As a hypothyroid patient, you might want to think twice abou
July24Lioness
Posts: 2,399 Member
As a hypothyroid patient, think you are fine drinking that purely fine mineral water from a plastic bottle? Think that fluoride and chlorine are the only substances we need to worry about when it comes to our thyroid health?? Think again.
Thyroid patient Amy McMullen, who has contributed before on STTM’s blog as a GUEST POSTER (Confessions of a Undercover Thyroid Advocate) and has a passion about human rights, has written another important article below which should be of keen interest to all of you.
BPA—A POWERFUL ENDOCRINE DISRUPTER THAT AFFECTS YOUR THYROID
Perhaps you have read recently about how the chemical Bisphenol A (BPA) is found to be prevalent in our food and water. As a hypothyroid patient, I was surprised to see that not all articles about this harmful substance adequately describe the connection between thyroid function and BPA. This is an oversight that should be addressed since hypothyroidism is estimated to affect over ten million people in the US and this number is growing. It makes perfect sense to look to environmental toxins as a likely culprit in this serious health epidemic.
BPA is a synthetic estrogen and an endocrine disrupter that causes multiple health problems. There are over 200 studies linking it to breast cancer, obesity, attention deficit disorder, early puberty in girls, genital abnormalities in boys and girls alike, polycystic ovary disease and infertility in women and prostate cancer in men. Studies indicate that up to 92% of Americans have BPA in their urine. Also BPA doesn’t leave the body quickly; fasting adults still had BPA levels in their bodies after 24 hours.
BPA comes from many plastic sources. It’s used as a hardener in plastic manufacturing. Many tin cans have plastic linings that contain BPA including soup and tomatoes, and it’s also in plastic water bottles, some infant formulas and canned juices. BPA is also found in PVC water supply piping.
How does BPA relate to thyroid disease? According to a several good studies, BPA is a thyroid receptor antagonist. This means that BPA will interfere with the binding of the thyroid hormone T3 with cell receptor sites. This will cause hypothyroidism, not only with people with under-functioning thyroids but also for those who are currently taking medications for hypothyroidism or even those who have normally functioning thyroids. BPA was found to accumulate in many organs when injected into rats including the lung, kidneys, thyroid, stomach, heart, spleen, testes, liver, and brain. In this way, BPA has the potential to interfere with thyroid hormones in each organ that has accumulated the substance. A study also indicates that the levels of BPA that are considered safe (upper limit of emission is set to 2.5 ppm [µg/liter], which is more than 90 µM) are high enough to inhibit thyroid hormone receptors. Yet another study shows that BPA appears to accumulate in rat fetuses in significantly high levels and disrupts thyroid function in baby rats.
There’s also evidence that BPA may influence the metabolism of endogenous steroids, which may be a factor in adrenal fatigue and its treatment, as well as and its treatment, as well as dysautonomia stemming from adrenal problems. Many with hypothyroidism also suffer from co-morbid adrenal fatigue and BPA may be a contributing factor in this.
What this means for everyone, but especially for thyroid patients, is every effort should be made to remove BPA from food and water supplies. For those who are not able to get properly optimized on their thyroid meds or who are finding they are suffering from hypothyroid symptoms despite normal levels of TSH, free T3 and free T4, consider BPA as a possible source of the problem.
Steps you can take to minimize you exposure include:
Avoid all canned foods with plastic liners and avoid bottled water. Buy your canned tomatoes in glass jars, not metal cans or stick to using fresh ingredients. Most other canned foods use BPA as well, especially green beans (Here is a list of BPA-free canned foods).
Drink water out of glass or stainless steel containers (and make sure there’s no plastic liner or lids that have BPA) or BPA-free plastic. Low density polyethylene bike bottles contain BPA.
Do not microwave foods in plastics or use plastic wraps when microwaving. Avoid polycarbonate (“PC” or #7 and #3) plastic food containers altogether.
Since most municipal water piping is PVC and some houses have it as water supply lines, consider installing a reverse osmosis system for your drinking water. This will also remove fluoride and chlorine (other thyroid disrupters) and many other harmful substances from drinking water.
Most importantly we need to make our voices heard that BPA is not an acceptable substance and that its use in our food and water supply must cease. Recently Senator Feinstein introduced a ban on BPA to the Food Safety Modernization Act but this was modified to remove the ban due to pressure by industry groups. Senator Feinstein still has an effort underway to ban BPA from child drink bottles and toys and several states have enacted such bans but this does not go far enough.
Contact your representatives today and let them know that a national ban on BPA must be enacted. If they don’t listen then I suggest you make yourself heard at the ballot box this November.
************************************************
Have you cut down on your exposure to Fluoride? Buy non-fluoridated toothpaste as a first step.
Cut down on more chemicals by using baking soda under your arms rather than commercially-made underarm deodorants.
Note that the baking soda may at first cause redness, but it will go away within days and is a great way to kill odors.
Have a pounding heartrate that you can’t explain? You may be making too much RT3.
Thyroid patient Amy McMullen, who has contributed before on STTM’s blog as a GUEST POSTER (Confessions of a Undercover Thyroid Advocate) and has a passion about human rights, has written another important article below which should be of keen interest to all of you.
BPA—A POWERFUL ENDOCRINE DISRUPTER THAT AFFECTS YOUR THYROID
Perhaps you have read recently about how the chemical Bisphenol A (BPA) is found to be prevalent in our food and water. As a hypothyroid patient, I was surprised to see that not all articles about this harmful substance adequately describe the connection between thyroid function and BPA. This is an oversight that should be addressed since hypothyroidism is estimated to affect over ten million people in the US and this number is growing. It makes perfect sense to look to environmental toxins as a likely culprit in this serious health epidemic.
BPA is a synthetic estrogen and an endocrine disrupter that causes multiple health problems. There are over 200 studies linking it to breast cancer, obesity, attention deficit disorder, early puberty in girls, genital abnormalities in boys and girls alike, polycystic ovary disease and infertility in women and prostate cancer in men. Studies indicate that up to 92% of Americans have BPA in their urine. Also BPA doesn’t leave the body quickly; fasting adults still had BPA levels in their bodies after 24 hours.
BPA comes from many plastic sources. It’s used as a hardener in plastic manufacturing. Many tin cans have plastic linings that contain BPA including soup and tomatoes, and it’s also in plastic water bottles, some infant formulas and canned juices. BPA is also found in PVC water supply piping.
How does BPA relate to thyroid disease? According to a several good studies, BPA is a thyroid receptor antagonist. This means that BPA will interfere with the binding of the thyroid hormone T3 with cell receptor sites. This will cause hypothyroidism, not only with people with under-functioning thyroids but also for those who are currently taking medications for hypothyroidism or even those who have normally functioning thyroids. BPA was found to accumulate in many organs when injected into rats including the lung, kidneys, thyroid, stomach, heart, spleen, testes, liver, and brain. In this way, BPA has the potential to interfere with thyroid hormones in each organ that has accumulated the substance. A study also indicates that the levels of BPA that are considered safe (upper limit of emission is set to 2.5 ppm [µg/liter], which is more than 90 µM) are high enough to inhibit thyroid hormone receptors. Yet another study shows that BPA appears to accumulate in rat fetuses in significantly high levels and disrupts thyroid function in baby rats.
There’s also evidence that BPA may influence the metabolism of endogenous steroids, which may be a factor in adrenal fatigue and its treatment, as well as and its treatment, as well as dysautonomia stemming from adrenal problems. Many with hypothyroidism also suffer from co-morbid adrenal fatigue and BPA may be a contributing factor in this.
What this means for everyone, but especially for thyroid patients, is every effort should be made to remove BPA from food and water supplies. For those who are not able to get properly optimized on their thyroid meds or who are finding they are suffering from hypothyroid symptoms despite normal levels of TSH, free T3 and free T4, consider BPA as a possible source of the problem.
Steps you can take to minimize you exposure include:
Avoid all canned foods with plastic liners and avoid bottled water. Buy your canned tomatoes in glass jars, not metal cans or stick to using fresh ingredients. Most other canned foods use BPA as well, especially green beans (Here is a list of BPA-free canned foods).
Drink water out of glass or stainless steel containers (and make sure there’s no plastic liner or lids that have BPA) or BPA-free plastic. Low density polyethylene bike bottles contain BPA.
Do not microwave foods in plastics or use plastic wraps when microwaving. Avoid polycarbonate (“PC” or #7 and #3) plastic food containers altogether.
Since most municipal water piping is PVC and some houses have it as water supply lines, consider installing a reverse osmosis system for your drinking water. This will also remove fluoride and chlorine (other thyroid disrupters) and many other harmful substances from drinking water.
Most importantly we need to make our voices heard that BPA is not an acceptable substance and that its use in our food and water supply must cease. Recently Senator Feinstein introduced a ban on BPA to the Food Safety Modernization Act but this was modified to remove the ban due to pressure by industry groups. Senator Feinstein still has an effort underway to ban BPA from child drink bottles and toys and several states have enacted such bans but this does not go far enough.
Contact your representatives today and let them know that a national ban on BPA must be enacted. If they don’t listen then I suggest you make yourself heard at the ballot box this November.
************************************************
Have you cut down on your exposure to Fluoride? Buy non-fluoridated toothpaste as a first step.
Cut down on more chemicals by using baking soda under your arms rather than commercially-made underarm deodorants.
Note that the baking soda may at first cause redness, but it will go away within days and is a great way to kill odors.
Have a pounding heartrate that you can’t explain? You may be making too much RT3.
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Replies
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wow thank you for posting this. I have hypothyroidism and my levels have been perfect since my first week one synthroid at age 15 (I'm 25 now) despite symptoms (hair loss & fatigue especially). I have come to accept that what I thought were symptoms were my body's normal state. I have already begun cutting down on BPA and after reading this will be doing everything I can to cut it out completely. Thank you!0
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Wow! Thank you so much for this! I'm a hypothyroid patient who is just now taking the time to learn more about this disorder. I was diagnosed in my early 20's, and like so many other things during that time of my life, I didn't take it seriously. I also didn't take my medicine. The light bulb came on when I got curious one day and decided to start reading up. I have been learning ever since. I really appreciate you sharing this - it's time to rethink all those "healthy" cans of green beans in my pantry.0
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Wow! Thank you so much for this! I'm a hypothyroid patient who is just now taking the time to learn more about this disorder. I was diagnosed in my early 20's, and like so many other things during that time of my life, I didn't take it seriously. I also didn't take my medicine. The light bulb came on when I got curious one day and decided to start reading up. I have been learning ever since. I really appreciate you sharing this - it's time to rethink all those "healthy" cans of green beans in my pantry.
Yes, fresh or frozen is the way to go.
I ditched canned items years ago and I crock pot beans for my hubby. have learned to make pork and beans, just tastes a bit different!!0 -
Thanks SO much for posting this! My husband and I have BOTH developed Hypothyroidism in the last few years (me just recently). We have wondered why it seems to be such an epidemic. Our doctor has told us that he see's ALOT of increase in patients with it recently. I'm coming to the conclusion that it COULD be the PVC water pipes that were used when we built our house 16 yrs ago. I guess we'll have to go shopping for a reverse osmosis system. We contemplated getting one several years ago for different reasons. Our water is not the greatest. We built our house on a concrete slab foundation and the pipes are IN the concrete. I don't know how you'd ever change them out.
Can you tell me where you found this article?
Thanks again!0 -
Thanks SO much for posting this! My husband and I have BOTH developed Hypothyroidism in the last few years (me just recently). We have wondered why it seems to be such an epidemic. Our doctor has told us that he see's ALOT of increase in patients with it recently. I'm coming to the conclusion that it COULD be the PVC water pipes that were used when we built our house 16 yrs ago. I guess we'll have to go shopping for a reverse osmosis system. We contemplated getting one several years ago for different reasons. Our water is not the greatest. We built our house on a concrete slab foundation and the pipes are IN the concrete. I don't know how you'd ever change them out.
Can you tell me where you found this article?
Thanks again!
I got this article from the Stop The Thyroid Madness website. I signed up for their Newsletter and I received it this morning in my work mail box...........
That website is great!!
Let me tell you. I grew up eating very natural. used bacon fat as grease in everything, lots of garden fruits and veggies, fresh meats from farm, milk straight from the cow.............home baked breads. Rarely ate out..........
When i went in the military after highschool and I started eating mainstream foods according to the Standard American Diet, my health started declining with in a couple of years and has just gotten worse.
My health is starting to get back to where it was since going natural and as much organic as I can afford...........
Along with having Thyroid issues, I also have a Pituitary tumor, which my doctor is trying a couple different things on me to see what is going to work before doing surgery or chemotherapy treatments.0 -
wow thank you for posting this. I have hypothyroidism and my levels have been perfect since my first week one synthroid at age 15 (I'm 25 now) despite symptoms (hair loss & fatigue especially). I have come to accept that what I thought were symptoms were my body's normal state. I have already begun cutting down on BPA and after reading this will be doing everything I can to cut it out completely. Thank you!
No, if you're still symptomatic, you are being under-treated. This is NOT your body's natural state. Ask your doctor to put you on dessicated thyroid. I order mine from Canada, UniversalDrugStore.com. The brand name is Thyroid, and it's cheap. If your doctor won't switch you, find a new doctor. I'm serious. You do NOT have to suffer.0 -
Great information. Thank you for posting. Has there been any connections with BPA and Hashimotos? We have been of the understanding that this is also chemical related. Possibly fuel from jets and contaminated water. My father was in vietname and has agent orange syndrome. He has Hashimoto's as well as all my sisters and Mother and I. It is very much a family affair.0
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wow thank you for posting this. I have hypothyroidism and my levels have been perfect since my first week one synthroid at age 15 (I'm 25 now) despite symptoms (hair loss & fatigue especially). I have come to accept that what I thought were symptoms were my body's normal state. I have already begun cutting down on BPA and after reading this will be doing everything I can to cut it out completely. Thank you!
No, if you're still symptomatic, you are being under-treated. This is NOT your body's natural state. Ask your doctor to put you on dessicated thyroid. I order mine from Canada, UniversalDrugStore.com. The brand name is Thyroid, and it's cheap. If your doctor won't switch you, find a new doctor. I'm serious. You do NOT have to suffer.
I'll ask her about it, I'm with a different Doctor than I was when I first was diagnosed but she didnt make any changes to my dosage. Thanks for the tip!0 -
wow thank you for posting this. I have hypothyroidism and my levels have been perfect since my first week one synthroid at age 15 (I'm 25 now) despite symptoms (hair loss & fatigue especially). I have come to accept that what I thought were symptoms were my body's normal state. I have already begun cutting down on BPA and after reading this will be doing everything I can to cut it out completely. Thank you!
No, if you're still symptomatic, you are being under-treated. This is NOT your body's natural state. Ask your doctor to put you on dessicated thyroid. I order mine from Canada, UniversalDrugStore.com. The brand name is Thyroid, and it's cheap. If your doctor won't switch you, find a new doctor. I'm serious. You do NOT have to suffer.
Most doctors think that dessicated thyroid doesn't work at all and that is why they push the synthetics so much. I went through at least a dozen different doctors before even getting a diagnosis of being hypothyroid and then went through 3 more finding one that would prescribe dessicated.
Our medical system is so WHACK!!!
I am able to get Armour or Nature Thyroid from a local compounding pharmacy and they even deliver it to my place of work when I need it at no extra charge...........0 -
Wow! I just stumbled across this posting. This is scary!
I have the adrenal and the thyroid issue. I drink a lot of bottled water because of pollution in the public water works. Who bottles water in glass? I don't know of any company that does. How do we know what is in that? I feel while we were living our lives, all these chemicals have "slipped" into our lives through back doors. We have epidemics of a lot things!
Thank you for this info!0
This discussion has been closed.
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