Doctors love to come out with the latest-and-greatest warnings. And while it can be frustrating to hear conflicting information about whether butter is good for you or not, as an example, the prime reason for this is that research keeps getting better. As doctors, scientists, and researchers have better equipment and methods to do their research, they continue to refine their results and publish it for general consumption.
But as we discover how everything around the house can give us cancer or kill us, it can become frustrating and aggravating. As new information comes at us like a machine gun, it is hard to keep up – especially for parents who want to do the best they can for their little ones.
After finishing a meal, my family always puts leftovers in a plastic container. We then store that in the fridge and heat it up the next day for lunch. It’s a great way to save some money and prevent things from going to waste.
New research tells us this is a terrible idea. We should never use these plastic containers and heat food up in them because they put our children’s health in danger. This research comes from the Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and may inspire you to clear out your cabinets.
Over the last decade, the general public began to learn about the dangers of plastics. You’ve heard about BPA and how it can negatively affect your health. And celebrities are jumping on the trend, including Kourtney Kardashian.
“If anything needs to be heated up, I prefer to use the oven, stovetop, or toaster oven instead (of the microwave). I read that toxins from plastic containers can be transferred to food when reheated (this applies to BPA-free plastic containers too.”
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) knows that plastic containers are bad for us. But not only are plastics loaded with BPA and phthalates bad for our health, containers, and plastics labeled “microwave-safe” can also be detrimental to your health.
AAP published a report on how children are most vulnerable to the dangers of plastics.
“(BPA) can act like estrogen in the body and potentially change the timing of puberty, decrease fertility, increase body fat, and affect the nervous and immune systems.”
Phthalates are just as sinister for your body. If you don’t know, they’re the chemical manufacturers use to make the plastic feel more flexible.
“(Phthalates) may affect male genital development, increase childhood obesity, and contribute to cardiovascular disease.”
Parents are horrified to hear these findings. And then the doctors dropped the bomb – putting these plastic containers in the dishwasher can also release these chemicals and cause untold damage to the body.
So what can parents do? Invest in your health and buy glass containers. These will not have the same problems as the plastic containers. They also have the added benefit of making your leftovers look more stylish.
As more people start to demand manufacturers to use glass instead of plastic, prices will start to go down. But do some online browsing, and you’ll find some options that are not too expensive.