Getting back to the Top 10 Ways to Detoxify, I thought I'd pick something that's relatively quick and easy. So here's to #4: Avoid plastics with Bisphenol A. Bisphenol A, or simply BPA, is a known hormone disruptor. According to Toxic Nation, studies have linked low-dose BPA exposure with such effects as: permanent changes to genital tract; increase prostate weight; decline in testosterone; breast cells predisposed to cancer; prostate cells more sensitive to hormones and cancer; and hyperactivity. You can watch the CBC's documentary The Disappearing Male for a more in-depth description of the effect BPA (and other chemicals, such as phthalates) are having on our world.
The first step in ridding your home of as much BPA as possible is to identify which items in your home contain BPA. It is used to make polycarbonate plastic food and beverage containers, plastic food wrap, and epoxy resins that are used to line metal cans for food. Look on the bottom of your polycarbonate plastic food and beverage containers. If they are labelled with recycling symbol #7 they may contain BPA. The BPA in these containers leaches from the plastic, particularly when the container is heated, or when the plastic becomes scratched.
One common source of BPA in the homes of young families has been plastic baby bottles. Early on, I stocked up on Avent bottles to go with my Avent Isis hand pump. All of it contained BPA. When Jesse was just a few months old, a report was published linking BPA to adverse health effects. Stores in Canada then voluntarily removed all BPA-containing baby bottles from their shelves, and many stores offered refunds on BPA containing bottles. I returned all of ours. Since then, the federal government has taken steps to ensure that baby bottles no longer contain BPA. You can find out more information about Canada's BPA regulations here. If you need to use formula, or give your child breastmilk in a bottle, there are now many BPA free plastic baby bottles on the market, or you have the option of using glass baby bottles. I'm personally a fan of Born Free bottles. They have both BPA free plastic and glass options. They are quite pricey though. If you're on a tighter budget, you might want to try the Evenflo glass bottles. They're quite good, and a fraction of the cost of Born Free. (And they have the added benefit of fitting on Medela and Ameda breast pumps.) When your child moves on to a sippy cup, stainless steel is a great option. We like the Safe Sippy. It's much less breakable than glass for your kiddo on the move.
Replacing other BPA containers in your home is also fairly easy. You can replace your BPA containing water bottle with a BPA free plastic bottle, or go with stainless steel yourself. You can also replace your plastic food containers with glass. If they have plastic lids, ensure they are made of a safe plastic (I'll get to this later). You can also make sure the lids do not touch your food, and don't place them in the microwave or dishwasher. And it should go without saying, but I'll say it anyway - don't place them in the oven either, since they'll melt.
As for canned foods, you'll want to avoid as many of those as possible. Use fresh or frozen fruits and veggies, rather than canned. They taste better and are better for you. Many soups can now be found in juice-type boxes. You can find many sauces now in glass bottles. Beans can be bought dried (and as I found out last night, they're quite easy to prepare!) Or, if you can find them in your area, use Eden Foods BPA-free canned goods.There are so many options out there!
And since BPA isn't the only harmful chemical found in plastic, I thought I'd throw this in here too. Care2 has a handy little chart of the different plastics, what they are, and how they compare (bad, OK, good). Read it, take note of it, and make sure you check any plastics you bring into your home.
If you're looking to replace plastic food and beverage containers, check your local stores to see what they have. I've found great success at Canadian Tire for glass food containers. I also check Green Baby Bargains daily as they often sell Safe Sippys and other safe food and beverage containers for children at greatly reduced prices. Life Without Plastic has a great selection of various plastic alternatives. They ship from both Canada and the US, so you can avoid paying customs fees for these. If anyone knows of any other great options, please let me know in the comments section and I'll add it in.
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