(NaturalHealth365) There has already beencontroversy over chemicals used in the packaging of many foods. The health dangers of bisphenol A, or BPA, have caused consumers to look for “BPA-free” products just to be safe. Bisphenol A is a known endocrine disruptor that can cause the growth of fat cells.
The top source of human exposure to bisphenol A has been through eating and drinking food and beverages that come into contact with these plastics or coatings.
Look at what’s leaking into our meals
Bisphenol A has been used in polycarbonate plastics since the 1960s. This has included many packages for foods and drinks. It is also used in epoxy resins in the inner coatings of metal products like food cans and water supply pipes.
Unfortunately, a new chemical now used in these products – bisphenol S – is showing similar health hazards. One of the most alarming dangers is its association with triggering the formation of fat cells in the human body.
This strongly suggests that it is an endocrine disruptor, just like bisphenol A, meaning it could interfere with naturally occurring hormones in the body and cause a range of adverse effects.
Triggering fat cells, high blood pressure and infertility
A 2014 study in Medical News Today showed BPA exposure from the insides of bottles and cans is linked with increased blood pressure. Bisphenol A has also been associated withinfertility in women. Some manufacturers started using bisphenol S as a BPA replacement so that they could label their products BPA-free.
Unfortunately, the substitute chemical bisphenol S is showing signs that it could be harmful as well. One recent study indicates that it seems to disrupt the reproductive system by speeding up embryonic development. This means in effect that one endocrine disruptor has been replaced by another.
Any amount of BPA can lead to fat accumulation and growth
This most recent study confirming the dangers of bisphenol S studied its effects on human cells. Researchers looked at preadipocytes taken from female volunteers; these undifferentiated cells can become fat cells in certain conditions.
The cells were exposed to BPS and another fat cell triggering chemical called dexamethasone for 14 days. The results showed that BPS exposure triggered the formation of fat cells at all levels, with higher concentrations doing the worst damage. However, even a small amount of BPA exposure was found to become an endocrine disruptor.
Fresh and organic food always beats processed and packaged junk
The body requires balance, and even moderate changes can disrupt hormone levels and lead to harmful effects to the heart rate, metabolism and respiration. Bisphenol chemicals have now been linked with the growth of fat cells and the potential for weight gain.
These findings about the chemicals in plastic packaging serve as even more of a motivation to favor fresh, organic foods versus packaged or canned. Food companies who use these packaging processes should be boycotted until they make healthy changes.
References:
http://press.endocrine.org/doi/10.1210/en.2015-1872
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Brian_Thomas6/publication/11300069_Three-generation_reproductive_toxicity_study_of_dietary_bisphenol_A_in_CD_Sprague-Dawley_rats/links/0c9605203da9d646a2000000.pdf
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/308223.php
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/03/160322133814.htm
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-03/tes-bsc031716.php
