Have you ever gone to heat up leftovers in a “microwave-safe” container from your favorite restaurant, only to taste a hint of plastic? No, you are not imagining things – your beloved leftovers are tainted with leaked chemicals from the storage container. The risk of chemical leakage from plastic storage containers increases when heated – yes, even the microwave-safe plastic.
So what’s the big deal anyways? You figure that the actual amount of leaked chemicals is minimal and our bodies are designed to process and eliminate toxins, right? Yes, our bodies do an excellent job at processing and eliminating toxins. However, it is the cumulative effect over the course of time that is the cause for concern. An average lifetime is 27,375 days on Earth. A little bit of daily exposure over the course of your lifetime can be detrimental to your health, potentially increasing your risk for health concerns including fertility problems and cancer.
Chemical compounds found in some plastics, such as Bisphenol A and Bisphenol S, can disrupt our hormones. They are commonly referred to in the scientific literature as “endocrine-disruptors.” These chemicals can interfere with the Endocrine System – the system of the body that produces our hormones, such as estrogen and testosterone. The game of Dominoes is a great analogy to the inner workings of the endocrine system. If one Domino falls, it effects all the Dominoes that follow. The chemicals compounds in plastic appear very similar to the body as our natural hormones. The body can falsely recognize these chemical compounds as estrogen, for example. When the body recognizes the chemical as estrogen, it can trigger the same downstream hormonal pathways, much like in the game of Dominoes, as if there was an actual over-production of estrogen. This can lead to adverse health effects. In women, high levels of estrogen exposure has the potential to increase risk of breast cancer. Bisphenols can also cross the placenta, increasing exposure of these plastic chemical compounds to an unborn child. Endocrine disruptors have also been linked to chronic diseases including obesity, metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. Studies of blood samples have shown more than 90% of people have measurable levels of BPA in their system.
So what can we do to limit our exposure and reduce the toxic burden over the course of our lifetime? The answer is simple. There is great value in investing in products that are safer alternatives to plastics. We recommend doing a pantry and fridge makeover! And who doesn’t love the feeling after a great makeover? Ditch the plastics and invest in glass, ceramic and stainless steel food storage.
We prefer glass containers for food storage because they are free of toxins and microwave-safe, so they are the perfect option for heating leftovers at home or the office. Check out our favorite glass storage containers here.
In the kitchen, we recommend using stainless steel pots and pans rather than non-stick pans coated with Teflon. While the safety of Teflon has been up for debate in recent years, there is no question that with general use, very small pieces of the non-stick coating can slowly flake off into our food over the lifetime of the pan. Since there is still some ongoing debate over Teflon, we recommend avoiding it when possible and using safer alternatives, such as stainless steel.
While stainless steel is also a safe option from the standpoint of toxins, it is not microwave-safe. Therefore, it is not an ideal option for dinner leftovers and is best reserved for use as beverage storage or food that does not need to be heated. Here is a great option to store beverages and lunch for the kids.
Ceramic is also toxin free, however, ceramic is often much heavier than glass or stainless steel and may be particularly difficult to use and wash for those with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.
If you do choose to continue using plastic for food storage, at a minimum, it would be best to remove your food from the plastic while microwaving given the potential for chemicals to leak into food when heated. This will reduce your overall toxin exposure. We hope you will consider ditching the plastic for safer, non-toxic options. While glass, stainless steel and ceramic tend to be more expensive than plastic food storage, consider it as a long-term investment in your health and the health of your family!
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