Nutrition

Eat Fast Food? You Likely Have Higher Levels Of These Dangerous Chemicals In Your Body

Look, I’m not going to judge you if you eat fast food.

And I don’t think you should judge yourself either…

Just be aware that what you eat really does have the power to affect your health negatively, and study after study continues to show this to be true.

Consider a recent study showing people who ate fast food had high levels of harmful phthalate in their bodies.

You’ve likely heard of phthalate before, but had no idea what they were and how they could affect your health negatively.

Phthalate are industrial chemicals found in the packaging containers of foods and dairy products. They’re also found in perfume, hair spray, soap, shampoo, nail polish, skin moisturizers and other common items.

Though the chemicals aren’t added directly into your food, it’s believed they leach out of the container and into the food they come into contact with.

This recent research about phthalate levels in the urine of individuals who consume fast food seems to support this belief.

The Disturbing Connection Between Fast Food Consumption and Phthalate Levels

Researchers at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at the George Washington University in Washington wanted to see how fast food would affect phthalate levels.

They asked a group of 8,877 participants to take a questionnaire about what food they had eaten in the past 24 hours, and to submit a urine sample so they could see just how damaging fast food would be. After reviewing the urine samples, they came to a startling conclusion.

Upon observation of the urine samples, they noticed people who had fast food in the past 24 hours had elevated levels of phthalate levels compared to those who hadn’t eaten fast food in the past 24 hours.

“Compared with those who had not consumed fast food, the urine of participants who ate the most fast food had 23.8% higher levels of the breakdown product for DEHP, and the levels of DiNP metabolites were 40% higher.”

 

Di-isononyl phthalate (DiNP) and di-2-ethylhexylphlatate (DEHP) are believed to be potential carcinogens, and have been linked to a myriad of health problems. It was for the protection of children from possible harmful phthalates like these that these carcinogens were banned for their use in children’s toys…but they’re still allowed in your food packaging.

Head researcher Ami Zota said even though they found high levels of phthalate in the bodies of fast food consumers, it’ll be a long time before they can make any conclusive claims about phthalate’s effects on health.

If you’re worried about exposing yourself to phthalates, one of the easiest ways to avoid them is to skip fast food altogether.

Not only will your risk of absorbing these chemicals go down, but your physique will thank you, too.

Talk soon,

Dr. Wiggy
www.HealthAsItOughtToBe.com