3 Surprising Things You Use Every Day That are Hurting Your Thyroid
Your thyroid is one of the most important endocrine glands in your body; regulating mood, metabolism, energy levels, your immune system etc. So naturally, when you expose yourself to “endocrine disrupting chemicals” also known as EDCs, it throws your thyroid completely off balance, leading to your unpleasant symptoms and imbalances in the whole body.
One specific endocrine disruptor that is a vicious one for the thyroid, is bisphenol A better known as BPA.
I’m sure you’ve heard of BPA. From the food we eat to the water we drink out of disposable bottles, BPA can be found.
But, did you know that its hidden in so much more that we don’t even realize? And we expose ourselves to these things on a daily basis.
These items don’t necessarily write “BPA Free” like many thermoses, tupperware and water bottles started to do.
How is BPA harmful for the thyroid?
BPA or “Bisphenol A” exhibits tremendous thyroid disrupting properties and impairs your gene expression. A medical study said exposure to BPA will impact thyroid signaling in your body, which will interfere with your thyroid hormone production. [1] When BPA enters your body, it will mimic the structure of your estrogen hormones [6], disrupting your actual production of T3- which is vital for your metabolism to work and for overall well-being. [2]
Your thyroid cells are so sensitive to BPA that they are able to“sense” even the slightest amount of BPA when it enters your body, disrupting your hormone production. [2] Furthermore, BPA can cause neuro-developmental damage for fetuses and infertility in women. [3]
We obviously can’t run away from all the toxins, but we can certainly make a conscious effort to take small steps in our day to substitute things we use everyday that contain BPA, with better alternatives.
Coffee cup lids
Coffee cup lids
Yes, you probably didn’t even expect that your morning joe could have BPA in it. Next time you buy a cup of coffee, take the lid off and drink without it. Those lids are coated with BPA and resins. And what’s even worse is BPA becomes especially concentrated when it is exposed to heat, leaching into your drink. To know if a coffee cup has BPA in it, look for the recycle number on the bottom of the lid.
The recycling codes will range from 1-7. If the recycling code says 7, it definitely contains BPA. However, who has time to read the recycling codes anyway when drinking your morning cup of joe. You’re better off just removing the lid and enjoying the sight of your latte art.
TIP: Try bringing a re-usable thermos to your local coffee shop. Not only is it better for the environment, but it’s also better for your thyroid hormones. And when your thyroid is happy, then your whole body is as well. Just make sure your thermos says BPA free. Or, try drinking your coffee with the lid off.
Store Receipts
2. Store receipts
I know it sounds crazy but next time the store clerk asks if you want a receipt, opt-out. Yes, BPA is found in your canned beans and water bottles but studies also show that its found in your receipts. “Individual thermal receipts contain BPA that is 250-1,000 times greater than in one can of food”. [4] And we probably touch a receipt every day, way more than a can of beans.
The study that was done found especially high levels of BPA when touching store receipts in stores like: McDonald's, CVS, KFC, Whole Foods, Walmart, Safeway and the U.S. Postal Service. [5]
TIP: Get your receipt emailed to you! You save yourself from more BPA exposure and it’s better for the environment as well. The best part is you will never lose your receipt again.
Pyramid-shaped Tea Bags
3. Fancy tea bags
So much marketing today makes the fancy tea bags seem so desirable. Did you know that all those fancy teas that we love so much actually contain high levels of micro-plastic in them? Those aesthetically pleasing pyramid shaped bags are entirely made of plastic. And when it hits hot water, it’s even worse for you.
In fact, some of these sachet tea bags even write “do not microwave” because it will melt in the microwave. So why would we want to submerge it in hot water anyway? Studies were done where they learned that “steeping a single plastic teabag at brewing temperature (95 °C) released approximately 11.6 billion microplastics into a single cup” [7].
The facts are that most plastics contain BPA and even if they’re not writing BPA free, they might be replacing it with it’s cousin, BPS.
Some brands that use plastic sealants in their tea bags to be aware of:
Tazo, Teavana, Harney & Sons, Tea Forté, Celestial Seasonings, Peets, Mighty Leaf Teas
TIP: Brew your tea with fresh tea leaves or regular unbleached tea bags! You can buy it in bulk, it saves our environment from all the micro plastics, and it saves YOU from exposing your thyroid to harmful EDCs.
Disclaimer: Always consult a medical professional before making any nutritional changes and ask them questions regarding your medical condition. This information is purely for educational purposes so you can become your own health advocates.
References:
https://greenmedinfo.com/article/bisphenol-and-pthalate-exposure-may-adversely-affect-thyroid-function
https://greenmedinfo.com/article/bisphenol-exhibits-thyroid-disruptive-properties
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28356401/
https://www.pca.state.mn.us/business-with-us/bpa-and-bps-in-thermal-paper#:~:text=Studies%20have%20found%20that%20individual,in%20a%20can%20of%20food.
https://www.ewg.org/research/bpa-coats-cash-register-receipts
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3222987/
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.est.9b02540