CHEMICAL CUISINE:
A NEW SABOTEUR OF WEIGHT
Part 8 of 10
By Deborah Kesten and Larry Scherwitz
Have you had your bisphenol-A (BPA), phthalates, dioxins, and other synthetic substances today? Probably. More commonly called man-made chemicals, every year, billions of pounds of synthetic substances are produced globally that find their way into the food we eat, beverages we drink, even the air we breath.
But of all the unwelcome chemicals, it is BPA, especially—found in the lining of canned soda, canned food, plastic wrap, drinking water, and more—that is of special concern. Why? Because most of us are infused with varying amounts of it.1 And this is worrisome because a growing number of researchers are exploring how BPA and other man-made chemicals can trigger striking increases in body fat…and more.2
Meet “Obesogens”
Are such concerns justified? The answer is a resounding “yes”—because BPA and its many chemical cousins (pesticides, herbicides, phthalates found in some cosmetics and soft plastic toys, etc.) can create havoc with our hormones. Theo Colburn coined the term “endocrine disruptors” (EDs)2 to describe man-made chemicals that have the power to function as synthetic hormones throughout the body and, in turn, threaten health and affect the way fat is distributed in your body. And this translates into weight gain.
Indeed, the BPA-obesity link is considered so pervasive that biologist Bruce Blumberg of the University of California, Irvine, has coined the word “obesogens” to describe the eighty-plus identified artificial compounds that can contribute to weight gain.3,4
Here’s how Dr. Mehmet Oz describes obesogens and the ways in which they wreak havoc on your weight:
There’s a new group of secret saboteurs in the war against weight gain. They’re called obesogens, and they are all around us . . . These natural and man-made chemicals work by altering the regulatory system that controls our weight—increasing the fat cells you have, decreasing the calories you burn, and even altering the way your body manages hunger . . . . By mimicking the actions of naturally occurring hormones in our bodies or preventing the hormones we produce from acting correctly, endocrine disruptors can:
1) Encourage the body to store fat and re-program cells to become fat cells.
2) Prompt the liver to become insulin resistant, which makes the pancreas pump out more insulin that turns energy into fat all over the body.
3) Prevent leptin (a hormone that reduces appetite) from being released from your fat cells to tell your body you are full.
Where do you find obesogens? The short answer: everywhere. For example, high fructose corn syrup, which can be found in almost every kind of food “product,” from sodas to yogurt to pretzels, is an obesogen. The ubiquitous, viscous sweet stuff makes your liver insulin-resistant and tampers with leptin to increase your hunger, setting up a vicious cycle where you crave more food that is then more easily turned into fat. The end result: your whole body pays a hefty price by developing more body fat.5
Some Smart Strategies
Given that BPA and other chemical compounds linked with obesity have made their way into many parts of our lives, getting them out of our diet is a daunting endeavor. Still, you can turn around a sense of defeatism by taking positive action to protect yourself. Here are some simple steps for avoiding an ongoing onslaught of these unwelcome substances.
Go organic. Organically produced foods are made without obesogens such as antibiotics and synthetic hormones.
Be fresh. As often as possible, choose fresh, whole food in its natural state. While organic is optimal, fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables are preferable to produce sold in cans (see “Kick the Cans,” below).
Wash well. To reduce exposure to pesticides, wash fruits and vegetables in organic solutions available in many supermarkets. At the least, always rinse with water.
Be butcher-friendly. Prepackaged meat in the supermarket contains BPA because of its plastic packaging. Instead, opt to buy meats directly from the butchers in the meat department—and ask them to wrap your purchase in paper.
Kick the cans. Most tin cans have linings with BPA-filled epoxy resin. Avoid canned foods and instead opt for products in glass containers. Another option: tuna in pouches that don’t contain BPA.
Be beverage-wise. BPA has been banned from baby bottles, but it’s still present in many other plastic products, especially sports water bottles, food packaging, and canned colas. Choose glass, stainless steel, or BPA-free aluminum water containers whenever possible.
Quit Chemical Cuisine
Ultimately, the message in our “quit chemical cuisine” guidelines is simple: you can help make weight loss last by making conscious anti-obesogen choices about food and beverages. Every time you shop for, prepare, and eat food, you are empowered to reduce your exposure to obesogens and live a weight-smart life.
Step #8: Avoid an ongoing onslaught of obesogens by reducing your exposure to them.
Regardless of your age—five months, five years, fifty, or older—the invisible and unwelcome “nutrients” known as obesogens can invade your body and make you more apt to overeat and gain weight. But putting on extra pounds doesn’t have to be your fate if you take action now.
References
1. F. S. vom Saal and C. Hughes, “An Extensive New Literature Concerning Low-Dose Effects of Bisphenol A Shows the Need for a New Risk Assessment,” Environmental Health Perspectives 113, no. 8 (2005): 926–33.
2. T. Colborn, J. Myers, D. Dumanoski, “CHE Partnership Call: Endocrine Disruption and Environmental Health: Ten Years after Our Stolen Future,” March 22, 2006, http://www.healthandenvironment.org/articles/partnership calls/346 (accessed February 5, 2012).
3. F. Grün, B. Blumberg, “Perturbed Nuclear Receptor Signaling by Environmental Obesogens as Emerging Factors in the Obesity Crisis,” Reviews in Endocrine & Metabolic Disorders 8, no. 2 (2007): 161–71.
4. Beth Daley, “Is Plastic Making Us Fat?”, Boston Globe, January 14, 2008, http://www.boston.com/news/health/articles/2008/01/14/is_plastic_making_us_fat/ (accessed February 6, 2012).
5. The Dr. Oz Show, “Understanding Obesogens,” September 20, 2010, www.doctoroz.com/videos/understanding-obesogens (accessed February 5, 2012).
Related:
Visit our free Whole Person Nutrition Program for more about what and how to eat to be a successful loser. It’s filled with practical guidelines, menu plans, recipes, and more.
Read:
“Step #1: Lose Weight Without Dieting”
“Step #2: Overcoming Emotional Eating”
“Step #3: Eat Fresh, Weigh Less”
“Step #4: The Weight Loss Power of Mindfulness”
“Step #5: Nourish Your Senses, Lose Weight”
“Step #6: Eat with Others, Eat Less”
“Step #7: Stress More, Eat More”
“Quit Chemical Cuisine” in Make Weight Loss Last
“Dine by Design” in Make Weight Loss Last
“Enjoy Food with Others” in Make Weight Loss Last
“Focus on Food” in Make Weight Loss Last
“Get Fresh” in Make Weight Loss Last
“Access Your Appetite” in Make Weight Loss Last
“Jettison Judgment” in Make Weight Loss Last
“The Healing Secret of Socializing” in The Healing Secrets of Food
“The Healing Secret of Mindfulness” in The Healing Secrets of Food
Next post:
Think outside the diet to make weight loss last with Step #9 of our BE A SUCCESSFUL LOSER series, “The `Magical Sleep Number’ for Weight Loss” posted on our NewView blog.
You’ll get plenty of clarity about what’s true and useful—or not—by keeping up with nutritionist Deborah Kesten, MPH, and research scientist Larry Scherwitz, PhD, the writers of this post, by liking them on Facebook, following them on Twitter, or sending us an email.
Comments:
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