So what do cans of soup, BPA and heart disease have in common? Quite a lot it seems!
I never even heard of BPA until I came across an online article today. This article was actually about heart disease, and one of the new things doctors are warning their patients about is this chemical called BPA or bisphenol A. And guess where you will find it?
- Cans of soup and most canned foods
- Baby formula
- Cash register receipts
- Certain plastics
There was a new study published in the journal Circulation that found a direct link between higher BPA exposure in healthy adults and a greater risk of developing heart disease in the future. The researchers looked at urine samples of about 750 initially healthy adults who later developed cardiovascular disease and compared them to samples from 860 adults who remained heart disease free.
The initially healthy people who wound up developing heart disease had higher BPA concentrations in their urine at the beginning of the 10-year period, compared to those who stayed heart disease free. It makes sense to follow that the evidence of BPA may be an additional contributor to heart disease risk, alongside the major risk factors, such as smoking, high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels.
It also stated that BPA’s most damaging effects would harm developing fetuses the most because they’re more sensitive to the chemical than adults. The latest research shows the even small doses of BPA, ones we’re commonly exposed to, could lead to heart arrhythmia, erratic beating that could cause sudden cardiac death. Yet it’s in baby formula? I don’t have any baby formula sitting around the house, but I know young mothers who do. I’m going to be sure and tell them to check this out.
Here are a few things you can do to lessen your exposure to BPA and add to your list of goodies to help keep heart disease at bay
- NO MORE CANS OF SOUP!
BPA is one of the most heavily produced chemicals in the world, so it’s impossible to completely avoid it. To make a big dent in your consumption, however, cut out as much canned food as possible. The linings in most commercial canned products contain an epoxy BPA resin that leaches into canned soups, baby formulas and vegetables. For example, a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found people who ate a can of Progresso soup for lunch experienced a 1,000 percent jump in bodily BPA levels, compared to those who had can-free soup.
- SAY NO TO TRIVIAL RECEIPTS
Skin readily absorbs the BPA coating on cash-register receipts, so when you make a purchase you don’t need a receipt for, like, say, a cup of coffee, say no thanks to the receipt when checking out. A simple receipt. Who knew?
- GO PLASTIC FREE
Some No. 7 plastics contain BPA but other plastics contain different harmful compounds, too. Your best bet is to avoid plastic whenever possible, and never heat plastic in the microwave or clean it in the dishwasher.
I wonder, does this applies to plastic food bags, as well? Wow, this could mean another lifestyle change!
It honestly angers me that these types of chemicals are being used in our food preparation. If you think so, too, leave me a comment. I’d love to hear from you!
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I saw this too! Wow! In the past 2 years, I have gotten away from canned/processed/prepared foods (for other reasons than plastics). Maybe it turned out to be even better for me than I thought!
Then again, is this another one of those studies that will be negated later on (like the ones proving eggs, coffee, chocolate, etc. are EVIL)?
I know, Redhead! Crazy, isn’t it? And you’re right – what was bad for us yesterday will be good tomorrow! Go figure! But I’m still staying away from plastic and canned goods!
Hi Crystal, thanks for bringing this up. I cook, cook and cook from raw foods. Farmers markets from local growers are on my hit list all the time – thank you lord for the invention of fridge and deepfreeze. If it was not for this public announcement and research from other independent studies I would more likely be grabbing the quick picker-uppers until this day. As they say: “Easy at the beginning-harder at the end.” We all know what the BPA does to us.
Hey, Vera. I had no idea what BPA was until I read an article about it a few days ago. That’s why I wrote this one!
I prefer to go the whole, fresh food route as much as possible and don’t use canned goods very much, but I do use plastic bags for lunch items all the time and am even guilty of using plastic containers to heat my food in the microwave. Gosh, what am I gonna use for my lunch snackies now?
I try as much as I can to live a healthy lifestyle so guess this is just one more change to make!
I can do it.
And you’re right about the “easy now-hard later” thing, too. I’m finding that applies not only to my health, but my finances as well!
Hi Crystal.
This is just a suggestion for lunch packing, I use paper bags mostly. There are also some plastics containers that are safer than the others ( each plastic container right on the bottom should have a number witch indicates the levels of BPA ). The best way to store food is in glass containers. Especially if the food is meant to be stored for a long period of time. I use it for freezing, for storing flour, beans, coffee , etc., and microwaving ( use only the microwave safe ). I no longer use plastic mixing bowls or utensils and cutting boards. I would never use any I mean any no matter how safe it is said to be; plastic containers to warm up my food in the microwave. Many studies are showing that harmful chemicals from plastics leak into food while in process of heating in the microwave. The same finding applies to prolong food storing in plastic.
At the begging of changing my lifestyle, I was very frustrated with myself because I did not know how to do this and that or where to get this or that; never mentioning time consuming. It took me a long time to figure things out, 6 years to be honest. Today, I am glad I did it. I have learned a great deal about myself and my lifestyle from the whole aspect of it. The word lifestyle is just a name for a personal folder. This folder contains subfolders such as food, health, the way I think and interact with others just to name a few. What a discovery and roller coaster ride it was and still is; let me tell you. Do I know everything I need to know? I doubt. Do I keep learning? Yes.
Can we do it? YES.
Crystal, I am your biggest fan. Do not give up – YOU ARE WORTH IT. I know it by heart.
My biggest fan? Gosh, now you have me blushing.