Bisphenol A-spiegels zijn hoger in vrouwen met PCOS! (Engels)

BPA and PCOS Don't Mix

I've spoken before about BPA (bisphenol A), a hormone disrupter that is everywhere in our environment. I previously reported that BPA is higher in women with PCOS than other women, and that it is transferred from the mother to fetus. Unfortunately, that's not all. I'm sorry to report that BPA may be a bigger concern for PCOS women than I had thought. The University Federico II in Italy has just published a study of 20 overweight women with PCOS, who were compared to 20 normal overweight women. As expected, the PCOS women had higher levels of BPA. They also had a higher level of insulin resistance, fatty liver degeneration, male hormones, inflammation...and larger spleens. Your spleen is an organ in the upper left of your abdomen. It is part of your blood management system and immune system. An enlarged spleen can be caused by many things, including mononucleosis, some cancers, or liver disease. In the case of PCOS, we might speculate that liver problems are burdening the spleen. I really don't know. In any case, IF you have a BPA burden, your entire body is being adversely affected. In this case, BPA is an invisible ball and chain that holds back your every effort to escape your situation and get healthier. 

OK, so what can we do about this nasty piece of news? Here are a few ideas. 

1) Reduce your exposure, especially in plastics. Also cans such as canned foods. I know it's terribly inconvenient to reduce the amount of plastic in your life. Just do what you can. Especially try to keep your food and water away from any plastic. Use metal or glass or ceramic instead. 
2) Help your liver to detoxify and intestines to get healthier so they can do a better job of getting rid of the BPA and other environmental chemicals. A healthier diet that is high in fiber will greatly aid this process, as described in our PCOS diet e-book.
3) You could get tested to see if you have high levels of BPA. If your levels are high, consult with an "environmental medicine" doctor for a program to get rid of it. 
4) Educate yourself about possible occupational exposure. For example, if you handle thermal paper, dental sealants or certain medical supplies and equipment, either wear gloves or as your employer if they contain BPA.

Please remember...you can't see, smell or taste BPA. It's completely invisible. Be alert. 
You can read a more extensive article about BPA and PCOS on this web page. (Some of you have asked where I get my information from. I list my sources, such as medical studies, at the bottom of each article on the website).