Issue #272: What's the Real Deal with Plastic?
Good morning. It’s Thursday, November 30th.
Today’s Quick Win
From the Lab: Living in a World of Plastic
Speed Read: Controlling the Gut-Brain Superhighway
Thursday Night In: Cashew Chicken
“We are living in a soup of endocrine disruptors, and they’re attacking us from every direction.”
The amount of plastic (nanograms per milliliter - ng/ml) measured in the urine of an average person. This is 44x higher than initially thought after a more accurate form of testing was used by Washington State University - previous estimates were only 1.2 ng/ml. (source)
From the Lab
BPA - that stuff that’s in most of our plastic at home - isn’t good for us.
Most of us (90%+) have BPA throughout our body (see Stat of the Day).
This is a big deal.
How is all this plastic getting in us?
Well, have you ever microwaved food in a plastic container?
Research shows that as many as 1.2 billion (with a “B”) particles per centimeter are shed in the microwave and get into the food we’re about to eat. The hotter the temp, the more the plastic in the food.
This is a problem because the smaller the piece of plastic the less chance our internal systems identify it and send it through our liver and kidneys and out our body.
These “nanoparticles” get through this defense and can get into cells - causing massive problems.
There was a study placing kidney cells into plastic-infused liquid and 75% of the cells died within a couple of days - 3x more than the cells that died with less plastic exposure.
What else do these chemicals do?
They’re called “endocrine disruptors” for a reason.* They mess with our hormones - one specific example is blocking the production of testosterone, as well as estrogen - so yet another key factor in infertility.
The affected sperm and ovaries then carry on the problem to the next generation of babies.
It’s not just our hormones - these chemicals also affect our metabolism (e.g., weight gain, low energy, and thyroid problems) and are associated with cancer.
So maybe we don’t listen to the FDA when they say it’s fine to warm up that plastic bottle for newborns.
And don’t think that SmartWater bottle is actually being recycled.
It’s estimated that 3.6% of the 275 million tons of plastic in the world gets recycled - most of it ends up in landfills.
Plastic isn’t going anywhere…
But here are 4 things to limit/avoid that will at least minimize your exposure to these toxins:
Get a Glass Water Bottle - forget using plastic. Get a big 32 oz or more water bottle made of glass (or stainless steel is still better) so you get your 10+ cups of water a day without the plastic.
Don’t Microwave Plastic - really don’t use any plastic food containers. But if you don’t have glass containers at least don’t heat up the plastic - especially baby bottles!
Limit Canned Foods - the inside of these cans is lined with similar chemical disruptors we don’t want. Frozen and fresh are best.
Get Digital Receipts - seems like a small thing, but the printed side of the receipt is actually super high with BPA. Ask for the emailed copy or who are we kidding, just don’t take the receipt.
Think you’ve got some BPA in your body? Here’s some top tips to get rid of it:
Help Your Liver - eat cruciferous veggies (broccoli, cauliflower, etc.), red grapes, and citrus fruits.
Sweat - BPA shows up in our sweat, so maybe a long run or a sauna session. And hey, if it doesn’t help that much - you still get the other benefits of all that sweating.
CoQ10 - a study from Harvard found this antioxidant supplement reversed reproductive damage from BPA in worms - maybe promising for us too.
BONUS: Don’t think BPA alternatives (BPS and BPF) are better - they’re not.
We’re not going to live in a bubble - but we don’t have to live with plastic everywhere either.
*Want to read more - here’s a 92 page guide to all things endocrine disruptors. Don’t have time for 92 pages? Don’t worry, that’s why we’re here so you don’t have to.
Thrive25 Partner Spotlight
Primal Kitchen believes in using real, high-quality ingredients so you can enjoy your favorite, classic sauces, dressings, condiments and pantry staples - with confidence. Max took advantage of the Black Friday deal, getting several more dressings & marinades - the snow in Chicago has forced his cooking inside, but that hasn’t stopped the great taste!
Primal Kitchen continues to share great discounts this week - click HERE to find out today’s latest deal!
Speed Read
Health & Longevity in the News
Speaking in Color: Researchers at the University of California engineered a plant that can change color when exposed to a specific pesticide. This could be the start of something big, and low-cost, to detect anything wrong in the environment. It could even help us “black thumbs,” so we don’t kill any more houseplants. (WIRED)
Gut-Brain Superhighway: The signals that pass on the gut-brain axis are some of the most influential on your metabolic health. But it’s not just your diet that influences your these signals - brain health, sleep, exercise, and mindfulness also are important. Check out these 6 practices. (Longevity.Technology)
Warning Shots Fired: The FTC warned AmeriBev, The Canadian Sugar Institute and 12 registered dieticians about posts where the influencers fail to disclose paid ads. We covered this in Issue #241 - the most egregious post has been taken down thanks to a potential $50K fine per post. (FTC)
Thursday Night In | Cashew Chicken
Ready for a better-than-takeout Cashew Chicken that’s a star at Max’s house! Featuring organic chicken breasts rich in protein, nutrient-packed vegetables like broccoli, red bell peppers, and edamame, plus heart-healthy cashews. This dish is enhanced with immune-boosting garlic and ginger, all coated in a delicious garlicky soy sauce. It's a simple, nourishing alternative to takeout - all the restaurant-quality taste and much healthier.
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The information in this newsletter is for informational purposes only and may not be appropriate or applicable based on your individual circumstances. Thrive25 Labs, Inc. does not provide medical, professional, or licensed advice. Please connect with your healthcare professional for medical advice specific to your health needs.