Top priority: how to avoid plastic today

Avoiding plastics in your day-to-day life might seem difficult, but it is much easier than it appears. Whether you know you need to start avoiding them or want to learn more about why today’s discussion will ultimately show you how avoiding plastics every day can be easily achieved. Is plastic a problem for you? We have solutions.

Avoiding More Plastic

Unfortunately, it is basically impossible to be 100% free of plastic in your day-to-day life. It is a sad reality for the world that has become so dependent on it. With that in mind, though, I want to stress today the value of being plastic avoidant.

Why Avoid Plastic?

You probably already know this, but avoiding plastic is definitely going to benefit your health. How does it work, though? Well, plastic compounds are known endocrine disruptors¹. This means that they can have a negative effect on your hormones. Some of the known dangers of plastics are:

• Infertility
• Cancers
• Diabetes

Some of the more possible dangers are:

• Obesity
• Precocious Puberty (kids starting adolescence too early)
• Gynecomastia (breast growth in men)

The Most Dangerous Chemicals

The problem with plastics is all in the chemicals, and how they can pose an adverse risk to our health. What are some of the most dangerous? Let’s break it down by going chemical to chemical:

BPA

BPA is typically the chemical in plastic that most folks know about, so much so that many products are now being listed as “BPA-free.” What does this mean, though? Instead of bisphenol-a being used, they are using bisphenol-S (BPS).

There is some data that suggests that BPS can be just as dangerous as BPA³. For the time being, it is not rational to assume that BPS is somehow better than BPA. Because we see it so much in “BPA-free” products, this is definitely something we need to keep a close eye on and be just as observant towards.

The other important chemicals to consider are as follows:

• PET or PETE
• Polypropylene
• PVC
• HDPE
• Polystyrene

What are the main sources of plastic?

When it comes to plastic, we see it all of the time. Where we want to see less of it, though, is in our food preparation and presentation. Two of the main ones I want to talk about are:

• Styrofoam cups – Which have styrene, which is basically a slick of oil and one of the deadliest carcinogens for our bodies.
• Food wrappings – Plastic wrap and food containers are ways in which plastic can find their ways into our bodies, right through the food we are eating and trying to keep safe from the elements⁴.

Hidden Sources of Plastic

There might be some sources of plastic that you might not even notice, or that go under the radar. Some of the more “hidden” plastics that we get are:

• Receipts – Printed on with compounds that emit high amounts of phthalates (Read: How to detox the 4 worst diabetes causing chemicals today), which can be bad for your health. The best thing to do here is to either not take the receipt, or leave it in the bag and not handle it all together when you are unpacking.
• Canned Food Linings – The linings in canned foods can have BPA in them, and the ones that do not typically have BPS – which we have already talked about as being inconclusive.
• Children’s Toys – These are absolutely notorious for plastic sources.
• Water Bottles – Of course, you can see the plastic keeping water inside!
• Canned Soda and Beer – another example of packaging being detrimental to the product inside.
• Toothbrushes and Toothpaste Tubes – This is an unfortunate one, and thankfully we are seeing more and more companies trying to come up with more solutions (using nylon or animal hair products).
• Vinyl Shoes and Purses – Even vinyl clothing, in the past, are ways that we might be absorbing plastic sources into our bodies.

Alternatives to Plastic

So, how do we get around all the plastic we might be coming across in our day-to-day lives? Well, there definitely are some things we can do – and it mostly comes down to swapping out typical-plastic materials for something different.

Here are just some of the things that we can do:

• Break-proof Glass – This is going to be our solution to those nasty containers that are totally plastic and can really infiltrate our food with nasty stuff. These kinds of glass containers are lined with rubber, which is harmless, and are a great alternative that lasts longer, cleans better, smells less (not at all), and will benefit our bodies in the long run.
• Stainless Steel Straws and Containers – This is a solution to our water problem. Buying in plastic just does not work anymore, and you can save money (and preserve your health) by going with a stainless steel straw or container to drink water from.

• Silicone Storage Containers – Silicone is totally safe, and we are also seeing plenty of baking products (as an alternative to nonstick cookware) coming out in silicone form – specifically with molds for baking. There are even silicone utensils, too!
• Reusable Grocery Bags – I always opt for skipping plastic bags in the grocery store, and bring along a handy tote bag. It makes shopping more pleasant because you know you are doing the right thing for the environment and for your body.
• Aluminum Foil – Skip the plastic wrap for your leftovers or sandwiches, and feel free to use aluminum foil or parchment. These alternatives are just as accessible no matter where you go, so use them instead.

Start Avoiding Plastic Today

The list of plastic substitutes is absolutely exploding, and the number of alternatives you have has never been better. Start using them today, and stop using plastic so that you can avoid the dangers down the road. When it comes to mitigating our risks, nothing beats having more knowledge. Try taking the Thyroid Quiz (Click Here), and learn more about your thyroid while avoiding plastics today.

P.S. Whenever you are ready, here is how I can help you now:

1. Schedule a Thyroid Second Opinion with me, Dr. C, Click Here for Details
2. Need a Personalized Supplement? Check out My Thyroid Specific Formulations
3. Download and use my Favorite Recipes Cookbook Here
4. Check out my podcast Medical Myths, Legends, and Fairytales Here

Dr. Alan Glen Christianson (Dr. C) is a Naturopathic Endocrinologist and the author of The NY Times bestselling Adrenal Reset Diet, The Metabolism Reset Diet and The Thyroid Reset Diet.

Dr. C’s gift for figuring out what really works has helped hundreds of thousands of people reverse thyroid disease, lose weight, diabetes, and regain energy. Learn more about the surprising story that started his quest.