Isn’t a cup of coffee the perfect way to start the day?
You wake up, think of what you have to do that day, and go to prepare the morning coffee. You put everything in the BPA-free coffee maker and just wait for the magic to happen.
BPA-Free Coffee Maker Products
You’ve probably noticed that I said a BPA-free coffee maker. Is that an important detail?
It’s an essential aspect when speaking of these electronics. BPA is a chemical used in plastic products.
The problem with this information concerns both your health and the environment.
Plastic is one of the most toxic materials for nature. It takes long years to decompose and during this time, the material releases dangerous chemicals in the soil, air, and water.
In plus, BPA and other plastic chemicals have been linked to health problems. Being exposed to them can increase the chances of having to deal with these issues.
Going for a BPA-free coffee maker can have some great benefits for you.
Benefits of using a BPA-free coffee maker
No dangerous chemicals leached in your coffee
The problem with plastic and its chemicals, including BPA, is that they can leach. This means that they can end up in your food, drinks, and thus, in your body.
Imagine that you are making coffee and the hot water that travels through the coffee maker comes into contact with a plastic component.
When exposed to high temperatures, plastic can leach BPA in the water. The chemical ends up in your coffee which you consume.
BPA has been linked to several health problems, including heart issues, diabetes, obesity, ADHD, and even cancer.
Some of these problems point out that BPA is a considered factor, not a direct cause of these conditions.
Yet, when you think that the simple exposure of yourself to the chemical poses a health risk, you may start to consider staying away from it.
A BPA-free coffee maker can help you avoid this chemical and still let you enjoy a wonderful cup of coffee.
To be sure you’re buying a product that does not contain BPA, pay very much attention to its description and reviews. These can tell you many things about the electronic item.
If you’re interested in this topic, you may also want to check out BPA-free water jugs.
You enjoy a delicious coffee any time you want
Having a BPA-free coffee maker means that you go for a product that is safer for your health and that you can enjoy a cup of coffee any time you want.
You can have a fresh cup of coffee in the morning before going to work, in the evening before going to a party or a night event, or whenever you feel the need of drinking a cup.
You can make it the way you want, based on your taste and the type of coffee that you like.
Investing in a BPA-free coffee maker may help you save money in time. You don’t have to pay for coffee to go cups or other similar products.
Buying a coffee to go every day, from Monday to Friday (when you go to work), can be more expensive than buying a big packet once.
If you take the same amount of money that you spent on it and spend it on coffee to go cups, you may find out that it costs you less and lasts more to have a coffee packet and a BPA-free coffee maker.
Have a quality electronic product in your home
A little research and comparing a few products can help you find the right BPA-free coffee maker.
This electronic product can be very useful around the house. Not only does it help you enjoy your morning coffee, it helps you serve coffee to your friends and guests that come over.
A high-quality BPA-free coffee maker is something you can rely on for great coffee and not only.
Why you want to avoid BPA-containing products
BPA stands for Bisphenol-A, which is a chemical used in the production of different items.
Plastic products are one of the most common examples. BPA is used to harden these items.
It’s also found in epoxy resins, which are used as a coat for the interior of metal products. Think of cans and water bottles.
Here is a more detailed list of products that can contain BPA:
- food cans
- water bottles
- plastic food containers
- CDs and DVDs
- feminine hygiene products
- medical devices
- electronics
- dental sealants
BPA was first discovered in the 1890s, but it was only around the 1950s-1960s that manufacturers found out it can be combined with different compounds to produce resistant polycarbonate plastics.
Nowadays, BPA is quite spread around the products that we use and buy. This can be observed in the above list.
This great exposure to BPA has led to approximately 90% of people in the world having it in their bodies. We’re exposed to it through the products we use, consume, or even by simply breathing air that contains the chemical.
The main source of BPA is the foods and drinks we consume. The packages of these products contain the chemical and BPA can leach in the products.
Studies have shown that avoiding such products can decrease the BPA levels from our bodies. A research showed that avoiding packaged foods for 3 days can decrease BPA levels by 66%.
As any chemical, BPA is continuously tested and researchers are looking to see if it can affect our health in any way. And with us being constantly exposed to the chemical, it’s understandable why.
BPA has been linked to several health problems. One of them is related to hormonal problems.
The chemical has a similar structure to the estrogen hormone. This means that BPA can mimic the hormone and send the body the wrong signals. It may influence cell growth, fetal development, fluctuation of energy levels, and interfere with the normal functioning of the thyroid.
Studies on animals have been performed and they have shown mixed results.
The relationship between BPA and babies has also been approached. When they are very small and their bodies are still developing, babies do not have enough strength to eliminate chemicals and other substances.
Research has been done on parents who are exposed to BPA and how children developed after they were born.
Results have shown that babies born of highly-exposed BPA parents are more likely to be hyperactive, to suffer from anxiety and depression. Emotional and aggressive problems were also detected to be higher in such cases.
Again, animal studies showed these results, but human research has not brought solid facts and results.
Other health problems BPA has been linked to are:
- infertility
- heart problems
- diabetes
- obesity
- brain problems
- cancer
In all of the cases, it’s crucial to take into consideration one factor: the quantity of BPA one is exposed to.
The FDA said that a BPA daily exposure of 50mcg/kg (23 mcg/lb) is considered relatively safe. You may find studies that say other things.
Limiting the exposure to BPA can help you prevent certain health problems and stay in the safe zone. It may be a smart move for you and your family.
If you’re interested in BPA-free coffee maker, you may want to check out non-toxic paint for crib.
How to limit your BPA exposure
Avoid canned products
As you’ve seen earlier, most (if not all) canned foods contain BPA. The chemical is used in the production of the package and it leaches in the food.
Avoiding canned foods can help you reduce your exposure to BPA.
You don’t have to give up to the products you like, you just want to consider some alternatives.
For instance, instead of buying canned foods such as corn, peas, chickpeas, you can buy frozen ones.
Frozen vegetables are a great source of nutrients and vitamins and can help you prepare delicious meals.
You can also go for fresh products. Cooking everything from scratch can help you avoid unwanted chemicals and processed foods.
Buy foods and drinks with glass packages
There are cases when you absolutely need to buy packaged products. In such situations, you may want to look for glass packages.
Foods in glass jars and drinks in glass bottles can be a great alternative.
What’s more, after you’ve used what’s inside, you can still keep the glass container and use it for other purposes.
Do not heat up your plastics
If you have any plastic items such as plates and food containers, use them only when they’re cold.
This means not heating them up in the microwave or any other place.
BPA is known to leach in foods and drinks when heated.
For hot foods and drinks, use containers made of other materials such as glass, porcelain, stainless steel.
If you’re interested in this topic, take a look at toothpaste without triclosan.
How much does plastic affect the world?
Because I’ve spoken a lot about BPA (in general and about the BPA-free coffee maker), I think it’s essential to take a step back and look a bit at the source of this chemical.
Plastic products are one of the biggest sources of BPA. This represents a bad thing for both our health and for the environment.
In 2015, there were approximately 8.3 billion tons of plastic in the world. 6.3 billion tons turned into plastic waste and only 9% of them were recycled. A percentage of 12% was incinerated.
So what happened to the rest of it?
Many of the plastic products that are thrown away end up in landfills and in the environment. This includes in the oceans, lakes, forests, and other areas.
In fact, 10% of the annual worldwide plastic production ends up in the oceans. The world produces around 300 millions tons of plastic every year.
If you’ve ever seen aquatic animals die because they consumed plastic items (especially bags), now you know how that’s possible. They can confuse it with prey or swallow it together with the water.
The problem is not just the giant number that nature has to deal with. It’s also the period of time plastic remains on the surface of the earth.
A plastic bottle takes around 450 years to decompose. A plastic bag takes from 10 to 1000 years. You get the idea.
Imagine that you’ve bought a plastic bag, you’ve used, and then, you’ve thrown it away. That plastic bag will most likely remain on this planet’s surface longer than you do. It may be here even when your grandchildren are fully grown up.
Plastic takes a very long time to decompose and during this period, it releases dangerous chemicals in the environment.
Plastic products themselves are not only killing wild creatures, but they are also slowly poisoning the environment.
Plastic degradation leads to the release of different chemicals, including BPA. As animals studies have shown, these chemicals can have negative effects on nature.
They can cause health and developmental problems of wild creatures. What’s more, they can lead to environmental hazards such as chaotic growths of algae and other plants and vegetation.
You’re probably asking why isn’t more plastic recycled. The numbers mentioned above showed a small number of plastic products that are recycled.
The answer to this problem is the following: recycling plastic products is more expensive than producing new ones. Therefore, it seems better, from the economic point of view, to make new products.
Yet, this contributes to environmental pollution directly and indirectly. Indirectly happens through all the methods explained earlier.
Directly it occurs through the use of petroleum or natural gas (which are non-renewable natural resources) to make the plastic, the exploitation of them, the manufacturing process, and the fumes that result from the material’s production.
Using alternatives to plastic products and recycling the ones that you already have are great ways to protect the environment and to contribute to reducing plastic pollution.
If you’re interested in this topic, check out enzymatic cleaner for dog urine.