There are toxins all around us, from in the air we breathe, to the beauty and cleaning products that we use. In fact, in this day and age we are exposed to more toxins in 30 days than our grandmothers were in their entire lifetime.
What may surprise you though is some of the foods, especially the ‘health foods’ that are also at risk of being packed full of toxins. Here are a few that you should look out for. Naturopath and founder of Bodhi Organic Tea, Lisa Guy sharesthe 5 toxins you didn’t know you were consuming.
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Unwanted chemicals in tea bags
Did you know that a majority of tea bags and silk pyramid infusers are made from materials such as bleached paper (containing dioxin), petrochemical based nylon, PVC, rayon, polypropolene and thermoplastic, which when immersed in boiling water may release potentially harmful chemicals into your healthful brew. This is a concern for daily tea drinkers using traditional tea bags, who think they are doing something good for their health. This is a good reason to switch to loose leaf teas. When you brew whole leaves and herbs you also get a richer, more full-bodied flavour. The best way to avoid any unexpected nasties ending up in your cuppa choose loose leaf teas, or if you prefer tea bags go for natural biodegradable pyramid infusers.
Always buy organic tea
The tea plant ‘camellia sinensis’ and herbs, absorb pesticides readily, so choosing to buy organic means no hidden nasties in your healthy cup of tea. Choosing organic tea is much better for your health, the health of tea farmers and for that of the environment. When purchasing organic tea look for the certified organic bud logo to ensure the organic integrity of your tea. If more people choose to buy organic tea, more farmers will be encouraged to grow it, which means less toxic chemicals on and in our tea and less harm caused to the earth.
Canned food
Canned food is lined with plastic which contains Bisphenol A (BPA), which belongs to a group of chemicals called ‘xenoestrogens’. Trace amounts of BPA can leach from the lining of cans into their contents. Xenoestrogens act like oestrogen in the body, interfering with normal hormonal signaling. We should take measures to avoid these ‘hormone-mimicking’ chemicals as they may increase the risk of breast, prostate, and reproductive cancers; reduce fertility and immune function; cause early puberty in children; menstrual irregularities and other disorders. The best way to reduce your contact with xenoestrogens is to buy foods in glass jars, or look for BPA-free canned products such as coconut milk. These damaging BPA’s are also found in water bottles, and plastic food containers.
Processed meat
Eating processed meats regularly has been found to increase your risk of developing bowel cancer by 17%. Processed meats such as ham, bacon, hot dogs, sausages, pepperoni and salami contain nitrates which are preservatives that can cause damage to cells that line the bowel, resulting in the body increasing cell production to repair this damage, along with an increased risk of cancerous cells forming.
If you like eating these types of foods look out for ‘nitrate-free’ meat products from selected natural grocers and butchers, or even better use healthier cooked chicken, meat or fish instead of processed varieties.
Microwave popcorn
Popcorn is a healthy snack I hear you say, and yes it is, however not when it comes to the microwave varieties. Microwave popcorn contains a harmful compound called diacetyl (DA), which is an artificial butter flavouring that gives the appearance and taste of butter. DA can easily cross the blood-brain barrier and disrupt normal brain functioning, which can increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. One single pack of microwaved popcorn also contains twice as much fat as a Mars Bar. Popcorn can be a great quick and healthy snack, just air-pop some organic popcorn in a brown paper bag or glass dish with a lid.
