The thyroid gland produces thyroid hormones whose sole purpose is to bind to its receptor on various cells in our body. These two molecules - a hormone and receptor, are known as a "hormone/receptor complex".

When this hormone/receptor complex binds, it activates certain genes which leads to a particular action (like metabolic rate). - Functional medical doctor Cincinnati

This BPA in plastic can actually connect to these receptors. As a result, thyroid hormone will not be able to connect to the receptor, thus disrupting the normal functioning of the thyroid hormone. This can be devastating for your thyroid health and metabolism. If this process is not properly working, then you may have problems losing weight or gaining weight and eventually develop many other health issues as well.

BPA affecting children

Of all the problems caused by BPA in plastics, its effect on children is so shocking. The reason is that the concentration of BPA is much higher in children compared to adults. This means, younger the child, the worse the effect of BPA on them.

And this explains why there is a huge increase in thyroid disorders in young children.

Ways to reduce plastic exposure

With all these said, it is now evident that reducing the use of plastic is more than necessary. But the real question is, How to reduce plastic exposure?

Here are a few tips you can follow:

Switch to glass or steel containers

Of course, this requires more effort and money but it is better than nothing. And the best part is glass and steel are perfectly safe for storage.

This should be a better option than using those high-BPA plastics to store your food products.

Stop using plastic water bottles

Stop buying packaged plastic water bottles. These plastic bottles with water might have been sitting on the shelf for several months. This means, you will be drinking several months of seeped BPA along with the water.

Instead invest in a good quality water filter that will filter all the unnecessary chemicals and that way you dont have to use bottled water.

So, choose stainless steel or aluminum water bottles instead of plastic bottles. Take your own water on these  bottles instead.

Choose BPA free alternatives

With increasing awareness about the problems of using plastic products, the availability of BPA- free plastics have increased. It can be great alternative for regular low-grade plastics. It can be replaced in every place like food cans,  baby bottles, water bottles and so on.

Also, when you shop at grocery stores, there will usually be an indication on some products saying "may contain trace amounts of bpa" on the box. So when buying such products, make sure they do not have this statement on the label since it most likely contains BPA.

Try Ceramic products

Ceramic products can be a good alternative to plastics. Like plastics, ceramics too come in various designs. So, for those who look for asthetics in every kitchen and dining utensils, ceramics can be a great choice. Also, ceramics are non-porous unlike plastics. This means that food poisoning or bacterial growth are no longer a concern.

Also, because ceramics are very durable, they can be used for centuries without any problems.

Avoid Plastic Food wraps

Food wraps or cling wraps have become an important part of our routine food packaging which we wrap around food and store it in the refrigerator. The use of these wraps has become widespread due to their convenience and time-saving benefits as well.

But these plastic wraps are a health hazard since they contain small amounts of BPA which seeps into your food when heated.

So, to protect your health, avoid using plastic wraps and instead use food grade aluminum foil or natural bee wax paper for storing your food.

Summary

Plastics have become a vital part of our lives. It is high time we understand BPA is one of the main reasons why thyroid problems are on a rise. This makes it harder for people to stay healthy and feel healthy

For anyone who wants to avoid many serious problems caused by plastics, what you better do is avoid using plastics as much as possible. If not just eliminate plastics, find an alternative way that can be safe and good for your health. Just remember: reducing the use of plastics can be a great step to start healing your thyroid and other health disorders.

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