Upon interaction with various segments of people i.e. from homemaker, business professional, office goers or even to the section of college and school going students during my workshops or talk I found that because of very high usage of plastics in our daily life, actually we are consuming part of it as a slow but a distinct poison. It’s all because of the necessary evil use of plastic products such as pet water bottles, plastic food containers, lunch boxes, the so called microwave proof plastic containers. Plastic products have become a very integral unavoidable household necessity because of its easy availability, light weight, durability, affordability, non-breakage, low maintenance and above all colourful that attracts our eyes. Many of these plastic containers come with a tag of being ‘safe’…. But there is nothing called safe plastic once it is amalgamated with food discipline be it for storage, heating or temporarily keeping of any items.
In short all plastic releases or leaches some chemicals into food or water they contain by seeping it becomes more dangerous if the plastic itself or the food is warmer or even if it is used for freezing or storing in refrigerators.
To understand in brief; plastic contains synthetic chemicals like BPA(bisphenol) and BPS apart from Phthalate, Parabens, PCB, PVC etc. & etc. They mostly fall under the obesogens category of chemicals which are man-made and affects the regulatory system that control the weight of the body. It increases the fat cells and decreases the calorie burn. Also they are found to be ‘Endocrine disruptors’, thus it disrupts your body hormones; mainly female oestrogen. Such disruption may result into Thyroid, Blood sugar imbalances, Infertility, Menstrual symptoms, Breast cancer, Weight gain, Prostrate cancer in men, sometimes gender dysphoria and other issues related to men genital problems.
We unknowingly use these plastic products as a necessary evil in the form of plastic cook wares, utensils, some cosmetics, perfumes, vinyl products, canned tins etc.
So, to mend ways we can reduce use of these plastic ware in kitchen; should avoid microwave plastic food containers; reduce use of canned food; can opt for use of glass or steel containers, by not giving children plastic lunch boxes. You can look for the recycle codes on the boxes or plastic utensils…. Codes level 3 to 7 contains high BPA levels.
Above all if everyone is advocating less or no use of plastic to save the environment; there is obviously some method in madness too…..at least we can begin it from our kitchen, refrigerators…. Be safe….as there is nothing known as safe plastic if it is associated anywhere with your food and nutrition.
Metamorph With Dibya 