Can Plastic Containers Sabotage Weigh Loss? Two weeks ago I started a diet plan that entails eating something small every two hours to keep my metabolism high. I’ve been doing well, packing food containers with mini meals to eat at work. But a friend just told me that she heard the chemicals in plastic containers cause weight gain! Is this true?
It depends: Simply carrying food in plastic containers isn’t problematic— it’s heat that makes them damaging to health. Once heated, chemicals in plastic called phthalates and bisphenol A can leach into food. These estrogen-mimicking chemicals can throw hormones off kilter, triggering the storage of fat in the belly and thighs. To avoid problems, make sure food is cool before placing it in a plastic container (since leaching can start at temperatures as low as 45 degrees farenheight). And take items out of plastic containers before reheating them. Instead, transfer food to a ceramic or glass plate—these don’t emit toxins when heated.
