Ask the Diet Doctor: Are You Taking in More Chemicals than You Think?

Q: What exactly are endocrine disruptors? And do I need to worry about chemicals that mimic estrogens like BPA?


A: First, let's do a quick review: Natural estrogens,are responsible for female  and play an essential role in fertility, pregnancy, and lactation. However, in males and females excess estrogens can cause birth defects, abnormal sexual development, problems with the nervous system and immune system, and even cancer.

1. Bisphenol-A (BPA)

BPA is one of the most widely produced chemicals in the world. For years it was included in essentially every plastic water bottle and food container, but growing concerns about the negative health effects led consumers to demand BPA-free plastics, which are now the norm. But there’s a lesser-known source of BPA: The lining of cans for foods such as beans and tomatoes. Some companies like Eden Organics advertise BPA-free canned beans and tomatoes, but the majority of products you’ll find at the supermarket are not BPA free.
BPA can act similarly to estrogen in your body while also disrupting hormone function. BPA has been linked to increased risk of diabetes, obesity, and impaired reproductive function. Plus, increased prenatal exposure to BPA has been tagged as a possible driver of childhood obesity. Fortunately, unlike some endocrine disruptors, BPA is not stored in body fat and it doesn’t stay in your body once exposure stops.