Zap Obesogens Did you know that it is not only eating too much that packs on pounds and causes disease, but also the toxic chemicals you are exposed to? One class of chemicals, dubbed obesogens because of their ability to reprogram your metabolism, disrupt hormones, and alter your genes to create more fat cells, are particularly pervasive in our modern world. If you really are doing ‘everything right’ to lose weight, and those stubborn pounds keep holding on, this may be the reason why. These chemicals number in the hundreds of thousands and they are everywhere. They are in most plastics, foods, water, cleaning supplies, personal products, even in the air.  Avoiding them isn’t possible, but there is a lot you can do to reduce your exposure. Even if you do not want to lose weight, you would be wise to limit these offenders in your food and in your environment for your health’s sake, and the health of all those sharing the planet with you. Obesogens, or estrogen disruptors often get into your food and beverages through soft plastics.

• Flexible plastic beverage containers such as milk jugs, juice bottles, and disposable water bottles are likely to contain obesogens. Look for containers that say Bisphenol or BPA free. Number 3 and 7 plastics most likely contain BPA. Be warned that the BPA label on plastic water bottles does not necessarily mean safe. Manufacturers have to get plastic soft somehow. Since BPA has a well-known bad name, they now use another chemical which may be even more toxic. And that is not the only chemical they contain. For example, dioxin in water bottles is often found in cancerous breast tissue. These containers are okay for dry good storage (flour, cereal, etc.), but not for liquids. See more on water bottles below.
• Plastic wrap on your meats and vegetables.
• Lined food cans – especially when the food is acidic like tomatoes. That white coating may pretty up the inside of a can, but the cost to you is toxins leaching into your food.
• Microwave popcorn bags are lined and usually contain plastic softeners. To make matters worse, the oil inside the bag is often rancid. Your nose isn’t tricking you. That awful post-microwaved popcorn smell is really alerting you to cell damaging free radicals and toxic chemicals.

The Water Bottle Debacle While the advertising campaign to get people to fear and avoid drinking water from their taps was a smashing billion dollar success for corporations selling water, plastic bottles, and advertising, it was an equally smashing blow to the environment and to your health. If you ever doubt the power of advertisers to hijack your mind, think about water bottles. As mentioned above, these bottles leach hormone-disrupting chemicals into the water you were convinced was better for you. This is especially problematic in the summer when heat reacts with the chemicals in the plastic and releases them into the water. This is also true of frozen water in plastic bottles, or if the plastic becomes weakened or damaged. In the US alone we throw away enough of water bottles each month to circle the globe many times. After you drink your literal cup or two of water, they end up in landfills and waterways for hundreds of years. Since they are made from petroleum, they waste that valuable resource also. At over a dollar or more for a cup or two of water, bottled water is an expensive waste of money. Although some bottled water comes from springs, much of it is nothing more than filtered tap water. Don’t be fooled by the words ‘natural’ or ‘pure’. Regardless of how pure the water source is (or not), what you end up drinking is probably at the very least contaminated with chemicals from the bottle. Here’s your challenge for February:

• Keep up your January commitment to reduce and eliminate artificial sweeteners and add one or more of the following simple wellness upgrades…
• Make a commitment to use safe, reusable water bottles whenever possible. These are available in stainless steel, hard plastic, or glass. You may want to use a pitcher with a filter in it for everyday use at work and at home. I keep a 7-cup pitcher on my desk. There are also filters that attach directly to the faucet and to the inside of the water bottle. If you want spring water, or live somewhere where the water is unpleasant or unsafe, buy water in gallon jugs for much less than disposable bottles or get your water delivered. If you think that’s expensive, remember that buying individual disposable water bottles costs $9.00 a gallon or more! (not including health and environmental costs) Unfortunately, you may still be exposing yourself to some chemicals, but this is still a much better choice overall. If you only accept one challenge this month, this would be it.
• Ditch the prepackaged microwave popcorn. Air pop your popcorn instead. To speed up the process, microwave the kernels for a minute to get them hot and increase ‘poppability,’ then add to the popper. Let the kids watch and help; it’s fun. For more health benefits and flavor, sprinkle on real butter, coconut oil, real salt and/or other seasonings to taste. Healthy and yummy.
• Purchase tomato products in glass jars instead of cans.
• Ask the butcher to wrap your meat in paper instead of plastic.
• Store wet foods in glass containers instead of plastic ones. At the very least, choose hard, food safe plastic if glass won’t work for you.

Did you miss the first challenge?  No worries. Read about it in the January issue or on the website. Next month we will tackle getting obesogens and toxic chemicals out of your personal environment. Val Silver is a wellness coach and educator devoted to helping you live a healthier, happier life.  Read more tips for healthy living on her website at www.holistic-mindbody-healing.com. ]]>