Avoiding Chemical in Plastics Causes Weight Loss

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an industrial chemical used to make plastics used in food and beverage containers. More than 130 studies have linked BPA, which is a proven endocrine disrupter, to a long list of health problems, including diabetes, breast and prostate cancer, weight gain, diabetes, and infertility.

However, avoiding the chemical for only three weeks can reduce the amount of BPA in the urine, says a new study reported in Journal of Women's Health, which also found that women lost a significant amount of weight.

Women who participated in the study were divided into two groups. One group avoided foods, cosmetics, and other products packaged in plastic containers that contained BPA, and the second group served as a control.

At the end of three weeks, the women who avoided BPA had large reductions in the amount of the chemical in their urine. The women in the control group who did not take part in the BPA-limiting intervention, had significant increases in both urinary BPA levels and weight gain after three weeks.

"This study shows that by switching to BPA-free products it is, in fact, possible for women who have been exposed to BPA to reduce their body burden of the compound, as measured by urinary BPA levels," says Susan G. Kornstein, MD, editor in chief of Journal of Women's Health.

"Although many consumers tend to reject products made of plastics containing BPA, there are unfortunately still many other endocrine disrupting chemicals in our environment."

You can avoid BPA by choosing fresh foods and those in glass containers instead of those in cans. Buy plastic containers with the recycling labels No. 1, No. 2, No. 4 , and No. 5 on the bottom, and avoid those with No. 3, No. 7, or PC (polycarbonate).