Food storage plastics now linked to obesity and diabetes
Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012
A recent report published in PLoS ONE on February 8th 2012 shows bisphenol-A (BPA) widely used in food grade plastics and food-can linings stimulates the body to store excess fat and puts us at greater risk of becoming obese and developing diabetes. Authors of "The ONE Diet" (ISBN 1904928013) Georges Philips and Simon Shawcross explain the steps you can take to minimize your food-related intake of BPA.
BPA leaches into consumer foods and liquids from plastic food storage containers, tableware, water bottles and from the internal coating of food cans. When inside the human body, BPA acts as a strong synthetic estrogen (a female sex hormone) and even low doses may cause increased fat storage in humans, due to BPA's effect on the pancreas. The pancreas is the organ that produces insulin when we eat to help shuttle the energy derived from our food, into our cells for storage.
Studies show that up to 90% of people in developed nations now have enough BPA in their blood to cause the pancreas to release almost double the amount of insulin than under normal circumstances. This excess release of insulin causes more glucose to be stored as body fat. Overtime the situation worsens with BPA becoming a risk factor for obesity, type 2 diabetes and other metabolic disorders in humans. Canada declared BPA a toxic substance in 2010.
Georges Philips and Simon Shawcross, co-authors of "The ONE Diet", a new weight loss book that emphasizes a healthy and sustainable approach to attaining your ideal size reveal their top tips for avoiding BPA and other plastic toxins in food:
- Minimize your use of canned foods
- Consumer plastics usually display a recycle code which displays a single number between 1- 7.
Do your best to avoid plastics with the code numbers below:
Recycle code 3 (plastics) - typically found on clear food packaging and bottles used to contain cooking oil.
Recycle code 6 (polystyrene) - found on disposable cups, plates and pre-packed meat trays.
Recycle code 7 (other plastics) - often used for water bottles and baby bottles. - Avoid microwaving food and drink in plastic containers.
- For storage and heating of food and liquids, use Pyrex, glass or stainless steel whenever possible.
- Some plastic based storage containers, bags, wraps, water bottles and baby bottles are BPA free and are promoted as such, seek these out if you are going to use plastics.
- Whenever possible buy fresher foods that are not pre-packed. For example, buy meat, fish and cheese from their respective counters at the supermarket, or from a butcher, cheese seller or fishmonger. In addition, buy loose fresh fruit and vegetables rather than those packed in plastics.
"The One Diet" is available for sale at Amazon.com and through other channels.
About the Authors:
Georges Philips is a change architect who has been working in the corporate world for many years as an educator, trainer and corporate coach. As a therapist for over 25 years he has written several books on subjects that include hypno-analysis, belief restructuring, neuro linguistics, stress, meditation and rapid cognitive therapy. His companion book to "The ONE Diet", "Change Directions" with a foreword by Dr. Edward de Bono is also available now. He is in private practice in London.
Simon Shawcross is a weight-loss coach, personal trainer, wellbeing presenter and author. Since 2000, he has helped individuals and corporations achieve their weight loss, fitness and wellbeing goals. He has personally supervised over 6,500 sessions and presented numerous seminars. Simon has also written articles on health for several newspapers and magazines. He currently lives and works in London.
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