A recent study from the University of Exeter has found traces of bisphenol A (BPA) in 86 percent of teenagers. This is concerning, since BPA is a known hormone-disrupting chemical that imitates female sex hormones and has been linked to breast and prostate cancers, as well as low sperm counts and sperm disfigurements in men.

Despite its bad reputation, BPA continues to be used in many plastic containers, water bottles, food cans, dental floss, and heat-resistant papers, which means that humans come into contact with it frequently.

This particular study set out to see if it was possible to reduce one’s BPA level by altering dietary choices. It was designed to be a ‘real-world setting’, unlike prior studies that have focused on families and related individuals, who likely share sources of BPA, and participated in strict dietary interventions that are not realistically sustainable.