In recent years, alarming news about Bisphenol-A (BPA) has lead many consumers to look for alternatives to plastic waterbottles, tupperware, and even children’s toys. BPA is an industrial chemical used in the production of most synthetic plastics, and has been seen to mimic the body’s natural hormones, classifying it as an endocrine disruptor. In particular, BPA mimics estrogen, which is cause for concern in cancer, infertility, weight gain, altered immune function, early puberty, behavioral disorders, heart disease, diabetes, and liver toxicity. In October 2010, the Canadian government added BPA to Canada’s list of toxic substances.
A less acknowledged but highly important source of BPA to be aware of is canned food; the liner present inside cans contains BPA. Although manufacturing costs for BPA-free cans are 2.2 cents higher than that of cans containing BPA, some companies have made the choice to go without.
In the search for BPA-free canned food, examples of brands to choose include Eden Organics (canned beans) and Vital Choice (canned fish). This article contains the full list, and is informative for how to make decisions at the grocery store: 7 Companies You Can Trust to Use BPA-Free Cans
While it is important to choose BPA-free cans when buying canned food, it is also important to keep in mind that all canned items are still processed. Canned foods tend to contain high levels of sodium and lower levels of nutrients compared to their fresh counterparts. To get the most nutrition out of your food, it is important to be mindful about consuming freshly prepared foods more often. Check back soon for tips on preparing different varieties of cooked beans for using in all your favorite bean salad and chili recipes!
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Sources:
http://www.ewg.org/reports/bpatimeline
http://naturalsociety.com/are-you-exposing-yourself-to-toxic-bpa/
A less acknowledged but highly important source of BPA to be aware of is canned food; the liner present inside cans contains BPA. Although manufacturing costs for BPA-free cans are 2.2 cents higher than that of cans containing BPA, some companies have made the choice to go without.
In the search for BPA-free canned food, examples of brands to choose include Eden Organics (canned beans) and Vital Choice (canned fish). This article contains the full list, and is informative for how to make decisions at the grocery store: 7 Companies You Can Trust to Use BPA-Free Cans
While it is important to choose BPA-free cans when buying canned food, it is also important to keep in mind that all canned items are still processed. Canned foods tend to contain high levels of sodium and lower levels of nutrients compared to their fresh counterparts. To get the most nutrition out of your food, it is important to be mindful about consuming freshly prepared foods more often. Check back soon for tips on preparing different varieties of cooked beans for using in all your favorite bean salad and chili recipes!
--
Sources:
http://www.ewg.org/reports/bpatimeline
http://naturalsociety.com/are-you-exposing-yourself-to-toxic-bpa/
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