Xenoestrogens: Our common enemy

[MattFoley]

Guys,

Xenoestrogens are chemicals in plastics and other non-organic material that seep into our blood stream and cause us sexual dysfunction. Here's a recent article about them:

How Much Plastic Are You Eating?
By SHAPE magazine | Healthy Living – Wed, Apr 17, 2013 3:30 PM EDT

by Cristina Goyanes for SHAPE.com

Are you eating too much plastic?Are you eating too much plastic?You already know that microwaving your leftover chicken stir-fry in its plastic container is a major no-no, but that's not the only way to end up with a mouthful of chemicals.

An alarming new report from the University of Texas Health Science Center and the U.S. government suggests that most popular supermarket foods-including dairy, meats, condiments, drinks, and pizza-may be contaminated with a variety of plastic chemicals called phthalates. These chemicals are commonly used as plasticizers (what makes plastics soft, rubbery, and less breakable) in items such as fragranced shampoos, detergents, cleaners, lotions, and shower curtains. But now researchers are saying that some small amounts of the stuff may be traceable in your favorite packaged foods too.

"When phthalates get added to plastics, they don't fuse into a new atom, so they stay separated, which means they can leak out and get picked up through the air, skin, water; they're everywhere and nearly everyone has been exposed to them," says Christopher Ochner, Ph.D., a research associate at New York Obesity Nutrition Research Center at St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital Center who isn't associated with the study.


Which is a scary thing since studies have been linked phthalates to breast cancer, birth defects, obesity, asthma, motor and behavioral problems in kids, and sexual dysfunction in men. "The good news is that the estimated levels of contamination through diet were much lower in this study-and considered 'safe' according to the Environmental Protection Agency-than in some previous similar studies," Ochner says.

While it's pretty impossible to avoid exposure to phthalates completely-even the "boy in the bubble" couldn't hide from 'em (his bulbous plastic capsule made to protect him would surely be full of the stuff)-minimizing exposure is doable. Follow these four smart tips from Ochner to lower your phthalates levels and reduce your risk of developing health issues.

1. Eat less dairy and pork. These foods had the highest levels of contamination in the study. "It might be because of the plastic tubing used to milk cows or the plastic packaging containing the meat," Ochner speculates, "but we don't really know how phthalates are getting in there, and more studies are needed."

2. Limit your use of plastic containers and wrap. Try to use glass to preserve leftovers, and most definitely never heat up food with plastic. "Lots of studies are going on right now that show that microwaving food in plastic is horrible for you," Ochner says.

3. Order fresh fish and meats from the market or butcher. "Anything that hasn't been wrapped or packaged in plastic is better for you," Ochner says. "And beef, in general, proved to have the lowest concentrations of phthalates levels compared to the 72 different foods that were tested."

4. Choose better plastic drinking bottles. "If the recycling code on the bottom of the bottle reads #3 or #7, put it back," Ochner warns. "Those types of plastic are more likely to contain phthalates."


Source: http://shine.yahoo.com/healthy-living/much-plastic-eating-193000877.html

[james1947]

MattFoley

Interesting subject. I never had a microwave as the L- Band radiation in them is 1500Watt to 2500Watt.
While working with TX/RX in L-Band the safety margin was 2 meter from the antenna (approx 7 feet)
EDITED: With 20Watt output power/2 meter safety distance.

James

[George999]

I believe there ARE plastics that are "BPA free" these days.  BPA is, unfortunately, ubiquitous though as its applications are endless.  But there is a major effort going on to get rid of it.  Just look for the label "BPA free" or "No BPA".  But sometimes there are few options.  Take tooth fillings, for example.  The old fashioned amalgam fillings contain mercury which leeches out of the filling over time and poisons the person.  The newer composite fillings almost always contain BPA plasticizers which leech out and ... poison the person.  There is new technology on the way to replace both, but only a few dentists are using it now.  - George

[MattFoley]

Yeah, guys, I use glass bowls to heat my food.

[james1947]

I had the amalgam fillings taken out from my tooth after reading the "Cure yourself from Prostate Cancer BHP".
One of my amalgam filling was 40 year old, others in the range of 10 to 30 years. Never moved, never had a problem.
The composite replacement that now I understand are not better don't hold for more that a few months, maximum one year in my case.
I will replace them one by one when fall, back to amalgam.

James

[George999]

There is a type of dental filling that has them all beat.  It is totally non-toxic and minimally invasive, even less so than composites and it lasts a long time.

http://www.cereconline.com/cerec/

Be sure to watch the demo!  This system works for both crowns AND fillings and the material used is chemically inert ceramic.  The closest thing you can get to a real tooth. -- George

[funnyfarm]

George this is probably much better than the composite fillings that have been in my mouth for 15yrs.  But I have to wonder if these are still totally safe.  I read yesterday even crock pot ceramic bowls can contain lead.   So chemically inert can mean different things to different people in terms of health safety.

I also worry about the resin epoxy retainer I wear every night to keep my teeth straight.  I have not been able to find any alternative.  Surely this would be a lucrative business if some introduced one for kids.  

[George999]

I can ASSURE you that NOTHING is safe.  NOTHING!  But ... some things ARE safer than others.  Both mercury and BPA are huge KNOWN red flags.  At least there is no KNOWN toxin in these ceramic products AT THIS POINT.  I would take that anytime over a known risk.  At least there is a significant chance that they have at least most of the toxicity removed from this stuff.  And remember that even as long as amalgam and composites have been around, there are still unknowns with those also.  Who knows what other toxins they might be hiding besides mercury and BPA?  Its scary!  AND one of the HUGE benefits of the CEREC system is that it enables far less tooth removal than either amalgam or composite approaches.  That means that far less ceramic ends up in your mouth as compared to either composite or amalgam.  Amalgam fillings are secured in the tooth mechanically which means that the tooth has to be devastated in order to create a restoration.  The hole has to be greatly enlarged and undercut to secure the filling.  - George

[funnyfarm]

Good info, I will talk to my dentist about this next visit.  

[james1947]

Thanks George.

I will give the link to my doctor on my next visit.
Unfortunately the chance that it will be available for my next filling is zero.
Herself showed me that she have amalgam fillings.

James