We live in a toxic world. All around us there are thousands of FDAapproved chemicals in the air we breathe, the food and water we consume, the products we apply, and the surfaces we touch. Natural and synthetic chemicals enter our bodies through our organs of elimination; skin, lungs, and digestive systems.
Xenoestrogens are man-made chemicals that disrupt the endocrine system and meddle with our ability to excrete estrogen,potentially leading to estrogen dominance as well as developmental, reproductive, neurological and immune effects.
WHAT ARE THE DANGERS OF XENOESTROGENS?
When xenoestrogens enter our body and interact with estrogen receptors, they block the receptors from properly binding to endogenous estrogen. This can initiate an increase in endogenous estrogen production, creating estrogen dominance or a greater ratio of estrogen than normal baselines. Signs can range from mood swings to weight gain and decreased libido to headaches.
Xenoestrogens are stored in the body’s fat tissues and are difficult to detoxify. When the body is repeatedly exposed to these estrogen disrupters, it will build up fat storage for all of the xenoestrogens and send a signal telling the brain that there is enough estrogen, causing a decrease in estrogen production and symptoms such as fatigue, weight gain, or headaches. Women, due to their hormonal constitution and higher constitution of adipose tissue, are at a higher risk of breast cancer and endometriosis from long-term exposure to xenoestrogens.
The accumulation of xenoestrogen chemicals can be dangerous for children with developing brains, nervous systems, and reproductive organs. Studies have shown that high xenoestrogen exposure can lead to early puberty in girls, disrupting the natural function of their endocrine system.
WHERE DO XENOESTROGENS COME FROM?
Xenoestrogens can be found in household items, personal care products, plastic food and beverage containers, herbicides, and pesticides. Some of the most common xenoestrogen chemicals are listed below:
• 4-MBC: 4-Methyl benzylidene camphor, which is found in sunscreen lotions
• Parabens, phthalates, and sodium lauryl sulfate: Methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, and butylparaben are commonly found in personal care products such as shampoos and lotions
• BPA: Bisphenol A, which is found in plastic containers
• Erythrosine/FD&C Red No. 3, which is found in processed food
• BHA: Butylated hydroxyanisole, which is used as a food preservative
• Atrazine—a weed killer
• DDT—an insecticide
• Chlorine household products
• Petrochemicals, which are found in perfumes and colognes
• Fluoride, which is found in tap water
So what can you do to avoid these common Xenoestrogens?
1: Food
• Avoid all pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides.
• Choose organic, locally-grown and in-season foods.
• Peel non-organic fruits and vegetables.
• Buy hormone-free meats and dairy products to avoid hormones and pesticides.
2: Plastics
• Reduce the use of plastics whenever possible.
• Do not microwave food in plastic containers.
• Avoid the use of plastic wrap to cover food for storing or microwaving.
• Use glass or ceramics whenever possible to store food.
• Do not leave plastic containers, especially your drinking water, in the sun.
• If a plastic water container has heated up significantly, throw it away.
• Don’t refill plastic water bottles.
• Avoid freezing water in plastic bottles to drink later.
3: Household Products
• Use chemical free, biodegradable laundry and household cleaning products.
• Choose chlorine-free products and unbleached paper products (i.e. tampons, menstrual pads, toilet paper, paper towel, coffee filters).
• Use a chlorine filter on shower heads and filter drinking water.
4: Health and Beauty Products
• Avoid creams and cosmetics that have toxic chemicals and estrogenic ingredients such as parabens and stearalkonium chloride.
• Minimize your exposure to nail polish and nail polish removers.
• Use naturally based fragrances, such as essential oils.
• Use chemical free soaps and toothpastes.
• Tampons and pads contain dioxin which interferes with our hormones.
5: At the Office
• Be aware of noxious gas such as from copiers and printers, carpets, fiberboards, and at the gas pump.
You don’t have to do every single one of these things at once. Even if you only pick a couple of things on this list to start, you’re still going to be improving your health and you can always do more in the future.
Other Health Tips to Reduce the Accumulation of Harmful Xenoestrogens:
Maintain a healthy weight:
Prevent higher exposures to endocrine disruptors by never becoming overweight. Once overweight, it can be difficult to rid the body of these stored chemicals which get deposited in body fat, making weight loss more difficult as well.
Detox:
Help the body get rid of harmful xenoestrogens by consuming foods with nutrients that eliminate harmful extrogen metabolites. Flax seeds, sprouts, and cabbage family vegetables; broccoli, cauliflower, kohlrabi, cabbage, kale, bok choy.
Elimination:
Prioritize daily bowel movements, as these hormones can be packaged up in fiber and eliminated from our stool. Fruits, veggies, whole grains, lemon water, and a diet low in animal products improve size and ease of bowel movements.
The effects of long-term exposure to xenoestrogen chemicals are undeniably dangerous to endocrine system health and hormone balance, but making lifestyle changes and becoming more aware of how to protect yourself from overexposure can positively affect your long-term health.
