A world-leading fertility scientist has advised people to “never” heat food in plastic containers in the microwave due to its potential impact on fertility.
Dr. Shanna Swan is a respected expert on substances called endocrine disruptors, which are those that wreak havoc on the body’s hormones and, as a result, our reproductive health.
Speaking on a popular health podcast, the epidemiologist recently urged people not to microwave food in plastic containers due to the risk of these chemicals leaching into the food.
“Never put plastic in a microwave,” he said.
‘BPA, phthalates and plasticizers are added to plastic, but are not chemically bonded to it.
“So if you put something in a container that contains these chemicals and then put it in a hot environment, they will come out of the plastic and into the food.”
BPA, short for bisphenol A, and phthalates are sometimes added to plastics as part of the manufacturing process to make them more durable.
Multiple studies link consumption of these chemicals with fertility problems, although regulators say current evidence suggests the level of exposure the average person faces in everyday life is safe.
A world-leading scientist who studies the impact of environmental toxins on human reproduction has advised people to “never” adopt a common kitchen habit.
Dr. Shanna Swan is a respected expert on substances called endocrine disruptors, which are those that wreak havoc on the body’s hormones, which in turn are a crucial part of determining our fertility.
However, experts like Dr. Swan are increasingly concerned about the impact the chemicals could have on reproductive health, such as reducing sperm count and quality in men.
Talking about the Huberman Lab Podcastwarned about the risks of combining heat sources and plastic.
Dr. Swan, who works at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, said this includes even leaving a bottle of water in a car on a sunny day.
“You don’t want to mix these chemicals with food, but if you do, the worst thing is to do it in a heated environment.”
When asked by host neuroscientist Andrew Huberman how to reduce exposure to harmful plastics, Dr. Swan responded that food intake was a major source.
“If you can afford it, buy organic produce,” he recommended, in part to avoid pesticides, which can be another source of phthalates.
BPA, as well as similar materials such as bisphenol S (BPS) and bisphenol F (BPF), has not only been linked to fertility problems but also to an increased risk of certain cancers.
BPA is said to be able to chemically “mimic” the female sex hormone estrogen which, in high doses, can potentially disrupt the normal hormonal balance that is thought to fuel tumors.
Phthalates are also believed to harm fertility due to disruption of hormones, particularly the male sex hormone, testosterone. However, evidence suggests that women’s ovaries are also negatively affected.
While concerns are growing about exposure to these chemicals, British food safety regulators say current evidence suggests the current level of exposure is “not currently considered harmful.”
However, the Food Standards Agency is currently carrying out a review of data on BPA in response to new studies.
Some restrictions regarding the use of BPA and phthalates have already been introduced in the UK due to health concerns.
Regulators have imposed a ban on BPA in items intended for use by babies and young children, such as baby bottles.
And several specific phthalates have been banned from use in UK food packaging.
Exposure to endocrine disruptors has been suggested as a potential factor for a global decline in fertility rates.
Experts like Dr. Swan are increasingly concerned about the impact the chemicals could have on reproductive health, such as reducing sperm count and quality in men.
Dr. Huberman, who works at Stanford University, shares health tips with his 6 million Instagram followers and 5.2 million subscribers on his YouTube channel, Huberman Lab.
He is known for his macho attitude and self-improvement videos designed for men, and is considered by some to be one of the leading influencers of ‘bro science’, a category of science-themed social media content aimed at men.
But this website discovered earlier this year that 15 wellness brands were paying the health influencer to promote products that make health-improving promises that experts said were based on “a nugget of truth.”
These included $124 sleep supplements that claim to help people fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer, and a $79 energy-boosting powder containing excess vitamins, which experts said would end up in the lavatory.
Experts also accused Dr. Huberman of “exploitative” marketing tactics, including convincing people to spend money on pills they say are “potentially dangerous” because of the risks of interactions with other commonly taken medications.
He has also faced accusations of “love rat” behavior, including dating five women at once and giving one a sexually transmitted infection.