August 8, 2011 – Eating fresh foods that have not been wrapped in plastic or canned helps reduce exposure to bisphenol A and phthalates.
This is what an American pilot study shows1 conducted in California with 5 families (20 subjects), followed for 8 days.
The researchers observed that when participants replaced their usual diet with a diet consisting of fresh foods that were not wrapped in plastic, the levels of bisphenols A (BPA) and phthalates (DEHP) in their urine dropped by. significantly.
The study took place in 3 stages. During the first 2 days of the study, the families (2 adults and 2 children aged 3 to 12 per family) ate according to their habits.
For the next 3 days, they were provided with food that had not been exposed to these chemicals: organic fruits, vegetables, grains and meats, prepared without the use of plastic or non-stick cooking utensils. All supplied in glass containers whose lids did not contain BPA. And the last 3 days, participants returned to their usual eating practices.
Every evening, during these 8 days, the participants collected a sample of their urine which allowed researchers to detect the presence of metabolites of bisphenols A and phthalates.
The results indicate that from Day 3 to Day 5, BPA levels had dropped by 66% and DEHP levels from 53% to 56%, on average. In some subjects, the reductions recorded were as high as 76% for BPA and 96% for DEHP. During the last 3 days, when families resumed their usual diet, the levels of these substances quickly returned to their approximate starting point.
According to the researchers, the main sources of participants’ exposure to hormone disruptors were canned foods, drinks and meals eaten out.
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Bisphenols and phthalates Studies show that bisphenol A and phthalates act as endocrine disruptors that could cause fertility problems. Concerning bisphenol A, scientists believe that it could also have carcinogenic properties. These chemicals are widely used in the manufacture of various food containers and packaging. They can be found in plastic water bottles, the linings of food cans, and a host of food packaging and cooking utensils and containers. |
Pierre Lefrançois – PasseportSanté.net
1. Rudel RA, Gray JM, Engel CL, Rawsthorne TW, et al. Food Packaging and Bisphenol A and Bis (2-Ethyhexyl) Phthalate Exposure: Findings from a Dietary Intervention. About Health Perspect, July 2011, 119: 914-920.
