Is Your Aluminum Can Toxic?

You may think that cracking open a can of your favorite drink is harmless, but what if that aluminum can introduces harmful chemicals into your body? The truth is, almost all aluminum cans are lined with plastic that can leach toxic substances into your drink. And these toxins aren’t just affecting your overall health—they’re impacting your cellular function, potentially leading to hormone disruption, inflammation, and long-term health consequences.

Let’s take a closer look at how plastic linings in aluminum cans, and other common containers, can affect your cells and how to make healthier choices.

The Plastic Problem Inside Your Aluminum Can

While aluminum itself doesn’t typically pose a risk to your health, the plastic linings inside almost every can do. These linings are meant to prevent the metal from corroding the liquid, but they introduce their own set of dangers. Plastic linings are made from materials like epoxy resin, which may contain Bisphenol A (BPA) or its analogs (such as BPS and BPF), all of which can mimic hormones in your body.

These hormone-disrupting compounds may interfere with the natural balance of your endocrine system, leading to a variety of cell-level effects, including:

• Cellular inflammation
• Disrupted hormone signaling
• Impaired detoxification pathways
• Increased oxidative stress

Over time, the accumulation of these toxins could lead to more serious health issues, including reproductive problems, thyroid dysfunction, and even an increased risk of cancer. And even if your can is labeled as "BPA-free," other bisphenols used as replacements may still pose similar risks to cellular health.^[1]

Canned Foods and Cartons: More Sources of Hidden Plastic

It’s not just canned drinks that pose this risk. Canned foods, even those labeled "BPA-free," often contain plastic linings that can introduce similar toxins into your food. This can lead to increased exposure to hormone-disrupting chemicals every time you open a can of vegetables, soups, or sauces.

Additionally, many milk cartons and shelf-stable cartons (like those used for chicken stock or plant-based milks) contain polyethylene plastic linings. These linings account for 20-22% of the container and can leach microplastics and chemicals into the liquids stored inside.^[2]

As you consume these foods and drinks, the chemicals from these linings may disrupt cellular health, increasing the toxic burden on your body and impairing your cells’ ability to detoxify and function optimally.

How These Plastics Affect Your Cells

When you consume products in contact with plastic linings, microplastics and chemicals such as bisphenols can enter your bloodstream and accumulate in your cells. This can lead to:

• Mitochondrial dysfunction: The powerhouse of your cells, mitochondria, may become impaired, reducing your body’s ability to produce energy efficiently.
• Inflammatory responses: Chronic exposure to endocrine disruptors can trigger low-grade inflammation, damaging tissues and organs over time.
• Oxidative stress: As these chemicals accumulate, they can promote the production of free radicals, which may damage your cells' DNA and speed up the aging process.

Cells rely on clean, non-toxic inputs to function effectively, and consistent exposure to harmful chemicals from everyday food and drink containers can compromise cellular health.

Making Healthier Choices

Fortunately, there are ways to minimize your exposure to plastic-lined packaging and protect your cells from unnecessary toxic burden:

1. Choose Glass Over Cans: Whenever possible, opt for beverages and foods packaged in glass, which does not leach harmful chemicals into its contents. Glass is an excellent alternative for products like mineral water, juices, and soups.^[3]
2. Go for Fresh or Frozen Foods: Instead of reaching for canned vegetables or soups, choose fresh or frozen options. These alternatives reduce exposure to plastic linings and give you the added benefit of fresher, nutrient-dense food.^[4]

3. Make Your Own Stock or Sauces: Homemade broths, soups, and sauces stored in glass containers are far safer than their canned or carton counterparts. They allow you to control the ingredients and packaging with which your food comes into contact.

4. Dried Goods: Go for dried versions instead of canned beans or legumes. They’re free from plastic-lined packaging and often more nutrient-dense.

Final Thoughts: Protect Your Cells by Reducing Plastic Exposure

Cellular health is the foundation of overall well-being and the foods and drinks you consume directly affect how well your cells function. By minimizing your exposure to plastic-lined cans and cartons, you can reduce the toxic load on your body and promote healthier, more resilient cells.

Next time you’re shopping, don’t be fooled by a can's metal exterior—what’s inside matters. Prioritize glass, fresh, and frozen options to protect your cells and maintain optimal health.

1. Deshwal, Gaurav Kr., and Narender Raju Panjagari. “Review on Metal Packaging: Materials, Forms, Food Applications, Safety and Recyclability.” Journal of Food Science and Technology, vol. 57, no. 7, July 2020, pp. 2377–92. PubMed Central.
2. Deshwal, Gaurav Kr., and Narender Raju Panjagari. “Review on Metal Packaging: Materials, Forms, Food Applications, Safety and Recyclability.” Journal of Food Science and Technology, vol. 57, no. 7, July 2020, pp. 2377–92. PubMed Central.
3. Claudio, Luz. “Our Food: Packaging & Public Health.” Environmental Health Perspectives, vol. 120, no. 6, June 2012, pp. a232–37. PubMed Central.
4. Mitchell, Diane C., et al. “Consumption of Dry Beans, Peas, and Lentils Could Improve Diet Quality in the US Population.” Journal of the American Dietetic Association, vol. 109, no. 5, May 2009, pp. 909–13. PubMed