All Types Of Alternative Medicine

Locate BPA-Free Sourced Plastics

For Health And Well-Being

Having their new nursery full of BPA-free supplies is the ambition of almost every set of new or expecting parents now that they are aware of the chemical BPA.

Bisphenol A, or more commonly known as BPA, is an organic compound which when heated to high temperatures in the manufacture of the plastics industry, leads to a toxic level of chemicals.

BPA has commonly been used in the manufacture of plastic bottles, plastic lined food containers, DVD casings, medical supplies plus many many more.

Repeated reports keep re-surfacing from several research studies, world governmental agencies, news reports etc. that for the last 50+ years excess human ingestion and touch has led to toxic levels of this chemical in our systems. Grave concerns have been reported in regards to the toxicity levels showing in the fetus (through the mother's blood), infants and young children.

Common Sources Of BPA-Lined Containers

• sports equipment and sports water bottles
• dental fillings and sealants
• medical and dental equipment
• eyeglass lenses
• baby bottles and pacifiers
• bottled water containers
• kitchen plastic food storage containers
• lining in canned foods (fruit, vegetables, drink mixes, prepared entrees)
• electronic equipment and supplies
• cash register receipts when out shopping
• paper money (the printer's ink)

Medical Concerns From BPA Use

The majority of the concerns though are centered around the growing fetus, the infant stage up to young children. Disruption of the chemicals in the brain, the nervous system, the increased rates of birth defects, low birth weights, stunted growth pre- and post birth, and the increased rates of ADHD and Autism in children has led to concerns being raised about the long-term consequences if our everyday supplies around the home and environment are not BPA-free.

New Guidelines For Consumer Safety
New information being shown in the alternative medicine community has shown a way the general consumer can decide on the safety of their plastic purchases. On the bottom of every plastic container is a small triangle with a number inside it. This number is a code for the recycling community. Therefore the numbers identify each product as this:

1. Numbers 3, 6 or 7 on the bottom are to be avoided at all costs. These are highly toxic to the human body

   No.#3 is known as PVC or polyvinyl chloride, "the toxic plastic". DEHA is used in production as a softener which is toxic to the human body. It has been shown to cause stunted growth because of reduced bone mass, some types of cancer and a damaged liver because the liver is incapable of processing it through the digestive system.

   No.#7 is known as polycarbonate which interferes with the reproductive hormones in the human body. This plastic has the name Bisphenol A which mimics estrogen in the human body. It has been reported to cause prostate and mammary cancers, reproductive and organ defects in the newborn, and in some cases an early onset of puberty in children.

   The #7 plastic is widely in use in today's market though in common items such as plastic food storage containers in the kitchen, baby and sports water bottles, kitchen bowls and plastic tableware, linings inside many food and drink cans purchased daily from the grocery store.

2. Numbers 4 or 5 are generally considered safe as long as they are never placed in a microwave and heated. For your own safety though use a little sparingly.

3. Numbers 1 or 2 are considered completely safe. This product line is known as a PETE or HDPE container which are manufactured for the food and drink industry. It is still recommended they do not be placed in a microwave.

Tips To Reducing Your Exposure

• get rid of old and worn plastics. Send them out to the garage or crafts room for organization containers. The older and more scratches in the plastic means the toxins leach out just that much more quickly than new ones.

• try to use glass bowls or dishes in your microwave. Heating foods in plastic also causes a more rapid leaching of toxins into the foods you are heating. When a company says "microwave safe" on the label, they were referring to the container will not melt or warp from the heat. Neither of these has anything to do with any toxins inside the plastic.

• Avoid plastic bags and plastic wrappers (Ziploc, Saran Wrap and Glad all are BPA free) as much as possible. This includes meats and cheese which are shrink-wrapped at your local store. After purchasing these products, bring them home and transfer them out of the plastic into suitable wax-lined or safe plastic containers.

• Remove drinking water from plastic water bottles from your daily routine and switch over to filling and drinking from refillable stainless steel water bottles, often found at large buying clubs, sporting goods stores and health food stores. Adding an in-home filtration system to your kitchen faucet will take care of the possible harmful pesticides, chemicals and bacteria which may be present in your kitchen sink faucet.

• New to the list of avoid this item: the receipts you receive from the grocery store, gas station, deli counter, specialty shops etc. all use the same type of cash register rolls generally. Avoid touching these receipts as much as possible. The shiny surface layer on these register tapes are BPA lined.

Although most governments to date have not made this a priority, many types of alternative medicine and the buying public, because of education, is now demanding a safer alternative for their children, whether it is pre-birth or after birth.

Many companies which specialize in the market to the new parents have been changing their formulations to meet the ever-growing consumer demand.

Avoiding BPA in your home and work environment is actually getting a little easier everyday.

Many companies now proudly display the BPA-Free label on their product line for the consumer's safety.

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