We’ve been warning Healthier Talk readers about the dangers of plastics… and, specifically, the estrogen-mimicking chemicals hiding in them… since at least 2010.
I’ve cautioned that our continued exposure to these hormone look-alikes is catching up with us, making us fat, slow, and tired.
And here we are twelve years later, FINALLY getting some confirmation that we were right all along about these dangerous endocrine disruptors.
In fact, the researchers behind a new study say that the creepy chemicals found in plastics are an “underestimated factor behind overweight and obesity.”
In other words, they are indeed linked to weight gain.
And there sure are a LOT of them that could be to blame… at least a staggering 55,000, in fact. That’s how many chemicals the scientists found lurking in the plastics they tested.
Plastics can mess with our metabolism
We’re surrounded by plastic. We come into contact with it all day, every day. It’s impossible to avoid altogether.
But some of the worst exposures are the ones we get through food packaging. Some of these chemicals can mess with our metabolism and likely cause us to pack on the pounds.
Plus, earlier research has hinted that these same chemicals could affect fertility and development.
When the researchers examined 34 different plastic products, they drilled down through those 55,000 chemicals to identify 11 of the worst metabolism marauders.
The bad news chemicals were found in everyday objects such as drink bottles, yogurt containers, and kitchen sponges. And under real-world conditions, the team put any lingering doubts about how these chemicals can leech OUT of the plastic and into US to bed.
Creepy chemicals reprogram cells to store fat
The experiments showed that one-third of the plastic products tested contained chemicals that contribute to fat-cell development. In fact, the creepy chemicals essentially highjacked normal precursor cells and reprogrammed them to store fat.
Even worse, it wasn’t just the products containing KNOWN metabolism disruptors that were a problem. Some plastic products that didn’t include any of the usual suspects still triggered the formation of new fat cells.
In other words, we have not yet identified all the chemicals that can mess with our metabolism.
Our society’s overweight and obesity problem has grown right alongside our increasing dependence on and exposure to plastics.
And while the obesity epidemic is a complex issue, with many contributing factors, there’s little doubt that metabolism-disrupting chemicals likely have played a significant role.
An estimated two billion folks are fighting weight issues right now, along with another 650 million battling obesity. And that, of course, means they’re at far higher risk for cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and other weight-related illnesses.
Fight back against plastics with these changes
Completely avoiding plastics is impossible. Or, as my mother would say, it’s a fool’s errand. But you CAN reduce your exposure in meaningful ways.
The first step is to make a change that will have a ton of other side benefits. And that is to break your dependence on processed foods.
You’ll still run into plastics with fresh foods, of course. But less packaging means less exposure. Plus, things like fresh fruits and veggies and fish-counter sourced seafood come without the plastics and the chemicals.
Just make sure to choose wild-caught, cold-water fish such as salmon, tuna, sardines, and organic fruits and veggies to reduce exposure to other obesogens (compounds that make us gain weight). You can learn more about them in my earlier report Creepy chemicals silently making you fat).
When you get your foods home, transfer them from their plastic-coated packaging to glass, ceramic, or stainless-steel containers. And do the same with leftovers.
Cut back on using plastic-coated products that will have direct contact with food, such as silicone-coated parchment paper, plastic sponges, and cutting boards.
You won’t eliminate these chemicals from your body entirely. But you can certainly reduce their levels and your risks right along with them.
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