BPA causes blood pressure to rise

BisphenolA (BPA) is found in cans and plastic bottles, and has been linked to heart disease, cancer and other diseases.  It has been linked to hypertension and decreased heart rate variability, and is an endocrine disruptor.

A new randomized crossover trial shows that drinking from BPA-lined cans can raise your blood pressure within 2 hours.  Korean researchers had 60 subjects drink soy milk from glass bottles or cans on different occasions.  They measured their urinary BPA levels 2 hours after they drank either from bottles or cans, and reported an increase of 1600% after drinking from 2 cans, compared to after drinking from 2 bottles.Systolic blood pressure increased by about 5 mm Hg after consuming canned beverages, compared with that after consuming glass bottled beverages.  A 5 mm Hg increase in systolic blood pressure can cause clinically significant problems, especially in hypertensive patients or those who have heart disease.  The study was published in the journal Hypertension.

Soy milk can lower blood pressure, but this study shows that BPA negates that effect.

Avoid plastic bottles and cans, and choose glass bottles.  Instead of buying canned goods such as beans, save money and your health by buying dry beans and preparing them yourself.  BPA can seriously harm your health and you should do your best to avoid products that contain BPA.