Blog Entries With Tag: hormone estrogen

If you've never heard of bisphenol A (BPA) before - then you must have been hiding your head in the sand.  No worries though, I'm here to tell you the latest and greatest about this "evil" product that here in Canada since October 2010 had been added to Health Canada's Toxic Substance List.    The controversy over this chemical that's found in hard plastic containers and toys is also found in the lining of the resins that coat the interior of food cans to prevent corrosion.  It's been shown to mimic the hormone estrogen and does not occur naturally in the environment.  Also, animal studies theorize the chemical may be linked to obesity, infertility and insulin-resistance in rodents. 

I came across an article in the March 2012 Chatelaine about a study done by the Harvard School of Public Health that indicates BPA link to diabetes and obesity.  Two groups were split into one that ate a serving of canned vegetable soup every day for 5 days while the other group had a fresh version.  The results were that those who ate the canned stuff had a 1,000% increase in their BPA levels over the other group.  Now, who eats canned soup EVERYDAY?  Scary stuff nevertheless!

The weird thing though is that when Canada added BPA to their Toxic Substance List - that many countries (USA included) thought we were being abit far fetched in making this statement.  

All I know is, as a diabetic who likes to eat healthy in order to maintain my quality of life - I try my best to eat foods prepared by myself (not mass produced where you have no idea what gets slopped into the pot).    After reading this latest bit of news about this test group - I think I maybe going to the local farmers market in the Fall time to get a bushel of tomatoes to make my own tomatoes!

The only other thing that I buy that is in a tin can is maple syrup (me produce some good stuff here in Quebec).  I think I maybe opening up the cans in future and pouring into one of my many canning jars I keep for storing leftovers in them (I don't use plastic if I can avoid it - glass is easier to clean/sterilize, etc.).

So, does reading this make you squirm abit and reconsider what you eat?  Are you thinking like I am that more manufacturers of tinned items should sell their food in a glass jar?  Hmm, decision, decisions.

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Tags: Eden Foods (1) Harvard School of Public Health (1) Health Canada (1) Bisphenol A (1) canning (1) hormone estrogen (1) diabetes (1) obesity (1) BPA (1) farmers market (1) local (1)

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