Foods To Avoid: Canned Tomatoes

Growing and maintaining healthy hair involves work inside and out. Using products that are safe and actually work should be your number one goal. This mantra also applies to what we eat.

How healthy (or not) certain foods are is a hotly debated topic among experts and consumers alike, and there are no easy answers. Recently, during one of my "Brown Bag" sessions (lunch with a few of my scientist friends who are at the forefront of food safety), I asked this question: "What foods do YOU avoid?".

As a consumer, I was surprised, to say the least. I got some pretty interesting answers, and will post them here in the coming weeks. Although these foods don’t necessarily make up a "banned” list, as you head into the Summer season--and all the grocery shopping that comes with it--their answers are truly food for thought. Today's topic is CANNED TOMATOES.

THE EXPERT: Fredrick vom Saal, PhD, an endocrinologist at the University of Missouri who studies bisphenol-A

THE PROBLEM: The resin linings of tin cans contain bisphenol-A, a synthetic estrogen that has been linked to ailments ranging from reproductive problems to heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Unfortunately, acidity (a prominent characteristic of tomatoes) causes BPA to leach into your food. Studies show that the BPA in most people's body exceeds the amount that suppresses sperm production or causes chromosomal damage to the eggs of animals. "You can get 50 mcg of BPA per liter out of a tomato can, and that's a level that is going to impact people, particularly the young," says vom Saal. "I won't go near canned tomatoes."

THE SOLUTION: Choose tomatoes in glass bottles (which do not need resin linings), such as the brands Bionaturae and Coluccio. You can also get several types in Tetra Pak boxes, like Trader Joe's and Pomi. You can also Click HERE for an alternative solution.

Healthy Source will keep you covered, inside and out, on safe solutions for healthy hair growth and maintenance. If you want more information on any of our topics, please submit the contact form found on this page. You can also visit us at http://tinyurl.com/HelloDolle . We do not tolerate spam.