2 ms·

So what reasonable steps can one take to effectively decrease intake of these. I have personally: stopped using food that is heated in plastic in the microwave

So what reasonable steps can one take to effectively decrease intake of these. I have personally: stopped using food that is heated in plastic in the microwave. I drink mainly tap water, which I used to drink out of plastic bottles I refilled. I switched these to glass and metal. I stopped using my beloved water atomizer, as I also read on HN that inhaling this stuff is awful. I want to replace my plastic cutting boards and bowls. What else can I reasonably do?

loudtieblahblah 5y ago
there are expensive filters you can get for your whole house that filter out chlorine, lead and PFAS. They're about 800-2000 bucks. you can learn to cook on stainless steal as opposed to "not stick" pans. Even a lot of "ceramic" pots/pans can be suspect. You can switch to a french press for coffee (all coffee machines pass hot water through plastic before gettting to the pot). French Presses are a pain in the ass to clean, and it's been proven than French Press coffee having a lack of filter, somehow raises LDL cholesterol. I don't know a solution around that. but good luck shopping - damned near everything comes with some kind of plastic/water proof container. Just try avoiding plastic when buying cheese, yogurt, milk, frozen veggies, ice cream. Everything - even fresh meat and produce, is typically wrapped in more plastic than Laura Palmer. And health with food works just like technical privacy. It's a lot easier if you live a lone. If you have an active social life, a romantic partner or a family -- good luck. Because now you're the crazy person avoiding grease resistant pizza boxes, telling your kid "no you can't have bottled water" at the soccer game, and generally looking like a crazy person and driving your partner mad who just wants to enjoy their life.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
- Ancalagon 5y ago
  I realized a french press was raising my LDL (after switching to a french press for this very reason). Now I use a fine paper filter with a glass chemex for pour-over coffee, and it removes the LDL issue.
ne0flex 5y ago
Basically what loudtieblahblah said. Mainly: ・Avoid all plastics however possible. This includes food packaging, clothing, carpeting, etc. ・Buy fresh foods. Foods marked organic have been shown to have lesser amounts of contamination in them. ・Try to balance your diet to include more vegetables. Forever chemicals don't accumulate as much in plant/vegetables as they do in animal products. ・Get more exercise / sweat more as you can sweat out some contaminants in your body. ・Get an air filter for your house. The dust in your house likely has particles from old clothing that contain plastics such as polyester. Carpeting in your home can also contribute, depending on what materials it was made with. ・Don't handle things like thermal paper, as the BPAs in the paper can leech off onto your skin. ・Reverse osmosis filters for your drinking water would be best, but they're expensive. ・Avoid scented cosmetics as they contain phthalates. There are some brands that avoid the use of phthalates in their products. Popular dish soap brands also contains phthalates, you can find dish soap brands that don't use phthalates. Keep in mind you'll never be able to completely avoid forever chemicals, but you can limit your exposure.
- ip26 5y ago
  Focus on “good enough”. A $200 RO system for your drinking and cooking water will manage nearly all of your exposure to water borne contaminants. Then move on to the next item. It’s better to hit all the items with “good enough” solutions than focus time & money reaching perfection on just one.

loudtieblahblah 5y ago

there are expensive filters you can get for your whole house that filter out chlorine, lead and PFAS. They're about 800-2000 bucks. you can learn to cook on stainless steal as opposed to "not stick" pans. Even a lot of "ceramic" pots/pans can be suspect. You can switch to a french press for coffee (all coffee machines pass hot water through plastic before gettting to the pot). French Presses are a pain in the ass to clean, and it's been proven than French Press coffee having a lack of filter, somehow raises LDL cholesterol. I don't know a solution around that. but good luck shopping - damned near everything comes with some kind of plastic/water proof container. Just try avoiding plastic when buying cheese, yogurt, milk, frozen veggies, ice cream. Everything - even fresh meat and produce, is typically wrapped in more plastic than Laura Palmer. And health with food works just like technical privacy. It's a lot easier if you live a lone. If you have an active social life, a romantic partner or a family -- good luck. Because now you're the crazy person avoiding grease resistant pizza boxes, telling your kid "no you can't have bottled water" at the soccer game, and generally looking like a crazy person and driving your partner mad who just wants to enjoy their life.

deleted 5y ago
[deleted]
Ancalagon 5y ago
I realized a french press was raising my LDL (after switching to a french press for this very reason). Now I use a fine paper filter with a glass chemex for pour-over coffee, and it removes the LDL issue.

ne0flex 5y ago

Basically what loudtieblahblah said. Mainly: ・Avoid all plastics however possible. This includes food packaging, clothing, carpeting, etc. ・Buy fresh foods. Foods marked organic have been shown to have lesser amounts of contamination in them. ・Try to balance your diet to include more vegetables. Forever chemicals don't accumulate as much in plant/vegetables as they do in animal products. ・Get more exercise / sweat more as you can sweat out some contaminants in your body. ・Get an air filter for your house. The dust in your house likely has particles from old clothing that contain plastics such as polyester. Carpeting in your home can also contribute, depending on what materials it was made with. ・Don't handle things like thermal paper, as the BPAs in the paper can leech off onto your skin. ・Reverse osmosis filters for your drinking water would be best, but they're expensive. ・Avoid scented cosmetics as they contain phthalates. There are some brands that avoid the use of phthalates in their products. Popular dish soap brands also contains phthalates, you can find dish soap brands that don't use phthalates. Keep in mind you'll never be able to completely avoid forever chemicals, but you can limit your exposure.

ip26 5y ago
Focus on “good enough”. A $200 RO system for your drinking and cooking water will manage nearly all of your exposure to water borne contaminants. Then move on to the next item. It’s better to hit all the items with “good enough” solutions than focus time & money reaching perfection on just one.