Canned food chemicals cause obesity
Sat, 17 May 2008 18:27:27 GMT
Scientists say intrauterine and infantile exposure to certain chemicals can exert a long lasting influence on body weight regulation.

According to a group of studies presented at the European Congress on Obesity, pregnant mice exposed to chemicals known as endocrine disruptors had fat offspring with altered genes and metabolic functions contributing to obesity.

The study showed these chemicals used to make products such as baby bottles, the lining of food tins, some plastic food wraps and containers mimic hormone effects, thus increasing the individual's weight.

Findings revealed that female mice the mothers of which were exposed to Bisphenol A (BPA), an ingredient in plastic food containers and bottles, from early pregnancy through day 16 of lactation showed increased weight in adulthood.

In another experiment perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a chemical found in scores of products from pizza boxes to non-stick pans and tributylin, a chemical found in PVC water pipes, were shown to have similar effects.

Scientists concluded that susceptibility to obesity is developed in the womb or early in life and that exposure to a variety of common household chemicals along with eating disorders can lead to obesity.

PKH/AA/HGH












Plastic chemicals impair brain function
Sun, 07 Sep 2008 05:34:30 GMT
US scientists say continuous exposure to low doses of a chemical commonly found in plastic containers can influence brain function.

According to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, daily exposure to safe doses (50 micrograms per kilogram) of bisphenol A (BPA), widely used to make plastic food and drinking containers, can cause brain impairments in primates.

The study revealed that BPA destroys the formation of some nerve connections in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, two key regions of the brain important in cognition and mood.

Previous studies had reported that BPA is a risk factor for metabolic syndrome, contributing to coronary artery disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes.

Yale University School of Medicine researchers concluded that EPA should reduce its 'safe daily limit' for human BPA consumption.

PKH/AA/BGH








Study says canned food is toxic
Tue, 03 Apr 2007 22:16:57 GMT
A recent study shows that canned food can have enough toxin called bispherol A (BPA) to intoxicate women and children. The toxin has been found in over 50% of the name-brand canned goods tested.

BPA is an industrially produced chemical commonly used in polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. BPA-containing resins are a common ingredient in the linings of canned goods.

BPA is a known estrogen mimicker, and can cause hormone-disrupting effects, toxicity or even neurotoxicity, low sperm counts and cancer. Some of these effects can occur in concentrations as low as two parts per billion.

More than 200 animal studies show that BPA is toxic at very low doses, and the Centers for Disease Control explains that it has found BPA in 95 percent of patients being tested at levels that raise health concerns.

The study found that cans of chicken soup, infant formula and ravioli had the highest levels of BPA.

Since bisphenol-A is only found in processed, manufactured foods and packaging, a move to consuming fresh, raw produce prevents the ingestion of bisphenol-A and helps improve health.

HRT/HAR