I know learning about plastic is about as exciting as watching C-SPAN, but I am going to go for it today! If you want to skip the plastic briefing, scroll down to the bottom of this post and read great tips on how to reduce plastic and find alternatives in your everyday life.

Have you ever tasted water that has been sitting in a plastic bottle for a few days? How about one that’s been sitting in a hot car? Chances are you know what I’m talking about. Plastic can leach into whatever it’s containing. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) plastics are called “Food Contact Substances” but until April 2002, they were called “Indirect Food Additives.” The new name (of course) removes the implication that plastic gets into your food.

When I was diagnosed with cancer I threw away (recycled) all of my plastics: Tupperware, brand new wedding registry storage containers, drinking bottles, coffee thermoses, FSU game day cups (I did save one for my pencils at school,) it all was tossed. Nowadays some plastic has entered back into my life. My daughter’s toys are littered with plastic things and even the bottles that came with my breast pump only were made available in plastic.

So how can we do better now? Here are some tips I have done over the past 2 years:

1. Ditch your plastic water bottle. Use a glass mason jar for your water instead. I have also used stainless steel ones but I never liked how you couldn’t see what was in them. There is also a sleek glass bottle that Aquasana makes HERE.
2. Don’t microwave your food in plastic. Heating up plastic will release and loosen the plastic bonds into your food and into the microwave itself. Heat in glass, ceramic, or better yet don’t you use the microwave at all! We have a convection oven  which only takes a few more minutes than a microwave would.
3. If you have to buy plastic things look for “BPA Free” or “No Phthalates.” Both of these have been linked to brain development and reproductive issues. Also avoid vinyl products.
4. Try to buy items with Recycling Codes 1, 2, and 5 on the bottom of the container. These are less likely to contain BPA and other Phthalates.

Tomorrow I am going to talk about how we can ensure we’re getting the cleanest air and water possible. I am continuing DETOX WEEK into next week with the detoxification protocols that kick-started my anti-cancer lifestyle: Colon Hydrotherapy, Rebounding, and a host of other things.

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