.
*You have heart disease.
*You have prostate cancer.
*IBS symptoms/leaky gut.

The numbers on the plastic containers and what they mean:
1.  PET or PETE (Polyethylene terephthalate)
2.  HDPE (High-density polyethylene)
3.  PVC (Polyvinyl chloride)
4.  LDPE (lLo-denisity polyethylene)
5.  PP (Polypropylene)
6.  PS (Polystyrene) Styrofoam
7.  PLA (polycarbonate plastic) the worst one.
  
The ones that may be used, somewhat safe: 1,2,4 and 5. Not to be used at all: 3,6,and 7. We need to avoid all chemicals from our diets, they are worse than the plagues for we being Poisoned To Death.

Marie