5 ways to reduce toxins in your diet
Ditch the package.
Nearly all Americans have hormone-disrupting phthalates and bisphenol-A (BPA)—found in plastics and cans—in their bodies, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But a 2011 Silent Spring Institute study proved that you can cut levels in half or more in just three days by switching from packaged to fresh, whole foods and not eating out. Especially avoid the packaging perfect storm: warm fatty foods (such as grilled deli sandwiches, hot creamy soup, or rotisserie chickens) encased in plastic, says study lead researcher Ruthann Rudel. Liquid and acidic products also absorb more toxins from plastics, she adds. For staples such as rice, nuts, beans, cereals, and spices, hit the bulk bins, says O’Brien. Bonus points if you take your own containers or remove items from the plastic bags when you get home.