Celilo Natural Health Center » bisphenol a

Is soy formula as bad for babies as plastic?

Orna — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 19:42:33 +0000

With all the news lately about estrogen-mimicking chemicals found in plastics, including sippy cups for babies, it’s been easy to ignore natural sources of potentially similar problems. One such source: Soy found in infant formulas. You’ve likely heard soy isoflavones touted for peri- and menopausal women who are at the end of their major estrogen-producing years. Soy is touted as a way to reduce hot flashes and protect against breast cancer. But those issues don’t concern babies, and researchers have started looking at the effects of soy on young children. Instead, high exposure in kids may lead to early puberty and other problems later in life. So is soy as bad as plastic villain bisphenol A? Scientists disagree. But animals fed the same as babies do show effects, some of them stronger than with the chemical. (Via The Raleigh News & Observer).

bisphenol a linked to reduced male fertility

Orna — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:57:00 +0000

Bisphenol A (BPA), an increasingly common chemical used in polycarbonate plastics and often found in the lining of food cans, is frequently in the news because it also disrupts human hormones. Researchers have known for a while that the chemical can impair female fertility. But new research published in the journal Life Sciences found BPA may cause similar effects in males — and that the diminished fertility may persist for three generations. The study exposed male rats to low doses of BPA from conception until they were weaned. Those males went on to weigh more than their unexposed counterparts and had lower sperm counts, less mobile sperm, defective cells in their testes and lower overall levels of testosterone and estrogen. (Via Environmental Health News.)

the cleanest canned foods are made by you

Orna — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 21:53:54 +0000

The media has propelled estrogen-mimicking chemical bisphenol A (BPA) to the forefront of health news. It’s ubiquitous, and it’s likely in your body.

The chemical, developed as an estrogen replacement, is commonly used to harden plastics such, most commonly polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. It’s been linked to various cancers, diabetes, heart disease and digestive problems. The polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins are often used in plastic helmets and goggles, computers, kitchen appliances, medical devices, adult toys, and the packaging for some foods and drinks—including soda cans, water bottles and baby bottles.

This month Consumer Reports and the watchdogs at the Milwaukee, Wisc., Journal Sentinel found BPA leaching into commercially canned foods (it’s in the lining). And last week Linda Birnbaum, director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the National Toxicology Program, told the Journal Sentinel that consumers should be concerned.

Here’s a roundup of many products containing BPA, along with links to safer alternatives.

To learn more about BPA, read “Chasing Molecules: Poisonous Products, Human Health, and the Promise of Green Chemistry” by Elizabeth Grossman.

So what’s a health-conscious person to do? Eat more fresh food, of course. Or preserve your own in good old-fashioned glass jar. Here are some books that will teach you to safely and easily preserve the summer’s bounty from your garden, farmer’s market or local store.

• Stocking Up, 3rd Edition, by Carol Hupping is one of the most recommended books on safe canning and includes great recipes.

• Wild Fermentation: The Flavor, Nutrition, and Craft of Live-Culture Foods, by Sandor Katz focuses on fermentation as a preservation method.

• Complete Guide to Home Canning and Preserving, the US Department of Agriculture’s classic.

Canning is fun for the whole family, and the results can make thoughtful, thrifty holiday and hostess gifts. It’s also clearly the healthiest choice.

NB: A version of this story also appears on WellWire.com.