Nalgene Bottles Pulled From Shelves

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http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/1/15/nalgene-

bottles-pulled-from-shelves.aspx

Worries about the hormone-mimicking chemical bisphenol A (BPA) used

in Nalgene plastic water containers have led a major Canadian

retailer to remove Nalgene, along with other polycarbonate plastic

containers, from store shelves in early December.

There is little dispute that the chemical can disrupt the hormonal

system, but scientists disagree on whether the low doses found in

food and beverage containers can cause harm. The FDA and the plastics

industry have argued that BPA-based products do not pose a health

risk.

However, an expert panel of researchers recently reported that the

potential for BPA to affect human health is a concern, and more

research is needed. Many Americans currently have higher levels of

BPA than those found to cause harm in lab animals.

Sources:

News December 23, 2007

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Dr. Mercola's Comments:

First of all congratulate yourself for being wise enough to subscribe

to this newsletter, which will typically warn you of dangers many

years before they hit the media.

I issued the first public warning about Vioxx and stroke five years

before it was pulled, after killing over 60,000. And I first warned

you about using Nalgene bottles more three years ago.

Although the colorful, durable, and lightweight Nalgene water bottles

have been the choice of outdoor enthusiasts for years, scientific

evidence has shown the plastic used to make these bottles may pose

serious health hazards.

Made from lexan polycarbonate resin (marketed through Nalgene Outdoor

Products), lexan was believed to be the ideal material for water

bottles. It's extremely durable and doesn't allow odors or flavors to

cling to distort the taste of whatever you store in it. It was also

thought that lexan did not leach BPA -- a notion that has since been

shown to be incorrect.

How Plastic Toxins May Damage Your Health

Suspicions were raised on all polycarbonate plastics after

researchers found birth defects and developmental abnormalities that

caused miscarriages in mice. In the last ten years, some 700 studies

have been published about BPA -- most of them indicating serious

health hazards, at least in animals. The most troubling problem with

BPA is that it mimics the female hormone estrogen.

Your body is extremely sensitive to sex hormones, and miniscule

amounts can induce profound changes. Therefore, scientists are afraid

even low levels of BPA could have a negative impact on human health.

In animals, BPA increases aneuploidy, a defect consisting of abnormal

loss or gain of chromosomes, which in humans could possibly lead to

miscarriages or disorders such as Down Syndrome.

Moreover, there is evidence (among mice and rats) that even low doses

of BPA can cause:

Hyperactivity

Early puberty

Increased fat formation

Abnormal sexual behavior

Disrupted reproductive cycles

Structural damage to the brain

Despite all these findings, the U.S. health and environmental

regulators keep insisting there is no evidence of harm to human

health after 50 years of use.

But wait…

Looking at this short list above, don't some of these health problems

sound remarkably familiar? Down Syndrome, hyperactivity (ADD/ ADHD),

early onset of puberty, obesity… Are these not some of the wide

spread health issues you're surrounded by, which have increased

dramatically in that time?

In a manner similar to those used in the pharmaceutical, tobacco,

cell phone and artificial sweetener industries, the plastics industry

finds ways to create misleading information about the safety -- or

lack thereof -- of their products. The greed of the people who head

up major corporations can, indeed, have a negative impact on your

health.

Prior to 2004 I too used Nalgene bottles for traveling, thinking they

were a safe option, but have since tossed them as well.

10 Tips to Reduce Your Exposure to BPA

1. Only use glass baby bottles and dishes for your baby

2. Give your baby natural fabric toys instead of plastic ones

3. Store your food and beverages in glass -- NOT plastic -- containers

4. IF you choose to use a microwave, don't microwave food in a

plastic container

5. Stop buying and consuming canned foods and drinks

6. Avoid using plastic wrap (and never microwave anything covered in

it)

7. Get rid of your plastic dishes and cups, and replace them with

glass varieties

8. If you opt to use plastic kitchenware, at least get rid of the

older, scratched-up varieties, avoid putting them in the dishwasher,

and don't wash them with harsh detergents, as these things can cause

more chemicals to leach into your food

9. Avoid using bottled water; filter your own using a reverse osmosis

filter instead

10. Before allowing a dental sealant to be applied to you, or your

children's, teeth, ask your dentist to verify that it does not

contain BPA

In the event that you do opt to use plastic containers for your food,

be sure to avoid those marked on the bottom with the recycling label

No. 7, as these varieties may contain BPA.

Containers marked with the recycling labels No. 1, No. 2, and No. 4

do not contain BPA (however they may contain other unsavory chemicals

that you're best off avoiding by using glass instead).

How to Detoxify Your Body

Research has found that Americans have higher levels of BPA than

those found to cause harm in lab animals, so chances are you could

benefit from a detoxification program.

There are numerous methods that can be used to help detoxify your

body, varying in cost, time and efficacy. I tend to gravitate toward

treatments that are simple, effective, inexpensive, and don't involve

taking a lot of supplements.

The treatments below fit all of these criteria, and can be

incorporated into your daily life. They all work to support your

body's natural detoxification systems, namely your digestive system,

liver, kidneys, lungs and skin.

Stimulate blood flow through your organs of elimination.

Constitutional hydrotherapy treatments increase blood flow through

your liver and kidneys, enhancing their filtering effects.

Increase toxin elimination through the skin. Use a sauna regularly to

increase how much, how often, and how deeply you sweat.

Give your lungs some extra support. By practicing deep breathing

exercises you can greatly enhance this vital detoxification

mechanism.

Stimulate lymphatic flow. Dry skin brushing and exercise are two of

the only ways to increase the flow of the lymphatic system, your

body's garbage collector.

Maintain optimal levels of beneficial intestinal flora. The best ways

to accomplish this are by incorporating fermented foods, such as

natto or natural kefir into your diet.

Related Articles:

Nalgene Water Bottles Appear to be Unsafe

Toxic Compounds in Food Containers Wreak Havoc on Your Health

Store Your Food in Glass Not Plastic