Lifestyle Challenge: Go BPA-Free

This week we’re going to take the challenge to get rid of a toxin that surrounds us and the food we eat, in a BIG way! This toxin also has the potential to affect our health right down to the cellular level.

It’s bisphenol-A, more commonly known as BPA.

Back in the 1950s, before anyone understood the health impact, manufacturers started using BPA to make plastics stronger and more resilient.

Although now many manufacturers have switched to BPA-free products – replacing BPA with bisphenol-S (BPS) or bisphenol-F (BPF) – recent research shows that BPS and BPF might have a similar effect on your cells as BPA.

BPA can be harmful for us because it has a similar structure as the hormone estrogen, and many experts believe it binds to our body’s own estrogen receptors. Higher BPA levels in the body appear to be linked to a higher risk of high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and heart disease, and more.

Here’s how to check for BPA:
🛑BPA products usually are see-through (i.e., clear and not opaque).
🛑Check the recycling number on plastic containers that are both hard and see-through. If it has a recycling symbol with the number 7, it may contain BPA. 
🛑If the container doesn’t have a recycling symbol and it was manufactured before 2012, chances are it contains BPA.
🛑If you have an aluminum water bottle/thermos that has a plastic lining and is NOT labeled BPA-free, it may contain BPA.

You may find BPA/BPS/BPF in plastic containers, canned foods, toiletries, feminine hygiene products, dental filling sealants and even baby bottles.

It can seem like a huge task to avoid bisphenols, but you can take one step by switching to other types of containers including glass, stainless steel and paper.

Are you in on the BPA (and S and F!)-free challenge? Let’s start by sending our BPA containers in for recycling. ♻️♻️♻️