I Am Plastic Man
by: Pm - May 17th, 2008
I Am Plastic Man
Chances are good that you are too. Turns out over 90% of us have some sort of plastic in our systems. Where does it come from? Everywhere. It’s in the food we eat, the beverages that we drink, the items that we touch, and the air that we breathe.
Nearly all food & beverage packages are made out of plastic. Paper plates, milk cartons, TetraPak® containers, and steel/aluminum cans are all coated with plastic. The leftovers in your fridge are likely covered in plastic wrap. It’s even sprayed onto fresh produce – including fresh organic fruits and vegetables. …and, that’s just the plastic that comes in contact with our food. What about all the plastic that we encounter outside of eating and drinking (cell phones, DVD’s, car interiors, sunglasses, toiletry containers, etc.)?
Fact is, plastic is pretty much unavoidable. It’s cheap, it’s versatile, and it’s durable. That’s why it’s so widely used. Problem is, plastic may not be so beneficial to your health.
Recently, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) issued a report stating that bisphenol A, or BPA, can be detected in the urine of 93% of the population. (Don’t ask me how they know this, but that’s what the scientists claim)
BPA is a chemical additive used to modify the texture of plastics. Inside the body, BPA appears to be an endocrine disruptor and estrogen mimicker. Not a great thing if you’re a male trying to add lean body mass.
Previously, health agencies dismissed the potential risks of plastics and the many additives that are commonly mixed in for improved flexibility/rigidity, color, static resistance, UV protection, etc. In light of the NIH’s recent findings, that’s starting to change.
The government has finally acknowledged that the widespread presence of BPA in human tissues is concerning, and possibly dangerous. Though the data is still inconclusive, BPA appears to be linked to breast cancer, the early onset of puberty in females, and possibly birth defects and miscarriages.
Worse yet, BPA’s negative physiological effects may be amplified by other 1000’s of other chemicals that are likely leaching from the plastics in our lives.
Fortunately, there seems to be some things that you can do to minimize heath risks.
For starters, don’t microwave your food in plastic containers. I know, I know. I too love the convenience of those cook-in-bag frozen veggies, but heat and moisture cause greater leaching of BPA and other plastic additives.
If you use resealable plastic containers to store and transport your food, transfer your meal to a paper or stoneware plate before reheating. Likewise, don’t add really warm food to Tupperware® or cover your still-hot leftovers with plastic wrap; use aluminum foil or put the pre-made meals in a ceramic bowl with a matching glass cover.
Whenever possible, try not to buy high-fat foods (vegetable oils, peanut butter, margarine, etc.) in plastic containers. Many of the additives in plastics are oil soluble. Thus, foods with higher fat contents are likely to contain higher levels of these potentially harmful chemicals. Stick to olive oil and natural nut butters, which are usually packed in glass bottles/jars and sealed with metal caps.
When buying fresh meat, fish, and poultry look for the longest "use by" date possible. In addition to tasting better and retaining more of the original vitamin content, items that were packed yesterday have had less exposure time to the plastic that they are wrapped in and are, thus, likely to contain less additives than food packed last week.
Eat a few extra servings of fruits and vegetables each week. Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower are packed with sulfur-containing compounds that help the liver better metabolize toxins and blunt undesirable hormonal activity (e.g., estrogen synthesis in males). Berries are loaded with vitamin C and potent antioxidants that are good for your eyes. The lycopene in tomatoes and the isoflavones in soybeans are important for the prostate and blood vessels. Garlic and onions are loaded with anti-cancer compounds and help keep cholesterol levels in-check. You get the idea... They're all important in some way or another.
Let’s face it; plastic isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. From bottled water to the epoxy resins that fill-in the cavities in our bad teeth, plastic is here to stay. As educated, health-minded consumers, the best that we can do is protect ourselves with diet of naturally protective foods and minimize our exposure to heated plastics. Until someone comes up with suitable alternatives, we're all just plastic men (and women)
...till next time.
Happy Heaving,
PM
Chances are good that you are too. Turns out over 90% of us have some sort of plastic in our systems. Where does it come from? Everywhere. It’s in the food we eat, the beverages that we drink, the items that we touch, and the air that we breathe.
Nearly all food & beverage packages are made out of plastic. Paper plates, milk cartons, TetraPak® containers, and steel/aluminum cans are all coated with plastic. The leftovers in your fridge are likely covered in plastic wrap. It’s even sprayed onto fresh produce – including fresh organic fruits and vegetables. …and, that’s just the plastic that comes in contact with our food. What about all the plastic that we encounter outside of eating and drinking (cell phones, DVD’s, car interiors, sunglasses, toiletry containers, etc.)?
Fact is, plastic is pretty much unavoidable. It’s cheap, it’s versatile, and it’s durable. That’s why it’s so widely used. Problem is, plastic may not be so beneficial to your health.
Recently, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) issued a report stating that bisphenol A, or BPA, can be detected in the urine of 93% of the population. (Don’t ask me how they know this, but that’s what the scientists claim)
BPA is a chemical additive used to modify the texture of plastics. Inside the body, BPA appears to be an endocrine disruptor and estrogen mimicker. Not a great thing if you’re a male trying to add lean body mass.
Previously, health agencies dismissed the potential risks of plastics and the many additives that are commonly mixed in for improved flexibility/rigidity, color, static resistance, UV protection, etc. In light of the NIH’s recent findings, that’s starting to change.
The government has finally acknowledged that the widespread presence of BPA in human tissues is concerning, and possibly dangerous. Though the data is still inconclusive, BPA appears to be linked to breast cancer, the early onset of puberty in females, and possibly birth defects and miscarriages.
Worse yet, BPA’s negative physiological effects may be amplified by other 1000’s of other chemicals that are likely leaching from the plastics in our lives.
Fortunately, there seems to be some things that you can do to minimize heath risks.
For starters, don’t microwave your food in plastic containers. I know, I know. I too love the convenience of those cook-in-bag frozen veggies, but heat and moisture cause greater leaching of BPA and other plastic additives.
If you use resealable plastic containers to store and transport your food, transfer your meal to a paper or stoneware plate before reheating. Likewise, don’t add really warm food to Tupperware® or cover your still-hot leftovers with plastic wrap; use aluminum foil or put the pre-made meals in a ceramic bowl with a matching glass cover.
Whenever possible, try not to buy high-fat foods (vegetable oils, peanut butter, margarine, etc.) in plastic containers. Many of the additives in plastics are oil soluble. Thus, foods with higher fat contents are likely to contain higher levels of these potentially harmful chemicals. Stick to olive oil and natural nut butters, which are usually packed in glass bottles/jars and sealed with metal caps.
When buying fresh meat, fish, and poultry look for the longest "use by" date possible. In addition to tasting better and retaining more of the original vitamin content, items that were packed yesterday have had less exposure time to the plastic that they are wrapped in and are, thus, likely to contain less additives than food packed last week.
Eat a few extra servings of fruits and vegetables each week. Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower are packed with sulfur-containing compounds that help the liver better metabolize toxins and blunt undesirable hormonal activity (e.g., estrogen synthesis in males). Berries are loaded with vitamin C and potent antioxidants that are good for your eyes. The lycopene in tomatoes and the isoflavones in soybeans are important for the prostate and blood vessels. Garlic and onions are loaded with anti-cancer compounds and help keep cholesterol levels in-check. You get the idea... They're all important in some way or another.
Let’s face it; plastic isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. From bottled water to the epoxy resins that fill-in the cavities in our bad teeth, plastic is here to stay. As educated, health-minded consumers, the best that we can do is protect ourselves with diet of naturally protective foods and minimize our exposure to heated plastics. Until someone comes up with suitable alternatives, we're all just plastic men (and women)
...till next time.
Happy Heaving,
PM
The information contained in this article is not intended to be used for, or replace, the advice, medical diagnosis, or treatment of your doctor. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other licensed healthcare provider before starting any new supplement, diet, or exercise routine or when you have questions regarding any medical condition. Use of this article indicates that you expressly acknowledge and agree that Optimum Nutrition, Inc., its suppliers, licensees, and sub-licensees are not responsible for the results of your decision resulting from the use of this information including, but not limited to, your choosing to seek or not seek professional medical care based on the information contained in this article.
05/17/08
brilliant article. thanks for the post. and i've actually thought if we do get plastic in our foods, cuz on the plane you cant help but notice that the hot food items smell 'plasticy' at times..
05/22/08
Now I know why I can't get in shape like before. I'm going back to using glass for everything. Thanks for the info PM.
