BPA, otherwise known as Bisphenol A, is an additive used in some plastics and food cans. It should definitely be avoided by all pregnant and nursing moms, and all children, and here’s why:
Bisphenol A is an extremely potent endocrine disruptor, meaning that it disrupts male/female hormonal signalling. Developing fetuses and babies are particularly susceptible to endocrine disruptors for three reasons:
- Endocrine disruption can permanently alter body and organ structure
- They cannot detoxify them as well as adults can, and
- BPA tends to accumulate in fetal tissue more than maternal tissue.
The organs most damaged by BPA are the prostate (in boys), breasts and ovaries (in girls) and the brain (boys and girls).
Concerns of BPA exposure while pregnant include:
- Increased susceptibility to prostate cancer
- Increased susceptibility to breast cancer
- Enlarged prostate gland
- Reduced testosterone in boys
- Reduced fertility in boys and girls
- Altered attention
- Increased aggressiveness
- And more
There are potentially many other unknown damages that are being done and have been done by BPA in the food supply.
What you can do to decrease your exposure to BPA while pregnant:
- Avoid drinking from or storing foods or liquids in hard, transparent water bottles (like Nalgene, 5-gallon water jugs, baby bottles, and sippy cups). Polycarbonate plastic is the offending plastic, and is sometimes labeled with the recycling symbol with a number 7 inside it. Plastics labeled with number 5 and number 2 recycling symbols are fine to use. Some hard plastic isn’t labeled with a recycling symbol and should be avoided as well. Stainless steel or glass drinking bottle alternatives are available.
- Do not microwave foods in any type of plastic, especially number 7 plastic (which you shouldn’t be using anyway). Heat, acidity, oil, and the age of the plastic all facilitate the leaching of Bisphenol A from plastic.
- Avoid eating canned food unless you’re sure it’s BPA-free. The safest way to know if a can is BPA-free is to call the manufacturer directly and ask. Unfortunately, even organic foods often use BPA in their foods.
The Vibrant Healthy Baby website is committed to avoiding BPA in all its recommended foods. Because of the potential risk to your developing baby, taking precautions to avoid BPA is well worth the effort. You can learn more details about Bisphenol A at the Environmental Working Group’s website.
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