The word on the street is that heating plastic can be damaging to your health, but with all the buzz and conflicts in opinion, it seems difficult to get a hold of the cold hard facts. We are here to get the facts straight and answer your most pressing questions. So, fact or fiction: Is heating plastic food containers bad for us?

Fact or fiction: Fact. Heating plastic leads to the leaching of chemicals into food and water that are known hormone disruptors.

for the record: Most plastics have been found to be anything but impermeable. Plastic containers, bottles, linings and even baby toys often leach chemicals when exposed to heat, whether from a microwave, dishwasher or even sunlight. These chemicals – like BPA (bisphenol-A) and phthalates – mimic the hormone estrogen in the human body which interferes with the production, secretion, transport, action, function and elimination of natural hormones. The bad news is that everyone is affected, including fetuses, so if you’re pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant, it is important to start eliminating your exposure today.

The Damage: Potential dangers include…structural damage to the brain, erectile dysfunction, hyperactivity, increased fat formation, obesity, infertility, early onset of puberty, prostate and breast cancer, decreased sperm production, diabetes, heart disease, and liver damage.

Take Charge: The good news is that we do have some control here. The most important thing is to be mindful of the type of plastic you are using. Always check the bottom of your bottles and containers for the number listed to let you know if it is safe or unsafe. The #1 listed on the bottom of all Pressed Juicery bottles lets you know they’re safe to use. Secondly, never heat your plastic. This means no microwaving, dish-washing, hot food or beverages, or leaving your water or juice in the hot sun. (We hope you know to never drink fresh-pressed juice after it’s been sitting in the sun for a few hours anyway!)

The Skinny: Make the practice of checking your plastic as natural as the practice of checking your food labels! Take note and follow these two simple rules for keeping plastic safe: Avoid plastics labeled: 3, 6, 7 and only use plastics labeled: 1, 2, 4, 5.