Why is this happening? Modern life and our constant exposure to chemicals and pesticides may play a role. Especially a class of chemicals called endocrine disruptors. This stuff interferes with the our endocrine system, which controls the production and release of hormones into our bodies. You can find endrocrine disruptors in all kinds of everyday items, like cosmetics, plastics, and processed foods. Go check the ingredients in your lotion - chances are you'll find some type of paraben, a suspected endocrine disruptor, in the list. I just did:
Nivea body daily lotion
Ingredients:
Water, glycerin... ... ... methylparaben, propylparaben
Remember the whole controversy over BPAs in Nalgene water bottles? Bisphenol A (BPA) is another suspected endocrine disruptor used in #7 plastic. Once it leaches out and is consumed by those of us who drank religiously out of our Nalgene bottles, or worse by a baby sucking on a BPA-laced plastic bottle, the chemical can start to mimic and interact with the natural estrogen in our bodies.
It's no smoking gun, but it seems to me there's a link between exposure to endocrine disruptors, elevated levels of estrogen, early puberty, and increased breast cancer risk.
So why are we doing this to ourselves? I guess we don't know better.
But funny enough, a bunch of tribesmen from a remote island in the Pacific know better.
A new show on the Travel Channel, "Meet the Natives," follows a delegation of tribesmen from a remote island in the Pacific as they explore America. These five guys were plucked from their traditional existence on a the island and plopped onto American soil for a peek into our way of life.
The 5 guys on the right make up the delegation. Photo from travelchannel.com
In one episode, they spend Thanksgiving with their host family in Peroria, Illinois and help prepare and cook a traditional turkey dinner. A short video of this scene is available here.
*They unwrap the turkey and put it in a oven bag*
(probably a bag like this)
Tribesman 1: But is it OK to cook the turkey inside the plastic?
American host: yes, it's OK to cook with this plastic.
Tribesman 2: Cooking the turkey in plastic frightens me... the plastic can melt and poison us all.
American host: It's a special, special bag. Would you be more comfortable if we cooked it out of the bag?
Tribesman 2: This is new to us, but if you say it's safe, we'll trust you.
Sometimes, like tribesman 2, i find myself doing questionable things even though i know better. Like putting a Trader Joe's rice noodle soup cup into the microwave.
Microwave Directions:
1. Carefully peel back the lid to open bowl halfway. Empty packets ... into the bowl. (writer note: the bowl is #5 plastic, which is considered a "safer" plastic)
2. Add water...
3. Cook on high for 2 - 3 minutes
I've repeated steps 1 - 3 so many times without question. But when I slow down and think about it, something feels wrong. Microwaving plastic? Doesn't seem right. But I do it, have done it, again and again without question. Why? I guess because the directions on the back of the package says it's perfectly OK.
But who got to decide that anyway? The guys who own the big food conglomerate that makes this stuff? The same guys who know that if you make it cheap and easy and disposable you sell more product, even if cheap and easy and disposable doesn't necessary mean good?
I think back to when we used to do things the slow way. I don't mean like make noodles from scratch, but like cook noodles in a pot of boiling water. Quaint, huh?
I need to slow down and ask more questions. Is it OK to cook turkey in the plastic? Is it OK to put plastic in the microwave? If it doesn't feel right, maybe I shouldn't follow the directions.
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