Dr. Rhonda Patrick, a biomedical scientist and owner of FoundMyFitness, warned about the high levels of hormone-disrupting chemicals in canned soup.
Eating just one can of soup a day could cause dangerous levels of hormone-disrupting chemicals to build up in the body, experts warn.
Dr. Rhonda Patrick, a biomedical scientist in California, pointed to a Harvard study showing that consuming soup every day for less than a week causes a tenfold increase in BPA. an industrial chemical in can coating linked to infertility, heavy periods and early menopause.
Because it is low in calories, soup is often recommended for weight loss. But the BPA used in the lining of the cans for durability leaches into the liquid, causing those who eat the soup to ingest the chemicals.
And it’s not just about cans. Plastic containers and bags, baby bottles and even some store receipts have a high content in them.
Dr Patrick said on her podcast last month: “These chemicals aren’t just passing through us. They’re building up.
‘They have been detected in the lungs, liver, heart, brain, reproductive organs and even the placenta.
“This widespread presence raises critical questions about the effect these microplastic particles could have on our health. Could they be altering our cells, altering our brain function and contributing to chronic diseases?
Soup cans may be coated with BPA, Dr. Patrick said, an industrial chemical linked to infertility in both men and women (file image)
BPA (bisphenol A) is an industrial chemical used in hard plastics and resins to make them more durable.
Research suggests that BPA acts as an “endocrine disruptor,” meaning it can mimic the body’s hormones and interfere with the production and response to natural hormones such as estrogen.
Dr Patrick said: “These compounds can mimic estrogen in the body, causing hormonal imbalances that affect everything from reproductive health to brain function.”
In fact, some research suggests that exposure to BPA could reduce the quality of a woman’s eggs up to seven times.
Dr. Patrick pointed to a small study. published in JAMAwhich recruited Harvard students and staff to consume one 12-ounce can of Progresso soup or fresh soup per day for five days.
Two days later, all participants underwent urine tests, which found that those in the canned soup group had a 1,200 percent increase in BPA compared to those who consumed fresh soup.
Dr. Patrick noted that these participants saw “measurable changes in their hormone levels, including decreased testosterone and altered thyroid function.”
Low testosterone levels could lead to erectile dysfunction, lower sperm quality, and genital shrinkage, all of which increase the risk of infertility. And thyroid problems can affect vital functions such as metabolism and heart rate.
Dr. Karin Michels, lead author of the study and now chair of the UCLA Department of Epidemiology, said at the time of publication: “The magnitude of the increase in BPA in urine that we observed after a single serving of soup was unexpected. “.
He added that “it may be a cause for concern among people who regularly consume canned foods or drink several canned beverages a day.”
There is no safe level of exposure to permanent chemicals and they have been linked to multiple cancers, asthma, fertility problems, obesity, birth defects, diabetes and autism.
Additionally, a 2016 study in the Environmental Research Journal It found that people who ate a canned food the previous day had 24 percent higher levels of BPA in their urine compared to those who had not eaten any canned food.
In a recent review, researchers found that BPA exposure in women can lead to decreased egg development and quality and an increased risk of implantation failure, when fertilized eggs do not implant properly in the lining of the uterus. , which frequently results in pregnancy loss.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a major contributor to infertility and a risk factor for endometrial cancer and diabetes, has also been linked to BPA exposure.
These harmful substances can also cause longer menstrual cycles and an earlier onset of puberty, which has been linked to depression, substance abuse, sexual assault, and breast cancer in adults.
The researchers also looked at the effect of endocrine disruptors on male sexual health. They discovered that these chemicals decreased semen quality and caused malformations of the male reproductive tract, which reduced fertility.
The graphic above from Toxic Free Future shows how toxic PFAS chemicals find their way into food products.
Dr. Patrick also referred to a study published in the journal Hypertensionwho found that drinking from aluminum cans coated with BPA-containing resin could raise blood pressure in just a few hours.
On three separate occasions, 60 participants were asked to drink the same beverage from two glass bottles, two cans, or one can and one glass bottle at the same time.
After drinking the canned drinks, BPA levels in the participants’ urine increased up to 16 times.
Dr Patrick said: “This is really a clear indicator of the immediate impacts on our cardiovascular system of these endocrine-disrupting chemicals like BPA.”
However, the study had a small sample size and all participants were over 60 years old, which increased their risk of high blood pressure.
To decrease exposure to BPA and similar chemicals, Dr. Patrick recommended opting for fresh foods instead of packaged ones and reducing consumption of canned foods like soup.
Instead, he suggests looking for soups that are sold in glass containers.