Table of contents:
- What is BPA plastic?
- Is BPA plastic dangerous for you?
- The dangers of BPA plastics for health
- Then how to avoid getting BPA?
Many people recommend choosing food or beverage containers that are BPA-free plastic. Yes, maybe you have seen the words BPA written on plastic drinking bottles or food containers. He said, BPA plastic is dangerous for health, but what exactly is BPA? Is it true that BPA plastic can harm health? Find the answer here.
What is BPA plastic?
BPA (bisphenol-A) is a chemical added to many commercial products, including food containers and hygiene products.
BPA was first discovered in the 1890s, but chemists in the 1950s realized that it could be mixed with other compounds to produce a strong, tough polycarbonate plastic.
Nowadays, plastics that contain BPA are commonly used in food containers, drinking bottles or baby milk bottles and other items. BPA is also used to make epoxy resins, which are placed in the inner lining of canned food containers to keep the metal from rusting and breaking
Even so, now many manufacturers are switching to BPA-free products, where BPA has been replaced by bisphenol-S (BPS) or bisphenol-F (BPF).
However, recent research reports that even small concentrations of BPS and BPF can interfere with your cell function in a similar way to BPA. Thus, even a BPA-free bottle may not be the solution.
Plastic items labeled with recycling numbers 3 and 7 or the letters “PC” may contain BPA, BPS or BPF.
Is BPA plastic dangerous for you?
The biggest source of BPA for humans is diet, especially food packaged in plastic containers and canned food. Babies who are fed formula from bottles that contain BPA also have high levels of BPA in their bodies.
Many researchers claim that BPA plastic is dangerous, but some other researchers disagree. So, why is BPA dangerous for your body?
BPA is said to mimic the structure and function of the hormone estrogen. Because of its estrogen-like shape, BPA can be linked to estrogen receptors and affect bodily processes, such as growth, cell repair, fetal development, energy levels and reproduction.
In addition, BPA may also have the ability to interact with other hormone receptors, such as the thyroid hormone receptor, thereby altering the function of these hormones.
Your body is sensitive to changing hormone levels, which is the reason why BPA's ability to mimic estrogen can affect your health.
The dangers of BPA plastics for health
When chemicals are in cans or plastic bottles, they can get into the food or drink in the container and move into your body when you swallow them.
People have become concerned about the safety of BPA because of animal studies that have shown a link between high levels of the chemical and infertility, type 2 diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and high blood pressure.
In addition, BPA plastic is also harmful to babies because it has been shown to affect birth weight, hormonal development, behavior and cancer risk later in life.
Meanwhile, the use of BPA plastics can also be associated with the following health problems:
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- Premature labor
- Asthma
- Liver disfunction
- Impaired immune function
- Thyroid dysfunction
- Impaired brain function
Then how to avoid getting BPA?
To limit exposure to BPA, you need to do the following:
- Do not heat, boil, or microwave plastic containers. High temperatures can cause containers to release BPA which can stick to your food or drink.
- Check the recycle codes on plastic containers. If it says recycle code 3 or 7 it usually shows BPA material.
- Use less canned food.
- Use material from glass or glass as a container for hot food or drinks.
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