Eating canned foods has been shown to significantly increase the level of a chemical called bisphenol A (BPA) in a person’s body. Elevated levels of BPA have been linked to an increased risk of cancer, heart disease and diabetes in some studies. BPA is a byproduct of the interior epoxy resin lining used to prevent corrosion, and is found in the lining of food and beverage cans as well as in some plastic containers. Interestingly, in Canada BPA has been declared a toxic chemical, but in the US the FDA is currently supporting further study rather than any new regulation of the chemical.
The health risks of ingesting large amounts of BPA from canned foods have not been fully elucidated. Children of pregnant women who had demonstrated higher concentrations of BPA had a higher risk of behavioral issues such as hyperactivity, anxiety and depression. The main concern is the potential effect of BPA on the brain and endocrine systems of fetuses, infants and children, since these are still developing. BPA functions as an endocrine disruptor that can mimic the body’s hormones, primarily estrogen, although possibly also testosterone and thyroid hormone. Other endocrine disrupting compounds include the dioxins, PCBs, DDT, the plasticizers known as phthalates and diethylsilbestrol (DES). Many of these have been shown to cause serious health issues including cancer.
To read more about this issue, refer to the New York Times article, the story in Bloomberg News, and the study in Journal of the American Medical Association. The issue was also covered by NBC Nightly News, ABC World News, CNN, the Washington Post, Boston Globe and WebMD among others.
Dr. Hutchinson strongly believes that inner health is extremely important to a person’s well-being and outward appearance, and is committed to helping her patients achieve their goals by making healthy food and lifestyle choices. Please contact us or call us at 212.452.1400 or 201.871.0600 to schedule a consultation.
