MisZone

Article by Chris Shugart

Poison Paper?

Most receipts are composed of chemicals that can disrupt your hormone levels. But is this a legitimate cause for concern? Here's the essential information you need to be aware of.

You've made the intelligent decision to enhance your metabolic health. However, this now presents a plethora of additional decisions regarding your training, diet, and lifestyle. What aspects should you modify? What is truly worthy of investment?

Perhaps you've decided to increase your sleep. That's a valuable choice. Avoiding seed oils? Likely a good investment. Installing an ice bath and starting your day with a revitalizing plunge? It might be worthwhile, or it might not. It demands a significant investment of time, money, and tolerance for discomfort.

Here's a relatively minor investment that many assert can improve your health: refrain from touching the receipts you receive from stores. Sounds peculiar, doesn't it? Let's explore these claims further.

Receipts: Endocrine - Disrupting Devil Paper?

In addition to paper, receipts contain chemicals, including a synthetic compound known as BPA (Bisphenol A) or its analogue, Bisphenol S (BPS). For thermal receipts and tickets, BPA is utilized in the heat - sensitive coating. These coatings enable the paper to react to heat for printing without the need for ink.

BPA is a well - recognized endocrine disruptor. It interferes with the hormonal system by mimicking the structure and function of estrogen. Even at low exposure levels, it has the potential to impact biological processes.

When handling thermal paper receipts, BPA is absorbed through the skin. Repeated exposure may lead to the accumulation of these chemicals in your body.

What are the consequences? Metabolic disorders, cardiovascular problems, infertility, and even certain types of cancer. The most immediate concern, however, is BPA's ability to lower testosterone. It does this by impairing Leydig cells, reducing the activity of key enzymes involved in testosterone synthesis, interfering with the HPG axis, and potentially even altering gene expression, which could cause long - term testosterone suppression.

Therefore, unless you desire to become overweight, exhibit feminine characteristics, and experience ill - health, it is advisable to avoid touching receipts and thermal tickets.

Oh, Calm Down! Receipts Are the Least of Your Worries!

Is this concern valid, or have we succumbed to the engagement - seeking tactics of fitness influencers? I'll leave it to you to decide, but here are the counter - arguments to the fear of receipts:

The actual absorption rate of BPA and BPS is extremely low. The skin serves as a natural barrier. The chemicals likely cannot penetrate deeply enough to enter the bloodstream in significant quantities.

Furthermore, the short contact times with receipts make prolonged absorption improbable. While substances like lotions, sweat, or hand sanitizers can increase skin permeability, potentially leading to higher absorption, one would have to cover their sticky body with receipts and remain in that state for hours.

Most studies on BPA focus on exposure through ingestion rather than dermal contact. The primary concern should be consuming it, not touching it. The only individuals who may need to be concerned are cashiers who handle receipts throughout the day, and they can simply wear gloves.

If a small amount of these chemicals enters your body, it is negligible compared to other sources of BPA. Thus, there is no need to be overly anxious.

The Practical Middle Ground

You've heard both perspectives. You're aware that BPA and similar chemicals are potentially harmful, but will you develop a phobia of receipts? Here's what I intend to do:

I will continue to prioritize concerns about ingestion over contact. The amount of BPA and other chemicals in receipts is insignificant compared to other sources. This means avoiding plastic cooking utensils, seeking PBA - free canned goods (as manufacturers are already phasing out BPA - lined cans), refraining from drinking from heated plastic containers, and not licking the dashboard of a new car.

When using self - checkout, I'll quickly grab the receipt with two fingers and drop it into a bag. Alternatively, I'll ask the cashier to place it in the bag. If e - receipts are offered, I'll sign up for them. I'll do this because I'm not entirely comfortable with terms like "minimal effect" and "probably safe" that are used in research regarding endocrine disruptors. Minimal? Probably?

I won't panic about receipts, but since minimizing contact with them requires little effort, why not do it?

One Problem: Endocrine Disruptors Are Everywhere

BPA is merely one chemical within a single category (bisphenols) of endocrine disruptors. There are numerous others:

Phthalates, found in air fresheners, fragrances, lotions, and shampoos.

Parabens, present in cosmetics, personal care products, and foods.

PFAS, used in non - stick pans.

Pesticides, heavy metals, industrial pollution, plastic pipes, and more.

One might say you'd have to live in a giant plastic bubble to avoid all these endocrine disruptors, but even such a bubble would likely be filled with them.

While it's impossible to avoid them all, we can combat them from within using resveratrol, a natural compound (a polyphenol) found in certain plants.

Resveratrol binds to estrogen receptors and blocks BPA from exerting its estrogen - like effects, thereby reducing its impact on hormonal systems.

Alongside its antioxidant properties, resveratrol improves liver function by enhancing the activity of detoxifying enzymes and reducing inflammation. This aids the liver in processing and eliminating BPA.

It also has protective effects against DNA damage in experimental models, potentially reducing BPA's mutagenic risks.

The only drawback of resveratrol - containing foods and supplements is bioavailability; resveratrol is difficult to absorb. However, this issue has been resolved with Rez - V High Absorption Resveratrol (available for purchase on Amazon). This formula utilizes a specialized delivery system to facilitate easy absorption.

I take two softgels daily, which provides me with 600 mg of active trans - resveratrol. This is more than sufficient to mitigate the effects of BPA, even if you're someone who frequently touches receipts.