Believe it or not, your kitchen might be home to a laundry list of hidden toxins you aren’t aware of. Perhaps more than any other part of your house, toxins lurk in the kitchen and come in many forms.
Of these toxins, plastics top the list. It’s critical to your family’s health (not to mention the environment) to understand where these plastics are coming from, their health impacts, and which alternatives exist.
Plastics 101: How This Toxin Affects Human Health
Plastics negatively affect human health in many ways, the top considerations being that they work both as endocrine disruptors and obesogens. Endocrine disruptors are toxins or compounds that interfere with proper hormonal balance and function, while obesogens are toxins that either cause you to gain weight or make it difficult to lose weight.
For example, the more well-known toxin, bisphenol A (BPA), is an endocrine disrupter known to cause embryonic defects, HPA axis imbalance and male reproductive dysfunction, among others. (1) BPA is commonly found in the lining of canned foods and other plastics.
Phthlates are less known, yet perhaps even more ubiquitous than BPA, and they are used to keep plastics soft (think disposable cups) and for many other purposes. They are both obesogens and endocrine disruptors, and studies show link them to an increased risk of respiratory problems and allergies in children exposed during pregnancy. (2)
These are just a few of the seemingly endless and frightening examples of how plastics are poisoning our health and the health of our children.
However, my goal for this article isn’t simply to throw a list of problems at you! I want to put a greater focus on what you can do about this. And thankfully, the solution isn’t complicated.
The Most Common Plastics Lurking in Your Kitchen
Some plastics are obvious, but others are harder to spot. Here is a list of the ten most common hidden sources of plastics in your kitchen:
Plastic wrap
Plastic utensils and disposable plates and bowls
Plastic tupperware
BPA-lined canned foods
Plastic lining in take-out containers and processed food containers
Paper coffee cups
Plastic water bottles
Tea bags with sealed or crimped edges
Juice boxes
Keurig K-cups
Unfortunately this is far from an exhaustive list, and doesn’t even hit on the many microplastics in our water and food supply. The good news is that with time and a bit of study, you’ll begin to know which products are best to avoid and what you can easily replace them with.
The process of identifying and eliminating plastics largely comes down to building new habits.
How Plastics Get into Our Foods
It’s simple science that if food comes into direct contact with materials that are chemically active (like plastic), there’s a good chance of contamination via a chemical transfer taking place.
Heat is a major reason for this contamination, and the dangers of heating food in plastic are becoming increasingly understood. For example, plastic tupperware or a plastic water bottle sitting in the sun, a plastic spatula being used to stir food, hot liquids like soups, coffee or tea being put in a plastic cup and more.
Oil can cause chemicals in plastic to seep out, so it is advisable to avoid storing any oil in a plastic container. If you buy plastic bottles of your favorite cooking oils and have them by a window or near your stove, you’re potentially doubling your risk of contamination, due to both the heat and oil in contact with plastic.
Microplastics is an entirely new window into how plastics are ending up in the very foods we buy, largely due to the incredibly huge impact human plastic use and production has had on the environment. Foods like fish, salt and bottled water have been particularly contaminated, and we’ll probably learn that microplastics are a bigger piece of the plastics puzzle than we previously thought. (3)
How to Avoid Plastics:Healthy Alternatives
While the dangers of plastics and where they are hidden could be an entire book, let’s move on to exactly how to create a plastic-free kitchen. The following common toxin and plastic sources each have their own alternative, so it’s really just a simple matter of slowly but surely replacing these and continuing to make the best decisions possible.
All of these alternatives to plastic can be found at your local health food store, co-op or online.
Plastic Wrap
Instead of plastic wrap, use a beeswax wrap. It serves the exact same purpose and works perfectly to protect foods, and is usually made with a combination of beeswax, cotton, coconut oil and other food-grade substances.
Plastic Utensils
Instead of the go-to plastic utensils, get plastic-free kitchen utensils made of metal, wood or bamboo. Along with spoons, forks and knives, you can also find non-plastic kitchen utensils like spatulas, mixing spoons and others made in these healthy and environmentally-friendly materials.
Plastic Storage Containers
The danger of plastic containers for food and leftover storage is thankfully becoming one of the more well-known sources of plastics, and more people are turning to readily available glass and steel alternatives. Do a kitchen tupperware clean-out day and begin replacing them with these safer options.
Plastic BPA-Lined Cans
Also largely due to consumer awareness and demand, more companies now offer BPA-free cans. Again, be a label detective and look for the cans that specify they are “BPA free.” These cans usually use ceramic as a liner, instead.
Plastic Lining in Take Out Containers
This can be a harder one to spot. Know that anything that looks like a paper food container is actually lined with plastic.
Ideally you’ll choose mostly whole foods versus packaged, but when you do buy packaged foods, look for labels that say “BPA free” and consider even bringing your own glass or steel storage containers when ordering take-out. It might feel a little over-the-top at first, but your health is worth it.
If you are heating a pre-made meal (such as any sort of frozen dinner), be sure to remove the food from the container and heat it in a microwave-safe glass container, instead. Better yet, heat it in a toaster oven or stove-top to avoid potential problems with microwave heating.
Plastic Water Bottles
To avoid harmful chemicals in plastic water bottles, buy a good quality steel or glass bottle to keep at home and at work. Some of these options are spendy, so you can even use a simple glass mason jar to avoid the harmful effects of plastic bottles.
Paper Coffee Cups
Aside from the environmental impact of so many used coffee cups, these to-go cups are also lined with plastic. Get into the habit of bringing your own steel or glass coffee cup when you go out for coffee to steer clear of the harmful effects of plastic bottles.
Tea Bags
A recent study found that the newer nylon mesh tea bags are actually a highly concerning source of microplastics (4). However, even the normal, paper tea bags that are crimped at the top contain plastic. Teabags with a string are a safer bet (although might still contain some plastic) and loose leaf tea is definitely best.
Juice Boxes
Needless to say, all parents are probably concerned first and foremost with plastics affecting the health of their little ones. Juice boxes for kids are a huge source of plastic exposure, so opt for fresh squeezed juice in a steel water bottle for your kiddos, instead.
Keurig K-Cups
Keurig for coffee preparation has grown in popularity, but unfortunately their K-cups create a lot of waste and exposure to plastic. Alternatively, opt for a biodegradable K-cup, or (better yet) enjoy your coffee in a way that doesn’t require single-serve preparation.
Pots and Pans
Pots and pans are a major source of hidden kitchen toxins, and when combined with plastic cooking utensils, can lead to scary health outcomes. Many common pots and pans are made with toxic materials like aluminum, teflon and perfluorooctanoic acid (commonly in non-stick ware), and copper, cadmium, nickel, polystyrene, lead and BPA.
Ceramic and cast iron are hands-down your best bet for safe cookware, as they contain no metals or toxic ingredients.
These are just a few ideas to get you started with going plastic-free in the kitchen. You’ll also want to consider lunch boxes, strainers, measuring cups, canning jars, cups, plates and bowls.
However, please don’t feel like you have to replace everything immediately, as this can be a process. As you buy new things you’ll now be armed with the knowledge of what is safe and what isn’t, and you can slowly but surely begin getting rid of things one by one, and replacing them with non-toxic alternatives.
In the meantime, be sure the plastics you do use aren’t exposed to heat, oil or abrasions, as these all increase the likelihood that contaminants will pass into foods.
Other Sources of Food Toxins
Plastics are certainly the biggest source of hidden kitchen toxins, but it’s key to also have an understanding of which food sources themselves are more toxic than others. I certainly don’t expect perfection (even from myself!), we all just need to do the best we can with the resources and education we have.
Organic versus Non-Organic Produce
In an ideal world, you could buy all organic all the time. But for many, cost and accessibility makes this a challenge. I like to think of produce that is most important to buy organic in terms of where they fall on the EWG’s “dirty dozen” list. This is a wonderful resource that is updated each year and lets you know which foods are more likely to be contaminated with pesticides, herbicides and other toxins. Print this list out and take it to the grocery store with you next time you shop.
For example, berries and other fruits and vegetables that are hard to wash are typically best to buy organic, whenever possible. Fruits and veggies with thick skins that are peeled, like avocados, can be purchased non-organic if you have to pick and choose.
Here’s a quick trick that will tell you whether or not a fruit or vegetable is organic: look at the sticker. Organic produce will start with the number “9” and conventional will start with the number “4” or sometimes “5.”
Meat and Animal Products
In the conversation about organic, grass-fed or pasture-raised versus conventional when it comes to animal products, you need to consider the food chain.
Animal products fall high on the food chain. The reason that this matters is because the quality or toxicity of foods that animals eat gets stored in their bodies and then passed on to you in their meat, milk, eggs or products, like dairy.
So when it comes to meat, fish, seafood, eggs and dairy, it’s important to buy organic, grass-fed or pasture-raised whenever possible.
GMO versus Non-GMO
This is a controversial topic, but any GMO (Genetically Modified Organism) foods have definitely been exposed to more chemicals than non-GMO foods. The crops most likely to be genetically modified include sugar, corn, soy, canola oil and cottonseed oil.
To be a GMO detective, always read labels. Some processed foods will specifically say “non-GMO,” but if they don’t state this on the packaging and the ingredient list includes one or more of the ingredients mentioned above, it is likely to come from GMO crops.
MSG
MSG stands for monosodium glutamate, but is also hidden in processed foods under the names yeast extract, maltodextrin or hydrolyzed protein, among others.
MSG is an ingredient used to enhance flavor in packaged foods, and, particularly in sensitive individuals, it can potentially cross the blood-brain barrier and cause brain inflammation and injury, along with weight gain. (5)
Processed and Artificial Ingredients
As much as possible, avoid hidden sources of toxins by opting for real, whole foods that come from nature. Any packaged foods and beverages with long ingredient lists and names you can’t pronounce are best avoided as often as possible.
For more info on specific food sources of toxins and healthier alternatives, check out this video.
Remember, replacing kitchen plastics for plastic-free kitchen products and cleaning out other hidden sources of toxins can be a process that happens over time. The most important factor is that you are committed to increasing your awareness, and simply taking as much action as possible.
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Candida
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B vitamin status
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You will be surprised how many toxins your body is storing, even when you are avoiding them and eating organic!
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Are you trying to avoid toxins in your kitchen? What have you tried? Share with us in the comments below!
Bridgit Danner, LAc, FDNP, is trained in functional health coaching and has worked with thousands of women over her career since 2004. She is the founder of Women’s Wellness Collaborative, LLC and HormoneDetoxShop.com.