Are Obesogens Making You Fat?
It’s estimated that 300 million people in the world are obese.
While we know that eating too much food (and the wrong kind, at that) and not getting enough exercise are the primary causes of the obesity epidemic, researchers have discovered another factor: obesogens.
Obesogens are endocrine disruptors that affect the way the body uses fat. They also affect the distribution of fat and the development of sexual characteristics.
Here are the top three obesogens:
• Bisphenol-a (BPA) – found in plastics with recycling codes 3 and 7 and in liners of cans
• Organotins – biocides found in conventionally grown produce
• Phthalates – found in personal care products like nail polish, shampoo, lotions, perfumes, etc., as well as plastics
You may get only a small amount of these obesogens, but their effects are cumulative. To protect yourself, follow these rules:
1. Eat only organic foods that are not treated with pesticides.
2. Buy canned foods in BPA-free cans. Vital Choice and Eden Foods are two companies that certify their can liners are safe.
3. Drink spring water in safe BPA-free bottles or filter your water using reverse osmosis and store it in glass containers.
4. Read the labels on personal care products carefully, and choose organics. Better yet, put on your skin only products made with ingredients that you would put in your mouth.
5. Avoid plastics. The “new car smell” is a telltale sign that phthalates are present.
Kelley Herring
Kelley Herring is the Founder & CEO of Healing Gourmet – a multimedia company that educates on how foods promote health and protect against disease. As a young adult, Kelley battled a debilitating health condition that went misdiagnosed by multiple doctors for more than a year. Finding no help from “modern medicine”, she turned to her own knowledge of biochemistry and her passion for health research. She soon learned that her symptoms were related to nutrition and within weeks, she charted a course back to health with nothing more than simple lifestyle changes and the power of the plate. The lessons she learned spawned the creation of Healing Gourmet. Kelley is a firm believer in vigorous exercise, moderate sun exposure and delicious, healthy, home-cooked meals. She is also the creator of Healing Gourmet’s Personalized Nutrition Software and Editor-in-Chief of the Healing Gourmet book series published by McGraw-Hill including Eat to Fight Cancer, Eat to Beat Diabetes, Eat to Lower Cholesterol and Eat to Boost Fertility.