New research has shown that consuming fast food raises the levels of phthalates and bisphenol A in a person's body. Phthalates and bisphenol A are both endocrine disrupting chemicals that are commonly found in plastic, synthetic fragrances, toiletries and food packaging. They are both strongly linked with an increased risk of cancer, type 2 diabetes, hormonal imbalances such as PCOS and infertility. Research out of George Washington University showed that people who consume fast food have more of these chemicals in their body. The research was published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives and you can read the entire study here. The data comes from nearly 9000 Americans who participated in the NHANES study and shows a dose dependent relationship between fast food intake and chemical exposure. The more fast food the person ate, the more of these chemicals accumulated in their body. Also the more recently they ate the food, the greater the chemical load in their body. This is another great reason to minimize your consumption of food-like substances and base your diet on whole, natural foods that, ideally, you have prepared yourself. Fast food is usually sold in plastic containers. The problem with putting hot food into plastic is that much of the plastic will leach into the food. This is especially so if the food is oily. Likewise it is not a good idea to heat food up in plastic containers in a microwave oven. If you do use a microwave, glass containers are best; or reheat food in a pot on the stove.