BPA Archives - Amazing Health Advances

Early BPA Exposure Linked to Increased Risk of Heart Disease, Stroke, & Type 2 Diabetes

The AHA! Team — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 05:34:09 +0000

Patrick Tims via NaturalHealth365 – The pervasive presence of this toxic substance in everyday items creates a significant health threat. BPA (Bisphenol A), a colorless and soluble chemical, is likely within reach right now, as it’s commonly used in plastics and embedded in so many consumer products. The pervasive presence of this toxic substance in everyday items creates a significant health threat. A recent study in The Journal of Hazardous Materials links early BPA exposure to a higher risk of serious health issues, including type 2 diabetes, obesity, stroke, and heart disease. This early exposure can disrupt hormonal balance, leading to long-term consequences that extend well into adulthood. BPA is found in the most common consumer products BPA is found in food packaging, processed foods, consumer products, and even industrial items, making it nearly impossible to avoid. As an endocrine disruptor, this chemical alters hormones, increasing the risk of chronic diseases over time. Unfortunately, because it’s so widespread, exposure often begins early in life, during those crucial formative years. Research shows that BPA exposure in childhood sets the stage for cardiometabolic health issues that persist into adolescence and adulthood. By damaging blood vessels and the heart, BPA compromises the body’s ability to regulate weight, maintain healthy blood sugar levels, and process nutrients effectively, leading to long-term health challenges. A closer look at the BPA research that’s shaking up the health industry To better understand BPA exposure, the research team used direct and indirect methods to predict its impact. They cross-referenced food consumption diaries with demographic data, urine samples, and blood biomarkers, adjusting for key variables like overall energy intake. Participants were asked to provide detailed information about their food and drink choices, including when and where they consumed them and specifics like preparation methods, portion sizes, brand, and packaging. Because BPA exits the body quickly, 24-hour urine samples were analyzed to more accurately measure daily exposure. The team followed up at 4-, 7-, and 10-year intervals, with a 13-year follow-up for adolescents, to track the long-term effects of early exposure. BPA causes a multitude of health problems most aren’t aware of According to the study, BPA exposure is linked to increased fat mass, particularly around the waist, leading to a higher risk of abdominal obesity. This type of fat accumulation is especially concerning, as it’s associated with a greater risk of metabolic conditions like type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Additionally, BPA exposure can significantly impact insulin function, raising insulin resistance and levels in the body. This disrupts the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar effectively, which, over time, can lead to chronic conditions such as insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. The compound’s effects on metabolism can be subtle but serious, impacting long-term health in often overlooked ways. Tips to reduce BPA exposure If you have a child, or teen at home, reducing their exposure to BPA is essential. While BPA is widespread in consumer products, there are simple actions you can take to limit its presence in your home. When shopping, avoid processed foods and choose organic options instead. Once home, transfer food from plastic packaging into BPA-free containers, such as glass or stainless steel. To further reduce BPA exposure, minimize the use of plastics whenever possible. Opt for bulk items instead of those packaged in plastic and choose products with plastic-free packaging. By making these small changes, you can significantly lower your family’s BPA exposure and support healthier long-term outcomes. Sources for this article include: Sciencedirect.com Childrenshealthdefense.org To read the original article click here.

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Hand Sanitizer & Skincare Products May Increase BPA Absorption Through the Skin

The AHA! Team — Mon, 09 Jun 2025 05:12:49 +0000

Sara Middleton via NaturalHealth365 – Your handy hand sanitizer could increase the amount of BPA absorbed through your skin. How many of you have ever taken advantage of the free hand sanitizer that cashiers leave at the checkout counter? How many of you keep a bottle in your car or purse for a quick squirt before sitting down to a meal? While your intent may be in the right place – to kill harmful bacteria and viruses that you may come in contact with in your day-to-day life – you could suffer an unintended consequence, according to a scientific paper. Specifically, your handy hand sanitizer could increase the amount of BPA absorbed through your skin. Recent research highlights even more concerns, particularly for children. Their study reveals that chemical-based hand sanitizers pose risks such as skin irritation, hypoglycemia, and acidosis and may also contain harmful contaminants such as methanol, benzene, and acetaldehyde. These contaminants can have toxic effects through ingestion, inhalation, or dermal absorption. Using hand sanitizer makes it easier for a harmful chemical to get into your bloodstream, research shows Conventional hand sanitizer usually contains about 65-90% alcohol along with other chemicals, many of which are potentially harmful in their own right. In a paper published in PLOS One, the researchers discovered that people who used hand sanitizer and then touched receipts had significantly higher blood serum and urine levels of another harmful chemical, BPA. Specifically, hand sanitizer use was associated with a 100-fold increase in BPA absorption. Why is this so? It turns out that skin care products like hand sanitizers are explicitly designed to make the skin more permeable. So every time you pump a bit of the product into your palm, you’re potentially opening the gates to toxic chemicals … even if most (though never all) of the germs on you will be killed. Sounds like a tough trade-off. The serious problem with BPA and a few tips for keeping your hands clean without the need for hand sanitizers In case you don’t remember, BPA (bisphenol A) is a chemical found in plastics and can easily leech into the products they contain – water, food, infant formula, etc. Here’s why we don’t want BPA in our bodies: Endocrine disruptors The chemical is a known endocrine disruptor, which means it mimics and/or disrupts the function of key chemical messengers in the body, including estrogen. This can lead to everything from reproductive health issues to bone health issues. In fact, animal and human research has linked BPA exposure to issues like cognitive impairments, male and female infertility, and impotence. Of course, communicable bacteria and viruses can also harm your health, and it’s well-established that healthier hands mean healthier bodies. So, what’s a health-conscious consumer to do? First, wash your hands with soap and water whenever possible, especially if your hands are visibly dirty. This tried-and-true practice is still deemed the best way to reduce the spread of germs. If you can, opt for natural soaps and skin care products that are gentle on your skin, effective, and free of harmful additives like parabens and phthalates. These additives can also disrupt hormone function or even increase the risk of cancer. And if you’re out shopping, consider asking for an emailed-only receipt. Editor’s note: The best way to remove phthalates is to sweat. Discover a way to own your own at-home personal sauna to remove unwanted toxins safely and effectively. Sources for this article include: NIH.gov Newsweek.com PLOS.org NIH.gov CDC.gov To read the original article click here.

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Environmental Toxicants Contribute to Obesity and Metabolic Disease

AHA Publisher — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 08:00:45 +0000

Bhavana Kunkalikar via News-Medical – In a recent study published in the Current Opinion in Pharmacology journal, researchers assessed the impact of environmental toxicants and brown adipose tissue (BAT) on obesity and metabolic disorders. Obesity results from higher energy intake compared to energy expenditure, which in turn results in an increase in adiposity. The calorie gap for preventing weight gain in various populations is only 8.2 to 61.2 kcal/day. A sedentary lifestyle and excessive energy consumption may not entirely account for the increasing prevalence of global obesity and accompanying metabolic diseases, despite the robustness with which energy balance is regulated. It’s interesting to note that many other species also seem to be developing obesity in addition to humans. These findings imply that other factors may also contribute to obesity, other than the increased availability of high-calorie foods and the decreased mobility caused by technology advancements. BAT and Thermogenesis and Prevention of Obesity The primary location for the accumulation of lipophilic environmental compounds is adipose tissue. BAT and white adipose tissue (WAT) are two different adipose tissue forms. Only eutherian mammals have BAT, which, unlike WAT, has a thermogenic function that gives animals an evolutionary advantage in the cold. Thermogenic activities performed by active BAT per gram of tissue oxidize plasma triglycerides and glucose at a relatively high rate. However, it should be noted that during exposure to cold, skeletal muscle-based thermogenesis contributes significantly more to energy expenditure because of its large bulk. Four weeks of acclimation to cold is sufficient for adults to increase BAT thermogenesis and decrease skeletal muscle shivering. This highlights the potential significance of BAT concerning whole-body energy expenditure. In contrast, inhibition of adipose tissue lipolysis decreases BAT thermogenesis and promotes muscle shivering. Studies suggest that uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) and BAT also promote energy expenditure in humans, regardless of cold exposure by boosting diet-induced thermogenesis (DIT). DIT accounts for 5% to 15% of the daily energy expenditure, depending on the make-up and quantity of the food consumed. In addition, a study showed that consuming a meal rapidly increases blood flow and oxygen consumption in BAT. As a result, DIT thermogenesis might play a significant role in humans’ daily expenditure of energy when they are in thermoneutral environments. Therefore, inhibition of this process might be linked to obesity and metabolic disorders. The Pesticide Chlorpyrifos Inhibits Diet-Induced Thermogenesis in BAT The team screened brown adipocytes expressing the UCP1 promoter associated with luciferase to identify environmental contaminants that could directly decrease BAT function. A total of 34 widely used pesticides were screened, including food packaging substances, herbicides, and food colors that shared structural similarities with serotonin, a substance that inhibited BAT thermogenesis. The team noted that UCP1 promoter activity, and protein and messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression, dramatically reduced in the presence of chlorpyrifos (CPF) at dosages as low as 1 pM. CPF, an organophosphate insecticide, is frequently applied to various field crops and fruits to control pests. Following treatment with 1 pM CPF, BAT cells were subjected to unbiased RNA sequencing, which revealed that the low dose of CPF caused noticeable alterations in mitochondrial gene expression. Subsequent research revealed that these changes were linked to deficits in mitochondrial respiration. These results demonstrated that CPF suppressed UCP1 expression and thermogenesis in cultured BAT cells within the exposure window within which individuals may be exposed to CPF through the ingestion of fruits and vegetables. The team noted that high CPF doses, which block brain and plasma acetylcholinesterase activity and plasma butyrylcholinesterase, can induce obesity and glucose dysregulation via mechanisms that may involve changes to the gut flora or increase in caloric consumption. However, weight gain, glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) were also reported at the low CPF doses when test mice were maintained at thermoneutrality. This indicated that CPF levels consistent with non-occupational exposure in individuals might encourage obesity by preventing diet-induced thermogenesis in BAT. Other Environmental Pollutants Which May Inhibit BAT Function Numerous environmental toxins bind to hormone receptors, such as androgen receptors (ARs), aryl hydrocarbon receptors (AhR), estrogen receptors (ERs), estrogen receptor-related receptors (ERRs), thyroid receptors (TRs), and pregnane X receptors (PXR) interfered with hormonal effects. These receptors play a crucial role in controlling BAT thermogenesis. Environmental toxins include DDT, organochlorine, and vinclozolin block androgen receptor-mediated processes, including UCP1 transcription. Some environmental toxins may influence BAT thermogenesis by imitating estrogen’s actions. For instance, the most popular industrial chemical used in manufacturing plastics, bisphenol A (BPA), causes weight loss without altering caloric intake. In addition, maternal exposure to BPA at the time of pregnancy mimics a weak estrogen agonist, increasing interscapular BAT weight and upregulating UCP1 expression in female offspring but decreasing BAT activity and brown adipogenesis in male offspring. Overall, the study findings highlighted that specific environmental contaminants might inhibit BAT’s thermogenesis. Further research should be conducted at different doses in BAT cell lines in order to assess this possibility and provide translatability to humans more accurately. Journal reference: Bo Wang, Gregory R. Steinberg, Environmental toxicants, brown adipose tissue, and potential links to obesity and metabolic disease, Current Opinion in Pharmacology, Volume 67, 2022, 102314, ISSN 1471-4892, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coph.2022.102314, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1471489222001412 To read the original article click here.

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Evidence That Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals Are a Major Health Threat

AHA Publisher — Wed, 20 Apr 2022 07:00:53 +0000

Al Sears, MD, CNS – The autocrats at the CDC, EPA, and FDA continue to deny you’re in danger from the daily deluge of hormone-disrupting chemicals they’ve allowed into your environment. They have to know it’s a ridiculous lie. Each passing day brings more evidence these endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are a major threat. Synthetic chemicals like the bisphenol A (BPA) from plastics latch onto cellular receptors, increase estrogen production, reduce male fertility, and alter human metabolism. This sets the stage for massive chronic disease. You see, excess estrogen can destroy your health. It can even send you to an early grave. I’ve been blowing the whistle on endocrine disruptors for over two decades now, and at last the research community is beginning to wake up. Dr. Shanna H. Swan is a Mount Sinai medical center expert who initially accepted the EPA’s propaganda about EDCs… until her research validated a shocking global decline in human fertility. Now she’s crusading to alert the world to this massive threat. BPA Nosedive: Fertility and Health Fall Off a Cliff Together Among the stunning trends Dr. Swan documents: Plummeting masculinity: The sperm counts of men in the Western world dropped by over 59% from 1973 to 2011. She based her findings on 183 studies involving 42,935 men. Dr. Swan blames BPAs and other EDC toxins. Fading testosterone: The average male sex hormone level in men is dropping at about 1% a year. And there’s no sign the decline is leveling off. Crashing fertility: By 2045, Dr. Swan predicts that most couples who want to conceive will need artificial means such as IVF to have children… they simply won’t have enough reproductive capacity. Life-threatening consequences: One study showed women struggling with infertility had a 32% higher risk of dying.1 It’s even worse for men – those with abnormal sperm, or low sperm counts, had a 230% higher risk of dying.2 These are grim statistics… and I want to make sure that you don’t become one of them. Your Gameplan to Beat EDCs EDC Defense Protocol No. 1: Reduce Exposure – Start with the basics: Buy certified-organic fruits and veggies whenever possible. Use glass food containers not plastic, and never heat food in a plastic container unless you want a side helping of BPA with every meal. And do whatever you can to avoid fast food. It’s laced with EDCs… fast-food lovers have 40% higher BPA and phthalate blood levels.3 EDC Defense Protocol No. 2: Glutathione – Glutathione is a “seek and destroy” detoxifier that neutralizes environmental toxins and free radicals. Several studies indicate those who reach 100 are more likely to have higher levels of glutathione.4 More glutathione triggers better stem cell function.5 I recommend liposomal glutathione… it’s more absorbable. It can double immune-function biomarkers in a single week, including T cells and B cells.6 Start with a gram a day of liposomal glutathione… and gradually increase to 1 gram twice daily. EDC Defense Protocol No. 3: The Estrogen-Buster From Bali – Eugenol blocks estrogen imitators from locking onto cellular receptors, limiting the ability of EDCs to disrupt normal hormone levels. You’ll find clove oil and eugenol extract online and at your local supplement store. EDC Defense Protocol No. 4: Get Plenty of I3C and DIM – Indole-3 carbinol (I3C) is a special compound found in cruciferous vegetables such as brussels sprouts, broccoli, and cauliflower. Your body converts I3C into diindolylmethane (DIM). The I3C/DIM combo converts estrogen into harmless compounds your body easily excretes. I recommend 100 mg a day of I3C and DIM to protect you from EDCs. To Your Good Health, Al Sears, MD, CNS References: 1. Murugappan, Gayathree, et al. “Association between Infertility and All-Cause Mortality: Analysis of US Claims Data.” American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, vol. 225, no. 1, 1 July 2021, pp. 57.e1–57.e11, NIH.gov website. 2. Eisenberg, M. L., et al. “Semen Quality, Infertility and Mortality in the USA.” Human Reproduction, vol. 29, no. 7, 15 May 2014, pp. 1567–1574, NIH.gov website. 3. Zota, Ami R, et al. “Recent Fast Food Consumption and Bisphenol a and Phthalates Exposures among the U.S. Population in NHANES, 2003-2010.” Environmental Health Perspectives, vol. 124, no. 10, 2016, pp. 1521–1528, NIH.gov website. 4. Andersen, H. R., Jeune, B., Nybo, H., Nielsen, J. B., Andersen-Ranberg, K., & Grandjean, P. (1998). Low activity of superoxide dismutase and high activity of glutathione reductase in erythrocytes from centenarians. Age and Ageing, 27(5), 643–648. 5. Jeong, E. M., Yoon, J.-H., Lim, J., Shin, J.-W., Cho, A. Y., Heo, J., … Kim, I.-G. (2018). Real-Time Monitoring of Glutathione in Living Cells Reveals that High Glutathione Levels Are Required to Maintain Stem Cell Function. Stem Cell Reports, 10(2), 600–614. 6. Sinha, R., Sinha, I., Calcagnotto, A., Trushin, N., Haley, J. S., Schell, T. D., & Richie, J. P. (2018). Oral supplementation with liposomal glutathione elevates body stores of glutathione and markers of immune function. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 72(1), 105–111.

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Low Levels of BPA Exposure Can Affect Prenatal Brain Development

AHA Publisher — Wed, 02 Jun 2021 07:00:11 +0000

University of Calgary via News-Medical – Humans are exposed to a bath of chemicals every day. They are in the beds where we sleep, the cars that we drive and the kitchens we use to feed our families. With thousands of chemicals floating around in our environment, exposure to any number is practically unavoidable. Through the work of researchers like Dr. Deborah Kurrasch, PhD, the implications of many of these chemicals are being thoroughly explored. “Manufacturers follow standards set by regulatory bodies, it’s not up to the manufacturers to prove the chemicals in consumer products are safe,” says Kurrasch, a researcher in the University of Calgary’s Hotchkiss Brain Institute (HBI) and Alberta Children’s Research Institute at the Cumming School of Medicine. “Scientists play a critical role and do the meticulous work of determining where the risks lie.” Kurrasch’s research over the past decade has focused on a chemical that is broadly recognizable: Bisphenol A, also known as BPA. This chemical is commonly found in plastics, canned food linings, and even thermal receipts. Studies from Kurrasch’s lab contribute to the collective research that shows the harms of exposure to this industrial compound. The latest study out of Kurrasch’s lab, published in Science Advances, suggests that continued vigilance is needed. A postdoctoral researcher in her lab, Dr. Dinu Nesan, PhD, examined the impact of low levels of BPA exposure to pregnant mice and the brain development of their offspring. “Our goal was to model BPA levels equivalent to what pregnant women and developing babies are typically exposed to. We purposefully did not use a high dose. In fact, our doses were 11-times and nearly 25-times lower than those deemed safe by Health Canada and the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration), respectively. Even at these low levels, we saw effects on prenatal brain development in the mice.” Dr. Deborah Kurrasch, PhD, Researcher, University of Calgary’s Hotchkiss Brain Institute (HBI) Using this BPA exposure model, Nesan found striking changes to the brain region responsible for driving circadian rhythms, the suprachiasmatic nucleus, located in the hypothalamus. When prenatally exposed to these low levels of BPA, the suprachiasmatic nucleus failed to develop properly. This change can have implications for sleep, activity levels, and other behaviours. “Previously we showed embryonic exposure to low-dose BPA can affect the timing of when neurons develop in zebrafish, but it was unclear whether a similar effect would be observed in a mammalian model with more similarities to humans,” says Nesan, first author on the study. When neurons develop, they rely on proper signals to guide them. If neurons develop too early, the cues they experience are different, which can lead to developmental errors such as migrating to the wrong location, becoming the wrong type of neuron, or forming inappropriate connections. These errors can lead to altered behaviors later in life. “Our study shows that in pregnant mice, prenatal exposure to BPA affects the timing of neuron development in the fetal brain, which has lasting effects on behaviours. Offspring that are exposed to BPA during gestation are awake longer and exhibit hyperactivity. The prenatal BPA exposure seems to change the brain’s circadian cues, causing the animals to have elevated energy levels and spend less time resting,” says Nesan. The researchers are hopeful their findings will add continued pressure on regulatory bodies to keep revisiting their determinations around safe levels of BPA. “We think there’s an incredible abundance of data showing BPA exposure guidelines are not yet at the appropriate level, which includes even the EU (European Union) who is leading on this front, but their ‘safe’ levels are still twice the dose we used in our study” says Kurrasch, “We hope our research serves as a reminder that low dose BPA is still capable of causing changes that are measurable and significant.” Her message of how to interpret this research is simple: Limit your exposure to BPA the best you can. Maintain smart practices with plastics in your kitchen, for example not heating them, and using glass or stainless steel when possible. This research was conducted in collaboration with Dr. Michael Antle, PhD, professor of psychology and member of the HBI. To read the original article click here.

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Can Toxic Chemicals Inside the Home Increase Complications of COVID-19?

AHA Publisher — Wed, 19 Aug 2020 07:00:53 +0000

Damon Hines via NaturalHealth365 – Is it possible that our immune systems are being hacked by the toxic chemicals in our homes? And do these toxic chemicals increase complications of COVID-19? Yes, it’s quite possible! Scientists agree that long-term exposure to air pollution increases the risk of diabetes, hypertension, asthma and coronary artery disease – four of the biggest underlying health risks associated with COVID-19. But there are hazardous chemicals right inside our own home – the “safe” place that we’ve been told to shelter since the start of the global pandemic –that might be affecting our immune system’s defense against COVID-19. The Unseen Dangers of Synthetic Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals Inside Our Home Toxic endocrine disrupting chemicals lurk everywhere. They’re found in food, food packaging, non-stick pans, cosmetics (nail polish, hairspray), fragrances, cleaning products, plastic packages, and children’s toys. And that’s just the beginning. Common endocrine disrupting chemicals Common endocrine disrupting chemicals include bisphenol A (BPA), which is used in the production of certain plastics; Phthalates, which is a plasticizer chemical found in toys, plastic wrap, and fragrance; and PFAS (otherwise known as “forever chemicals”), a family of fluorinated compounds that include more than 4,700 chemicals, and which are said to contaminate the drinking water of over 100 million Americans nationwide. These hazardous chemicals affect our endocrine system by interfering with our hormones’ normal functions. The endocrine system plays an important role in development, metabolism and reproduction, and when these chemicals increase the production of certain hormones and decrease production of others, the body’s normal functioning is scrambled, resulting in a panoply of adverse effects and health conditions. Endocrine disrupting chemical studies Studies have linked endocrine disrupting chemicals to cancer, thyroid disease, birth defects, developmental disorders, raised infertility rates, and lowered IQs, among other heath conditions. Moreover, bisphenol A (BPA) has been found in the laboratory to increase the body’s release of a molecule called interleukin-6, which is believed to play a role in ravaging the lungs of COVID-19 patients. It’s unclear how much endocrine disrupting chemicals are increasing the threat of COVID-19, but what’s crystal-clear is how dangerous these toxic chemicals are to our immune systems, contributing to an increase of disease and disability. How to Prevent Contaminants from Attacking the Immune System As the EPA and FDA continually bow to the economic pressure of big corporations, failing to protect the American people from known toxic ingredients and materials, we need to be our own healthcare advocates and orchestrate long-term lifestyle changes. By limiting the exposure to everyday hormone disrupting chemicals we can boost our immune system and better fight off the negative effects of viruses and infections. How can we limit the exposure to these types of toxic chemicals? Start by: Frequently washing your hands Dusting and vacuuming often Purifying the tap water, if you use it for cooking, showering or drinking Avoiding the use of plastics, cans, and fragrances Steering clear of plastic food containers Cutting back on the consumption of “fast” (junk) foods Avoiding the use of non-stick pans Reading all ingredient labels (if you don’t understand it, don’t buy it) While it might be nearly impossible to avoid all the dangerous synthetic chemicals that lurk throughout our daily lives, we can make our homes a safer place. Just start by taking one lifestyle action step at a time. And, enjoy the process! Sources for this article include: TheGuardian.com To read the original article click here. For more articles from NaturalHealth365 click here.

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Are the BPA-Free Plastics Like Tritan Safe?

AHA Publisher — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 07:00:28 +0000

Michael Greger M.D. FACLM via Nutrition Facts – Do BPA-free plastics such as Tritan, have human hormone-disrupting effects? And what about BPS and BPF? Recent human studies indicate that exposure to the plastics chemical BPA may be associated with infertility, miscarriage, premature delivery, reduced male sexual function, polycystic ovaries, altered thyroid and immune function, diabetes, heart disease, and more. Yet, “[a]s recently as March 2012, FDA stated that low levels of BPA in food are considered safe.” However, just months later, to its credit, the agency banned the use of BPA plastics in baby bottles and sippy cups. Regulators standing up to industry? Maybe I shouldn’t be so cynical! But, wait. The ban was at the behest of the plastics industry. It had already stopped using BPA in baby bottles so it was their idea to ban it. The industry had switched from BPA to similar compounds like BPF and BPS. So, our diets now contain everything from BPA to BPZ, and the majority of us have these new chemicals in our bodies as well. Are they any safer? As I discuss in my video Are the BPA-Free Alternatives Safe?, based on the similarities of their chemical structures, they are all predicted to affect testosterone production and estrogen receptor activity, as you can see at 1:40 in my video. However, they were only recently put to the test. As you can see at 1:50 in my video, we’ve known BPA significantly suppresses testosterone production, and, from “the first report describing BPS and BPF adverse effects on physiologic function in humans,” we know those compounds do, too. Well, kind of. The experiments were performed on the testicles of aborted human fetuses. But, the bottom line is that BPS and BPF seem to have “antiandrogenic anti-male hormone effects that are similar to those of BPA.” So when you’re assured you shouldn’t worry because your sales slip is BPA-free, the thermal paper may just contain BPS instead. What’s more, BPS receipts may contain up to 40 percent more BPS than they would have contained BPA. So BPA-free could be even worse. In fact, all BPA-replacement products tested to date released “chemicals having reliably detectable EA,” estrogenic activity. This includes Tritan, which is specifically marketed as being estrogen-activity-free. As you can see at 3:06 in my video, however, researchers dripped an extract of Tritan on human breast cancer cells in a petri dish, and it accelerated their growth. This estrogenic effect was successfully abolished by an estrogen blocker, reinforcing it was an estrogen effect. Now, the accelerated growth of the cancer cells from the Tritan extract occurred after the plastic was exposed to the stressed state of simulated sunlight. Only one out of three Tritan products showed estrogen activity in an unstressed state, for instance when they weren’t exposed to microwaving, heat, or UV rays. “Because there would be no value in trading one health hazard for another, we should urgently focus on the human health risk assessment of BPA substitutes.” In the meanwhile, there are steps we can take to limit our exposure. We can reduce our use of polycarbonate plastics, which are usually labeled with recycle codes three or seven, and we can opt for fresh and frozen foods over canned goods, especially when it comes to tuna and condensed soups. Canned fruit consumption doesn’t seem to matter, but weekly canned vegetable consumption has been associated with increased BPA exposure. If you do use plastics, don’t microwave them, put them in the dishwasher, leave them in the sun or a hot car, or use once they’re scratched. But using glass, ceramic, or stainless steel containers is probably best. To read the original article click here. For more articles by Dr. Greger click here.

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Obesogenic Exposure: Top 7 Obesogens that Lead to Weight Gain & Obesity

AHA Publisher — Sat, 20 Jun 2020 07:00:57 +0000

Christine Ruggeri, CHHC via Dr. Axe – We all know that poor diet and lack of physical activity contribute greatly to the obesity problem in the United States, but did know that that there’s a class of artificial chemicals that are also linked to an increased susceptibility to weight gain? They’re called obesogens, and they’re found in many everyday products. Need another reason to stop using plastics and add fresh foods to your diet? When you learn about the dangers of obesogenic exposure, you’ll rethink how you package, store and choose your foods. What Are Obesogens? Obesogens are artificial chemicals that are found in various food containers, cookware and plastics. They have become known as a subset of endocrine-disrupting chemicals. These chemicals have been shown to be involved in weight gain. They can also interfere with any aspect of hormone action and have been linked to issues related to fertility and puberty. There are over 20 chemicals that are identified as obesogens. The term was coined around 2006, when exposure to these chemicals during early development were found to disrupt normal metabolic processes and increase a person’s susceptibility to weight gain across his or her life span. It’s not that obesogens directly cause obesity, but they do increase your susceptibility and sensitivity to gaining weight, especially if you are exposed to the chemicals during development. Studies indicate that obesogens promote obesity by altering the programming of fat cell development, increasing energy storage in fat tissue, and interfering with neuroendocrine control of appetite and satiety. In other words, they change how your body regulates feelings of hunger and fullness. They can also increase the effects of high-fat and high-sugar diets. Most Common Obesogens and Their Dangers 1. Phthalates Phthalates are obesogenic chemical compounds that are added to plastics to increase their flexibility and longevity. They are used in a wide range of cosmetic and food products, including children’s toys, cosmetics, food containers, sunscreens, detergents and more. It’s believed that more than 75 percent of the U.S. population carries detectable levels of several phthalate metabolites. In a 2019 meta-analysis involving 29 publications, researchers concluded that, in general, there’s a positive association between phthalates and obesity, especially in adults. Beyond its effect on weight gain, exposure to phthalates has also been connected to reproductive disorders, including DNA damage in sperm, testicular toxicity and delayed pubertal milestones. 2. Bisphenol A (BPA) BPA toxic effects are well-known. The synthetic compounds are associated with inflammatory conditions, infertility and vitamin D deficiency. BPA exposure has also been linked to obesity and diabetes. A 2019 systematic review and meta-analysis published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health states that there’s a suggested possible causality between BPA exposure and childhood obesity, and data indicates that BPA exposure itself increased the risk of obesity in children. You’ve seen BPA-free bottles in the grocery store, but the dangerous obesogenic compound is also present in plastic dinnerware, toys, medical devices, PVC compounds and dental sealants. It may also be hiding in beer kegs, metal coffee cans, aluminum beverage cans, jar lids and bottles of cooking oil. 3. Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) PCBs are man-made chemicals that were used in hundreds of industrial and commercial applications, including as pigments in paper, plasticizers in paints, plastics and rubber products, and in electrical equipment. Although using these obesogenic chemicals in the U.S. was banned in 1979, they are still present in soil, products, buildings and drinking water. They can accumulate in leaves, plants and food crops and are taken up into the bodies of fish and other small organisms. Once they are in an environment, they do not break down easily. PCBs have been shown to affect the development of obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome, according to research published in Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology. 4. Atrazine (ATZ) Atrazine is the second-most widely used herbicide in the country. It sticks to crops, soil and surface water, eventually winding up in the water supply at unsafe levels. It is one of the most common contaminants in drinking water, causing tap water toxicity. It’s known as an endocrine disruptor that causes hormonal changes and can lead to serious developmental, reproductive, neurological and immune issues. Research published in PloS One suggests that atrazine may contribute to the development of insulin resistance and obesity, particularly where a high-fat diet is prevalent. 5. Tributyltin (TBT) Tributyltin is an artificial chemical that’s used as an antifouling agent in paints that are applied to boats, ships and fishnets. It has contaminated many lakes and coastal waters, and it’s hazardous to a wide range of marine organisms. Although the obesogenic chemical’s use has been prohibited by many regulatory authorities, it’s still found on large vessels and seeps into the sea. Research published in Vitamins and Hormones indicates that the obesogen tributyltin can exert toxicity through many mechanisms, but most recently it has shown to alter processes that are central to fat metabolism. Exposure to this class of chemicals may actually signal stem cells to turn into fat cells, contributing to weight gain and obesity. 6. Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) Perfluorooctanoic acid is a drinking water contaminant that is known to be extremely resistant to environmental degradation processes and so it persists indefinitely. According to a review of literature published in Environmental Research, the obesogenic contaminant has been detected in finished drinking water, drinking water sources impacted by releases from industrial facilities and waste water treatment plants — as well as in waters with no known point sources. PFOA has been classified as “likely to be carcinogenic in humans” by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Science Advisory Board. It’s also considered an obesogen, and a 2018 meta-analysis established that exposure to the obesogenic contaminant in early life is associated with an increased risk for childhood obesity and higher body mass index. 7. Cigarette Smoke Exposure to cigarette smoke is the cause of many health issues, including obesity. In fact, one of the earliest links between human fetal development and obesity arose from studies on exposure to cigarette smoke while in utero. Babies born to smoking mothers are often underweight but tend to make it “make up for it” as they develop and grow, putting on more weight during infancy and childhood. A nationwide survey on over 20,000 Japanese adults found that there’s a positive association between the number of cigarettes smoked per day and obesity. How to Minimize Obesogenic Exposure The most dangerous time for obesogen exposure is during early development, as a fetus and during the first years of life. This is because at a young age, your body’s weight control mechanisms are still developing Here are ways to minimize exposure: Avoid foods stored in plastic. Use glass containers and bottles. Do not microwave plastics. Make your own skin care and beauty products. If purchasing cosmetics, use organic and natural products. When using products in plastic, look for containers that are BPA- and phthalate-free. Use “fragrance-free” products. Choose cast iron or stainless steel cookware. Do not purchase stain-resistant or flame-retardant carpets or furniture. Use a water filter, such as granular activated carbon and reverse osmosis filter systems. Eat fresh foods (including fruits and vegetables) whenever possible. Final Thoughts Obesogens are artificial chemicals that are found in various food containers, cookware, plastics, cosmetics and drinking water. They have become known as a subset of endocrine-disrupting chemicals, and they are linked to weight gain and obesity. The most common obesogens include phthalates, BPA, PCBs, ATZs, TBTs, PFOAs and cigarette smoke. To reduce your exposure to environmental obesogens, avoid using plastics, don’t purchase foods in plastics, get a good quality water filter, use “fragrance free” products and eat fresh foods whenever possible. To read the original article click here. For more articles from Dr. Axe click here.

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What Not to Do When You Handle Receipts

AHA Publisher — Sat, 29 Feb 2020 08:00:52 +0000

Michael Greger M.D. FACLM via Nutrition Facts – The plastics chemical bisphenol A, commonly known as BPA, was banned for use in baby bottles in Canada in 2008, in France in 2010, in the European Union in 2011, and in the United States in 2012. Then, in 2015, France forbade the use of BPA in any food or beverage packaging, something the U.S. Food and Drug Administration had decided was not warranted… But, what about the more than 90 studies “reporting relationships between total BPA in [people’s] urine and a wide array of adverse health outcomes, including a significant increase in the likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, obesity, impaired liver function, impaired immune and kidney function, inflammation, reproductive effects in women…[and] in men…, altered thyroid hormone concentrations, and neurobehavioral deficits such as aggressiveness, hyperactivity, and impaired learning”? Only a very small minority of studies appear to support the U.S. government’s assertions that there were no effects of BPA at low doses. Where is the disconnect? Governmental regulatory agencies determine safety levels of chemicals by sticking tubes down into the stomachs of lab animals. In these types of tests, BPA is released directly into the stomach, where it goes to the liver to be detoxified into an inactive form called BPA-glucuronide. So, very little active BPA gets into the bloodstream. But, that’s not what studies on humans show. People have active BPA in their blood. How did the FDA respond? By rejecting all such human studies as implausible. The problem with a “blanket rejection” of human data is that there may be sources of BPA exposure that are not modeled by stomach tube exposure in rats. After all, “[t]his isn’t how food actually enters our bodies. We chew it, move it around in our mouths…before it enters the stomach.” It turns out “that BPA can be completely absorbed directly into the bloodstream from the mouth,” thus bypassing instant liver detoxification. The same would be the case for BPA absorbed through the skin, which you can see at 2:08 in my video BPA on Receipts: Getting Under Our Skin. Thermal paper, often used for cash register receipts, luggage tags, and many bus, train, and lottery tickets, is 1 to 2 percent BPA by weight. Taking hold of a receipt can transfer BPA to our fingers, especially if they’re wet or greasy. Does the BPA then get absorbed into our system through the skin? Cashiers were found to have more BPA flowing through their bodies “[c]ompared with other occupations,” but that was based on only 17 people. “Strict vegetarians had lower urinary BPA concentrations compared with nonvegetarians,” but, once again, the sample size was too small to really make a conclusion. It’s been estimated that even cashiers handling receipts all day may not exceed the “tolerable daily intake” of BPA—however, that could change if they were using something like hand cream. Indeed, “many skin-care products, including hand sanitizers, lotions, soaps and sunscreens,” contain chemicals that enhance skin penetration. So, using a hand sanitizer, for example, before touching a receipt could cause a breakdown of the skin barrier. What’s more, we now know that “using hand sanitizer and handling a thermal receipt…prior to picking up and eating food with [our] hands” results in high blood levels of active BPA. Researchers at the University of Missouri, conducting a study to mimic aspects of the behavior of people in a fast-food restaurant found that when people handled a receipt right after using the hand sanitizer Purell, BPA was transferred to their fingers. Then, BPA was transferred from their fingers to their fries, and the combination of absorption through the skin and mouth led to significant levels of active BPA in their blood, as you can see at 3:45 in my video. We can hold a receipt in our hand for 60 seconds and only come away with 3 micrograms of BPA in our body. In contrast, if we pre-wet our hands with hand sanitizer, we can get 300 micrograms in just a few seconds—a hundred times more BPA, as you can see at 4:05 in my video. “These findings show that a very large amount of BPA is transferred from thermal paper to a hand as a result of holding a thermal receipt for only a few seconds immediately after using a product with dermal penetration enhancing chemicals,” like hand lotion. This could explain why dozens of human studies show active BPA in people’s systems, contrary to the assumptions based on stomach tube studies in rodents. When actual evidence contradicts your assumptions, you reject your assumptions. The FDA, however, rejected the evidence instead. This article has been modified. To read the original article click here. For more articles from Dr. Greger click here.

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