A couple months ago I blogged about the toxicity of plastic water bottles due to BpA and other chemical exposures. It’s important to be aware, however, that plastics are not the only major source of BpA exposure. People are also exposed through consuming canned food and beverages. This is because BpA is used to line the insides of these cans prior to packaging. As a reminder, BpA can interfere with metabolic processes and cause reproductive health problems, and is therefore important to avoid. Together, by reducing your consumption of canned foods and soft drinks, and by avoiding certain plastics (see previous article), you can successfully avoid the two greatest sources of human BpA exposure!
I can personally attest to the effect these exposures have on BpA levels in the body. About six months ago, I participated in a Harvard study assessing BpA exposure through canned soup consumption. For two separate weeks during the study period, us “subjects” were fed either fresh soup or canned soup for lunch. Our urinary BpA levels were then analyzed for comparison. Average BpA levels were 1000% higher following canned soup consumption compared to fresh soup consumption. My personal BpA levels were about 25 times higher during the week that I consumed canned soup! These valuable study results were recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. By sharing this information, I hope I’ve demonstrated that small changes in your daily habits can in fact translate to enormous reductions in the amount of harmful chemicals to which your are exposed.
If you enjoyed this article and have a Yahoo, Google, or Twitter account, please join my blog! Here you can leave comments and feedback. Simply click the “join this site” button to the right, log in using your account info, and click “follow publicly.” Thanks!!
-Shahir Masri
I love clam chowder, even the canned kind, but I don't have the time / energy / desire to make myself a pot of clam chowder every time I have a craving. Do you have any suggestions on where I would be able to find it if not from a can? Places like Whole Foods usually only have things like Chicken and Rice in their prepared foods section .. and yes, I know how bad clam chowder is for you, and no we can't all live in Bahston!
ReplyDeleteVons, Albertsons, and Ralphs all make fresh soup daily! Clam chowder is in their selection, my friend had it just the other week and said it was delicious! Interesting article! Crazy how if I wasn't a member of your blog, I'm pretty sure I'd never have known this! Thanks
ReplyDeleteThat is true. I think anything that is canned is harmful.
ReplyDeleteI never knew about the levels of BpA exposure in canned food. This is really sad. I always tried to stay away from canned food because of the high sodium contents, but now after reading this article, I am going to stay away from canned items as much as possible. It is really unfortunate reading this because I participate in the food can drive around the holidays, now I am going to feel as if I am intentionally handing people poison. (Oh no!!) How do you feel about giving food to people in need and does the levels of BpA outweigh feeding people in need of food?
ReplyDeleteHi Shahir,
ReplyDeleteWow, this is a very interesting article! I was aware that BpA was bad, but I did not realize canned food could affect personal BpA levels that much. Brittany Head brings up a great point about feeding canned goods to those in need. I am also wondering: How much do dishes and plastic ware containing BpA affect our health? Is it as significant as canned food?
Thank you,
Christal