With their comfort and flexibility, leggings have become a staple in my fitness wardrobe, along with other fitness and athleisure enthusiasts alike. However, what many of us fail to realize is that polyester-based clothing made with spandex often contains the chemical compound bisphenol A (BPA).

BPA is primarily used as a plasticizer to enhance the elasticity and flexibility of the fabric. However, BPA is a known endocrine disruptor, meaning it can interfere with the body’s hormonal balance. When we wear polyester-spandex garments containing BPA, especially during activities that cause sweating (and when pores open up), there is a higher chance of the chemical being released and absorbed into our bodies through the skin.

Studies have linked BPA exposure to various health issues, including reproductive disorders, hormonal imbalances, developmental problems, and an increased risk of certain cancers. Given the potential toxicity of BPA, it’s getting me motivated to opt for clothing made from natural and BPA-free materials to protect my health and minimize exposure to harmful substances.

Fortunately, several healthier fabric options are available for leggings or athleisure pants. These are popular alternatives:

• Organic Cotton: organic cotton is a natural, breathable fabric that is gentle on the skin, making it an excellent choice for leggings.

• Bamboo: bamboo fabric is sustainable, hypoallergenic, and has natural moisture-wicking properties. It offers breathability and comfort during physical activities.

• TENCEL™ (Lenzing’s flagship brand for textile): Tencel is a fabric made from sustainably-sourced wood pulp from eucalyptus trees. These eucalyptus trees are strategically planted and harvested for fabric production, so we don’t have to worry about depleting the forest either. The wood pulp is treated with water and organic solvent to create a fabric that is soft, breathable, and has excellent moisture management properties.

• Other Lenzing™ textile brands, including: Lenzing Plant Viscose, ECOVERO™ viscose fibers, and Lenzing Modal are all fabrics (under the same flagship brand) made from sustainably-sourced wood pulp.

I’ve done some shopping and thankfully, there are brands that offer leggings made with these alternative fabrics:

Am I going to toss out my favorite pair of Lululemon’s? Probably never. However, I’m starting to transition my routine activewear to ones with more health-conscious plant-based fabrics. Budget-wise, all of these options are priced within the same range (sometimes less) as their polyester counterparts. Notice in the composition for all these plant-based leggings that you’ll never get down to zero spandex/elastane if you want that elasticity and stretch…but you can get really close!

Photo by Haute Stock