It seems we hear about new challenges to our health on a daily basis, and this one certainly qualifies. According to a recent Harvard study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, eating canned soup exposes the body to high levels of BPA, a toxic chemical that acts like an estrogen inside the human body. BPA levels rose over 1200% after volunteers ate only a single can of soup each day for five consecutive days. That's right, only five cans over five days is enough to increase your BPA levels 13x. Do you know anyone who eats canned soup on a regular basis as part of their "healthy" diet? You might be wondering why BPA is such a problem and why it is used in our food supply. BPA, like many chemicals we have invented in the 20th century, helps to extend the shelf life and preserve food inside cans. It is also used in plastic bottles, tubing, and other applications where it gives rigidity and strength to plastics. The only problem is, BPA is also is a toxic endocrine disrupter - a substance that interferes with hormone signaling in the body. While BPA may help the chemical and food industry increase profits, it is bad news for the public at large. Similar to other chemicals released into our environment, BPA exerts its toxic effects by acting like estrogen inside the human body. Unfortunately for us, BPA is much stronger than our natural estrogen. Exposure to this toxin disrupts the delicate balance of hormones in our bodies. In fact, high BPA and other "xeno" or foreign estrogens increase the risk of cancer and other complex chronic diseases. Exposure to BPA often begins in utero when pregnant mothers are exposed. Toxins such as these xenoestrogens, because they are fat soluble, easily pass from the mother into the fetus. If you are committed to health, it is important to limit your exposure to dangerous chemicals like BPA. These compounds will not kill you overnight, but they will act slowly reducing your health and vitality and increasing your risk for cancer, infertility, diabetes, and many other problems. We cannot avoid these chemicals all together, but by changing our habits we can greatly reduce our exposure. Health in the end comes down to healthy choices. Choose foods that are prepared fresh, free of excess toxins, and you will be heading in the right direction. Yours in Health, Dr. Andrew