All About Endocrine Disruptors

Have you ever wondered why more and more people are being diagnosed with autoimmune diseases like celiac disease? Or why obesity rates are predicted to increase drastically in the next decade? Or even why more women around you are struggling with fertility issues?  Well, endocrine disruptors may be partly to blame. An endocrine disrupting compound has been defined by the US Environmental Protection Agency as “an agent that interferes with synthesis, secretion, transport, metabolism, binding action, or elimination of natural hormones that are present in the body and are responsible for homeostasis, reproduction, and developmental processes.” In simpler terms, this means that these compounds can tamper with the endocrine system in the body which oversees hormones. Hormones control nearly all the processes in the body and when the balance is thrown off it can result in many negative consequences.  These dangerous compounds can be present in everything from food, cleaning products, hair and skin products, toys, and pesticides and herbicides. Endocrine disrupting compounds have been linked to metabolic dysfunction and obesity, diabetes, cancers, male and female infertility, autoimmune diseases, and developmental issues.

You might now be wondering: how do I avoid these?! It can be difficult to avoid all endocrine disrupting chemicals but starting to limit your contact with them can help to keep you safer and healthier in the long run.

Here are ingredients or terms you should watch out for:

·      BPA (buy BPA free)

·      Atrazine (pesticide)

·      PFAS compounds (found on nonstick cookware, in cleaning products and drinking water)

·      Phthalates (found in plastic wrap and containers)

·      Tributyltin (found in cleaning products)

·      Arsenic (can be in certain foods grown in arsenic containing soil or water)

Tips to avoid EDCs:

·      Buy organic food and products as your budget allows (ensures that no pesticides and herbicides were used)

·      Avoid plastics for food and beverages (these EDCs can slowly leach chemicals into food and beverages)

·      Use glass containers to heat foods in microwave (plastics can leak chemicals into foods -especially when hot)

·      Use a water filter

·      Cut back on fast food (loaded with PFAS)

·      Make your own cleaning products (use vinegar, lemon juice, baking soda)

·      Avoid plastic toys, containers, and plastic wrap (can contain phthalates ((some children’s toys ban these products))

·      Use hair and skin products that contain no endocrine disruptors- Check out our clean hair and skin page for safe products! Click here!

Disclaimer: This blog contains affiliate links.