It is summer and it’s getting hotter by the day. Whether you’re walking, hiking, running or simply minding your own business, you need to keep hydrated.
The question is what to drink out since there has been a lot of talking lately about plastic water bottles and their safety. Well, the talking is true. Plastics are to be avoided if possible since they come with components that have estrogenic properties.
When bisphenol A (BPA) – a compound used to make plastics hard and resilient, also found in can lining and many plastic products we use on a regular basis, as well as medical and dental equipment – was first exposed in 2010 for being a potential endocrine disruptor, Health Canada was the first to urge merchants to pull BPA-containing products off the shelves but that mostly concerned baby bottles and sippy cups.
A good approach by all means, which was shortly followed by a flurry of BPA-free products. No more danger, right? But the question remained: are plastic water and food containers that are deemed BPA-free safe and with no ill effects on human health?
The short answer is no, not really. BPA has been replaced by other plasticizers, as these compounds are called, and they also seem to have estrogenic properties (though the range of health effects of BPA and other plasticizers expands way beyond the hormonal realm.)
Recent studies have concluded that many of the BPA-free plastic water containers, as well as sippy cups and baby bottles do have a certain level of estrogenic activity due to other plastic compounds present. Yet one could argue there are so many claiming they are perfectly safe to drink from. What to do?
The best way out of this dilemma is a cautious one: stay away from plastic as much as you can.
Here are some helpful tips to get you started:
While at home:
- Rid your kitchen of plastic containers as well as plastic cups and cutlery you have ready for picnics and such. Even if the risk is small with some, everything adds up in the end.
- Use glasses for water and other beverages and glass-made containers to store leftovers. Plastic containers may be practical, but oils present in food can make plasticizers leach out especially with repeated use and under the influence of heat (never microwave food stored in plastic containers.)
On the go:
- Outfit yourself and your family with stainless steel water containers. Glass bottles are also available, stylish designs included, but the bottom line is: choose containers made from inert materials to drink and eat from.
- For packing food, use stainless steel lunch boxes. They are sturdy, safe, and very affordable gien their long-lasting companionship.
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