steel – The Cancer Canary

Microplastics, pt 2

Found a couple of videos from Dr. Rhonda Patrick to illuminate the problems with and sources of microplastic exposure.

These are long but very worthwhile.

Warning: These are “Eye of Sauron” videos that may overwhelm you. Take breaks! I had to…

Takeaways:

Be cautious with your children’s clothing as they are still in development. Avoid polyester and rayon as they do shed micro- and nanoparticles of plastic.
Avoid using “moisture wicking” fabrics, especially because they are generally worn when exercising and, therefore, are heating up and stretching, which hastens the breakdown of the fabric.
Avoid drinking from plastic water bottles if possible. Be aware that some single-serve metal water bottles will have plastic lining. But of course, drink from these if they’re your only choice.
In the kitchen, avoid heating anything made or lined with plastic. That means avoid microwaving or even washing in high temperatures. It’s best to just throw these away and replace them with glass.
Avoid situations where vinegars or acidic fruits are used in plastic (to-go salads, etc.) as the vinegar/acid will work the same as heat to break down the plastic and release chemicals.
Microwave popcorn bags are lined in BPA, and that is released in the microwave. Avoid!!
Aluminum cans are also lined with BPAs, which are forever chemicals, which take years to leave your body.
Avoid getting any hot beverage in a to-go cup (plastic-lined). Because these are cheap and flexible, the BPA is released quickly when hot coffee or tea is put in. Carry a reusable mug and ask the barista to use it directly.
Throw out any non-stick cooking pans and replace with steel or cast iron.
Silicon baking materials are not to be used or trusted.

Explore her videos for more info on health and microplastics… including how to hasten their excretion from the body. Hint: sulforaphane, fibrous diet, etc.

Microplastics

Soooo, yeah, we are eating and inhaling plastic. Little bits are being found in people’s brains… half a percent on average! 😬

Microplastics are even clogging up arteries, adding to obstructive artery problems, heart attacks and the like. Ugh.

Is it a problem? Yes.

Does it have a connection to cancer? Yes.

From what I’ve gathered, it can work in the same way an oyster creates a pearl. A bit of sand finds its way into the oyster, the oyster is irritated, the immune system reacts, and it coats the sand with layer upon layer of mucus or film until the irritating grain of sand is smooth.

In our bodies, foreign items are attacked by our immune system, too. It usually involves redness, swelling (inflammation), and mucus. Because the plastic isn’t going to break down, the immune response continues. This creates a “locus” or location around which cells may stop functioning properly due to prolonged inflammation.

This is why talcum powder causes ovarian cancer.

This is not to even mention the chemicals that leach from the plastic as it accumulates in our bodies, ☠️ ☣️ or leach into our food as we microwave items in plastic or in cheap steamer bags…

So anyway, if you are looking for a resolution today, New Years Day 2025, I recommend going through your kitchen cabinets and throwing out all the plastic, especially the thin stuff that comes from take-out containers.

Only drink from glass, metal, or pottery.

Get rid of any plastic cutting boards, which can break down as they are being used, with little plastic shavings going right into your food.

And please, get rid of any coffee maker that brews boiling water through plastic. Those Keurig and Nespresso cartridges are so dangerous!! I’m sure you can find an after-Christmas sale on a French press or a coffee maker with a steel grounds holder.

Storage containers and canisters should be changed out for glass. It’s healthier and looks good too.

A lot of food, even organic food, is sold in plastic. So, when you get home from the grocery store, spend time moving the food to glass storage, rather than leaving it in the original plastic.

Little steps. Let’s all take these little steps in the new year for our health, and for our families.

👣

Black Plastic Kitchen Utensils

“…new research shows that many types of black plastics contain harmful flame retardants that shouldn’t be coming into contact with food.”

We all had them… just make sure you don’t have them anymore:

https://www.foodnetwork.com/healthyeats/news/throw-away-black-takeout-container-kitchen-utensils

The article also says to just throw them away… don’t recycle. Remove them from the cycle. Thank you!

In Praise of Stainless Steel

Had to text my Mom the other day, and thank her for buying me these amazing kitchen tools years ago, when Jimmy and I got married. I’m sure they cost a bit … certainly more than the plastic and Teflon crap that’s caused so much cancer, IBS, etc.

I’m so glad we had stainless steel to use instead. And I urgently implore YOU to search your own kitchen and throw away any plastic or Teflon materials, especially pans and things that are heated.

While you’re at it, get rid of any plastic cups. Just fling ’em. Use glass, steel, pottery… There’s plenty of great stuff to choose from at your local Goodwill. Most of our drinking glasses are just old sauce and jelly jars.

Look at your storage containers and consider trashing the plastic and replacing with glass or steel. Your health is worth it! Your family’s health is worth it! Again, lots of great options at Goodwill.

If you want to know more about the dangers of Teflon, there’s a fairly recent film called “Dark Waters” starring Mark Ruffalo & Anne Hathaway. Here’s the trailer: