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What About Microwaving Plastic Containers?

FitSugar — Thu, 01 May 2008 16:00:00 -0700

The recent news about the possible health risks of using polycarbonate bottles (like ones made by Nalgene) has made me a little uneasy. Now I'm wondering about about the relationship between microwaves and plastic, like the reusable food containers I heat up almost daily.

Are the high temperatures leaching chemicals into my food? Should I use ceramic or glass containers instead? To find out

Just Say No to Nalgene?

FitSugar — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 03:00:00 -0700

The future may no longer be in plastics.

Another study linked the chemical bisphenol A, used to make hard, shatter proof plastics, to precancerous tumors, urinary tract problems and early puberty. The study was performed on rats that were fed or injected with small amounts of the chemical, and although the results are preliminary the group of scientists involved in the study said that possible effects on humans "cannot be dismissed." The National Toxicology Program, who headed the study, is comprised of scientists from many formidable national agencies: the Center for Disease Control, US Food and Drug Administrations, and the US Institutes of Health. Agencies not likely to be ignored considering that this study echoes findings made late last summer by the National Institute of Health.

Bisphenol A is ubiquitous and found in Nalgene bottles, that say polycarbonate (#7 on the bottom) as well as clear plastic baby bottles. It is also used as a liner for cans. Since this questionable chemical can leach into water or food that comes in contact with the hard plastic, many Canadian retailers have pulled products, like Nalgene bottles from their shelves. Once popular only with backpackers, Nalgene bottles have found a niche as reusable water bottle for thirsty folks working on decreasing their carbon and plastic footprint. There are other options like SIGG bottles, made from aluminum; they're lightweight, durable, and cute.

So say "No" to Nalgene and other polycarbonate plastics. I've made the switch and given up my lovely orange Nalgene bottle that I have used for years. What about you? Share the details in the comments section below.

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How to Pack It: Your Lunch and Plastics

FitSugar — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 02:00:00 -0700

There are plenty of reasons to avoid using so much plastic, both environmental and health wise. For instance, marine researchers have shown that plastic debris outweighs zooplankton in remote parts of the Pacific. Health wise, phthalates, a chemical added to normally rigid PVC to make soft products, are potential hormone disruptors and may increase infertility in men.

When it comes to packing lunch, most of us use plastic wrap, plastic baggies, and/or plastic containers to transport our food. First off we should all be packing our food in reusable containers to avoid adding excess plastic to landfills. I like to use pyrex containers since they are glass and microwaveable, but let's face it that is just impractical for little kids. Pyrex is too heavy, plus it's breakable. When shopping for reusable food containers, avoid plastics with the following number inside the recycling symbol: #3 (PVC), #6 (Polystyrene), and #7 (Polycarbonate). These chemicals are no good for our bodies or the planet!

Ideal Bite has some great suggestions for non-plastic food containers if you brown bag your lunch.

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Controversial Plastics and You

FitSugar — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 14:30:00 -0700

How do you feel about bisphenol A (BPA)? While you might not know what this chemical compound is, chances are high that it is in your home and even in you. I hate to sound so alarmist but a recent report on BPA alarmed me.

The chemical compound BPA is used to make hard plastics and is found in plastic baby bottles, dental sealants and linings of metal cans among other common household objects. Recent government tests found that PBA was in 95% of human subjects studied. PBA mimics the action of hormones in animals studied and has been linked to obesity, early puberty, hyperactivity, and abnormal reproductive cycles.

In a recent statement, 38 scientists said that Americans are exposed to more off this chemical than previously thought and that the level likely surpasses the governments current safety standard. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, bisphenol A is safe in doses of up to 50 micrograms per kilogram of body weight, per day. But a paper presented Thursday concludes that the high levels of bisphenol A in human blood and tissue suggest people are actually exposed to 10 times that amount. YIKES!

Although the scientists say their estimates are conservative, the American Chemistry Council, the trade association representing North American chemical manufacturers, feels the anti PBA statement is unbalanced and inaccurate.

I think we will be hearing a bit more about PBA as more studies are slated to determine how this chemical is interacting with our bodies and our environment.

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Plastic Water Bottles: Really Bad for the Environment

FitSugar — Tue, 15 May 2007 11:00:00 -0700

You all know I am all about hydration. I even made a cool little water calculator so you can compute how much water you should be drinking! Now, if you drink a lot of bottled water, I am urging your to take a minute and weigh your convenience against the environmental impact of all that plastic.

Most folks drink their bottled water on the go and there is no convenient way to recycle the plastic bottles. In 2003, about 40 million bottles a day went into the trash, or even more unfortunately became litter. These billions of bottles take up valuable landfill space, leak toxic additives into the groundwater and take a whopping 1,000 years to biodegrade, if ever.

The high price of bottled water is not the water but, in actuality, the cost of the bottling, packaging, shipping, marketing, retailing and transporting it all over the globe. When calculating your carbon footprint, you might want to consider the carbon footprint of the bottled water you drink. Next time you pick up a bottle of Fiji Water, think about the distance the bottle and the water have traveled before it hits your lips.

It is true that tap water is more regulated than bottled water, so you should drink from the tap. Want to read about some alternatives to drinking plastic bottled water? then

What's the Deal with: Microwaving Plastic

FitSugar — Sat, 18 Nov 2006 14:30:00 -0800

You've all probably heard from someone by now that "You shouldn't microwave plastic containers," but are those rumors really true? Are harmful toxins really being released into your nuked food?

Here's the deal. The American Cancer Society basically says that when you heat something up in the microwave, some of the chemicals can seep into your food, but not enough that would be considered harmful. If that possible seepage weirds you out too much, use heat-resistant glass or ceramics for microwave cooking, like pyrex, just to be safe. Pyrex is great because it's not only microwave safe but it's also durable and cleans easily without staining your containers nasty shades of orange and brown. Get it here.