Endocrine Disruptors and

How They Affect Us

Our endocrine system consists of glands that release hormones naturally. They act like chemical messengers, binding to receptors on cells and causing cellular changes. Hormones are potent signals that control how our organs work, metabolism, reproduction, mood, energy, sleep quality, skin texture, and muscle tone.

What you may not know about our hormones from our western medical system is that our hormones are directly aligned, affected, and commanded by the energy centers of our body called the chakras. We will touch base more on that next week!In our modern society we are constantly bombarded with chemicals on a daily basis that disrupt our endocrine and hormonal systems.

Endocrine disruptors (EDs) mimic natural hormones. They bind with our hormone receptors and can change hormone creation, transport, binding, and breakdown. They can linger in our water, air, and bodies for a long time.

Our Hormones vs. Endocrine Disruptors

As discussed in last week’s blog, our hormones are critical to our health. When EDs alter them, we can experience:

• Oxidative stress

• Altered testicular function, lower testosterone, and sperm count

• Sensory impairment and social problems

• Altered conversion of cholesterol to steroid hormones

• Promotion of obesity

• The altered onset of puberty

• Disrupted immune function

• Disrupted bone health, cardiac function, and mental status

There are endocrine disruptors everywhere in plastic water bottles, personal care items like body wash and shampoo, fish, candles, food (mainly processed food), hand soap, and essential cleaners, to name a few! Hormonal manipulators are everywhere, but it can be easier to avoid them than you think.

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Where are Endocrine Disruptors Found?

In our modernized world, more chemicals are produced. “Back in the modernizing 1950s with the process of burning fuel like coal, manufacturers were left with byproducts, and they put them into our everyday household products so that they could capitalize on both ends” Dr. Shanna Swan. These chemicals make their way into our environment. EDs are found in:

• Food

• Personal care products

• Cosmetics

• Pharmaceuticals

• Pesticides

• Plastics

• Water

• Soil

Unfortunately, no law in the U.S. currently addresses endocrine disruptors under an integrated framework, and they are pretty tricky to get rid of. Some foods, like soy, naturally contain phytoestrogens, however, others, like produce, are often artificially sprayed with pesticides and synthetic flame retardants have been found in meat, dairy, fish and eggs.

Studies in the U.S. show that pregnant women have a higher risk of EDs that might affect their offspring. In addition, some believe that fetal exposure to EDs can lead to diseases in adults. This is because children and infants are particularly susceptible to EDs.

From her research, Dr. Shanna Swan believes this isn’t deliberate but simply due to ignorance. “It is economical. People manufacturing these plastics, pesticides, flame retardants, and so on think of it as just business. People want these products because they are modern and seen as necessary, and it’s become an addiction. And these manufacturers are happy to supply it.” To watch her full video, click below.

Read Last Week's Blog Post Here:

Top Health Benefits of Indium

January 2, 2023

Indium is a silvery metal so soft that you could bite a chuck out of it! In nature it is very rare and usually only found as a trace element in other minerals.

Other Benefits of Indium Include:

Indium helps restore the natural cellular process surrounding the health of our eyes, brain and body. Schroeder's tests found that with supplementation of Indium one could experience:

15 days: Improved sleep

1 week: Sense of well-being

2 weeks: Better physical resistance

3-5 weeks: Normalized blood glucose

4 weeks: Libido normalization

10 weeks: Regularized blood pressure

3 months: Menstruation normalization

4 months: Stable eye pressure

Common Endocrine Disruptors

EDs and the planet

Data show that wildlife is suffering from exposure to EDs from living on planet earth. EDs can accumulate in us, other animals, soil, and water.

Many EDs come from the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels. To prevent further burden, the foremost thing we can do as a species is to consume less stuff. Consuming less stuff means less reliance on fossil fuels, the chief source of EDs.

Ways to reduce your exposure:

Use natural products.

• Reduce as many harmful chemicals in your house and make substitutions for common household pollutants.

• The simpler the ingredients, the better.

• Vinegar is an excellent alternative for a multi-purpose cleaner.

• Limes are the most effective and healthiest form of deodorant!

Be a conscious consumer.

• Look for safer eco- and body-friendlier alternatives. For example, avoid artificial fragrances, dyes, and complex formulas of ingredients you don’t recognize.

Use fewer fossil fuels.

• Carpool

• Take transit

• Walk

• Cycle

Help your body eliminate toxins.

• Eat the best quality food — organic if you can get it

• Drink water

• Stay active and sweat

• Make sure your liver is functioning well, and eat plenty of fiber.

Use less plastic.

• Don’t heat things in plastic or Styrofoam containers. Glass, steel and ceramic appear to be safer and better for you and the environment. Switch to wooden or metal utensils instead of plastic ones.

See a naturopathic doctor for evidence-based detoxification protocols if you believe you have high exposure.

Studies show EDs may have an additive effect. So every slight improvement helps. It’s better to make one small change than to worry about what you can’t control.

Resources:

https://www.precisionnutrition.com/all-about-environmental-toxin

https://www.precisionnutrition.com/all-about-endocrine-disruptors

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLxFazLK2Mg

Boas M, et al. Thyroid effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals. Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology 2012;355:240-248.

Yipeng S, et al. Bisphenol A and its analogues activate human pregnane X receptor. Environ Health Perspect 2012;120:399-405.

Rees Clayton EM, et al. The impact of Bisphenol A and Triclosan on immune parameters in the U.S. population, NHANES 2003-2006. Environ Health Perspect 2011;119:390-396.

Cederroth CR, Zimmermann C, Nef S. Soy, phytoestrogens and their impact on reproductive health. Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology 2012;355:192-200.

Talsness CE, et al. Components of plastic: experimental studies in animals and relevance for human health. Phil Trans R Soc B 2009;364:2079-2096.

Frye CA, et al. Endocrine disrupters: A review of some sources, effects, and mechanisms of actions on behavior and neuroendocrine systems. J of Neuroendocrinology 2011;24:144-159.

Rhind SM. Anthropogenic pollutants: a threat to ecosystem sustainability? Phil Trans R Soc B 2009;364:3391-3401.

Swedenborg E, et al. Endocrine disruptive chemicals: mechanisms of action and involvement in metabolic disorders. Journal of Molecular Endocrinology 2009;43:1-10.

Elobeid MA, et al. Endocrine disruptors and obesity: An examination of selected persistent organic pollutants in the NHANES 1999-2002 data. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2010;7:2988-3005.

Mathur PP & D’Cruz SC. The effect of environmental contaminants on testicular function. Asian Journal of Andrology 2011;13:585-591.

Wynters S & Goldberg B. The Pure Cure. 2012. Soft Skull Press.

Woodruff TJ, Zota AR, Schwartz JM. Environmental chemicals in pregnant women in the United States: NHANES 2003-2004.

Flint S, et al. Bisphenol A exposure, effects, and policy: A wildlife perspective. J Environmental Management 2012;104:19-34.

Fowler PA, et al. Impact of endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) on female reproductive health. Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology 2012;355:231-239.

Giwercman A. Estrogens and phytoestrogens in male infertility. Current Opinion in Urology 2011;21:519-526.

Janesick A & Blumberg B. Obesogens, stem cells and the developmental programming of obesity. International Journal of Andrology 2012;35:437-448.

Jugan ML, Levi Y, Blondeau JP. Endocrine disruptors and thyroid hormone physiology. Biochemical Pharmacology 2010;79:939-947.

Krause M, et al. Sunscreens: are they beneficial for health? An overview of endocrine disrupting properties of UV-filters. International Journal of Andrology 2012;35:424-436.

Vieau D. Perinatal nutritional programming of health and metabolic adult disease. World J Diabetes 2011;2:133-136.

Meeker JD, Sathyanarayana S, Swan SH. Phthalates and other additives in plastics: human exposure and associated health outcomes. Phil Trans R Soc B 2009;364:2097-2113.

Schug TT, et al. Endocrine disrupting chemicals and disease susceptibility. Journal of Steroid Biochemistry & Molecular biology 2011;127:204-215.

Syam S, et al. Thyroid disrupting chemicals in plastic additives and thyroid health. Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part C: Environmental Carcinogenesis and Ecotoxicology Reviews 2012;30:107-151.

Vandenberg LN, et al. Hormones and endocrine-disrupting chemicals: Low-dose effects and nonmonotonic dose responses. Endocrine Reviews 2012;33:378-455.

Schecter A, et al. Polybrominated dipheyl ether (PBDE) levels in an expanded market basket survey of U.S. food and estimated PBDE dietary intake by age and sex. Environ Health Perspect 2006;114:1515-1520.

Annie pavone

January 9, 2023