You’ve made your list. Scouted out all the Black Friday Sales at your favorite stores, Filled up the gas tank.
Grab a coffee for the road?
Better yet, stop at your favorite coffee shop and pick one up. Maybe add a fresh baked cinnamon roll with that.
One question for you…are you planning on drinking that coffee at the coffee shop or taking it on the shopping spree with you?
Does it matter?
You might be surprised by the answer. It’s not about the coffee. It’s about the cup you drink it in. I can explain this better by telling you about my neighbor’s John and Sally who lived across from each other.
Both went to the coffee shop every morning for some coffee.
When neighbor John had his cup of coffee, he met with his army buddies and would sit at one of the tables. Since he was drinking it in the coffee shop, his hot coffee was served in a ceramic mug.
Sally didn’t have the time to enjoy her coffee there as she was on her way to work. Her hot coffee was served in one of the to-go cups.
Not a problem.
It became a problem when the coffee shop clerk placed a plastic lid on the top of her cup so it wouldn’t spill out.
And?
The plastic lid is made of BPA which stands for Bisphenol A, a chemical added to food containers. It’s what containers are made to store food and drink like plastic leftover containers, plastic water bottles and like the plastic lids on Sally’s coffee to go.
The chemical softens plastic to make it more pliable.
Studies of BPA have shown the possibility of seeping into food and drink.
The problem happens when you place a plastic lid on your coffee cup. The heat from the coffee creates a condensation which drips into your coffee.
That condensation is a form of the BPA toxin which is now in your coffee. You drink the coffee and now the BPA is in your blood stream.
What are the possible dangers of ingesting BPA?
It is the same affect if you leave a plastic bottle of water in the car and it heats up from the sun and then you drink it later.
BPS is what they call an endocrine disruptor, meaning it can interfere with our body’s hormone productions in all its phases. It’s like throwing a wrench in a bicycle wheel causing it to stop and bend the spikes.
According to Dr. Brent A. Bauer, Director Mayo Clinic Complementary and Integrative Medicine Program, “BPA exposure is a concern because of possible health effects on the brain, prostate gland of fetuses, infants and children. Additional research suggests a possible link between BPA and increased blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.”
Today you will find several BPA-free products from water bottles to coffee travel mugs on the market. Just look for the mark BPA-free on the product.
What can you do? It’s actually simple.
You could tell the clerk to leave a little space near the top of the cup and leave the lid off so it won’t spill. Or hey, how about enjoying the experience this Black Friday and take a couple of minutes to really enjoy your coffee before hitting the stores.
Something to consider.
In the meantime be safe out there driving and shopping.
Hope you find all the great deals!
Happy Black Friday!
Want to learn more about easy ways to avoid making yourself sick?
Check out my new book “Helping You Feel Better”.
