Cleaning Up Our Toxic World: Xenoestrogens

Xenoestrogens

Hormones in our bodies play such a strong role that they are behind how we look, feel, and act every day. So what happens when chemicals foreign to our bodies invade our bodies and act like hormones? They have the power to affect how we look, feel and act! The trouble is, we're living in a society full of these invaders and we might not realize how much we're influenced by them. We're eating them, drinking them, breathing them in, and putting them on our skin daily. They're called Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals or Hormone Disruptors, and they're synthetic chemicals that are usually made from petroleum. Don't panic! It is possible to avoid these chemicals and manage your health to reduce their effect on you, but the first part of this blog will explore what they are.

This blog is going to focus on one type of Endocrine Disrupting Chemical: Xenoestrogens (meaning "foreign estrogen"). They're also known as Oesterogen, Xenobiotics, Estrogen Mimicking Chemicals, or Fake Estrogens. They are persistent ubiquitous chemicals that bioaccumulate in the environment and do not biodegrade, which makes them particularly challenging. This blog is not addressing a different natural source of estrogens from our environment, called phytoestrogens, which are from plants (although the topic is related.)

Yes, these fake estrogens act like estrogen in humans and animals, in addition to the natural estrogen we already have. This accumulation of xenoestrogen in our bodies creates a condition called "Estrogen Dominance," and your doctor will not see it on a lab to test for your estrogen levels because they are not true estrogens. Estrogen Dominance is a common root cause behind many reproductive and endocrine medical conditions. While these xenoestrogens are not the only root cause of these conditions, studies have shown that they are linked. There is also evidence that these conditions may improve when xenoestrogen exposure is reduced.  In women they have been found as a factor in Endometriosis, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, uterine fibroids, infertility, and breast and uterine cancer. In men, breast growth, prostate and testicular cancer, and infertility. Thyroid conditions, early puberty, obesity, acne, and diabetes have also been linked to xenoestrogens. There is also evidence they are linked to infertility in animals, such as in this case in Florida about infertile alligators (click this sentence to read about this case.)

Where are Xenoestrogens found?

Despite mounting evidence about the dangerous effects of xenoestrogens on human and environmental health, very little government action has been taken to manage their production and usage. It is easy to understand why when you learn what common products contain xenoesterogens, because we have built a society reliant on these products:

• Plastics (food and product packaging, fibers, toys, cooking utensils...)
• Fragrances (perfume, air fresheners, scented products...)
• Cleaners (all-purpose, toilet, sanitizing wipes...)
• Triclosan (antibacterial ingredient in soaps and toothpastes)
• Parabens (commonly found in skin care products and cosmetics)​
• Pesticides (RoundUp...)
• Food coloring (FD&C Red No. 3)
• Preservatives (BHT and BHA)
• Added hormones in meat and dairy
• Tap water

These are products most of us use or are exposed to every day, and the constant exposure makes it possible for them to build up in our bodies and environment. They are known to store in our fat cells, even leading to the creation of excess fatty tissues that can cause obesity. They do not biodegrade, and are building up in our soil and water. Our environment is so saturated with them that it's not possible to entirely avoid them.

How to Reduce Xenoestrogen Exposure?

​As stated earlier, there is hope! Xenoestrogens do not need to dominate your body! The best way to keep xenoestrogens out of your body and environment is to avoid them as much as you can through your personal choices and the actions you take. This is challenging to do in public places where artificial fragrances, cleaners, and dust are prevalent, but the less you use in your personal life, the less will accumulate in your body. We can help you clean up your product choices so that you are exposed to fewer xenoestrogens! Let's break it down:

Food choices:

• If you consume animal products, choose grass-fed, pasture raised, and certified organic meats and dairy. These meats usually were not treated with hormones, and if they are organic they were not raised on pastures treated with pesticides.
• Be conscientious with food packaging. Your best choices will be foods packaged in glass, paper, biodegradable or compostable "plastic," or not packaged at all. If you need to buy a food packaged in plastic, do not heat the food in the packaging, as heat is the catalyst that releases the problem chemicals into your food. Canned food can be a safe option if it says "BPA-Free" on it.
• Buy in bulk. At Terry's you are welcome to bring in your own containers that we can fill with anything in our bulk herb and spice department, including local organic flax and psyllium husks.
• Eat organically. The organic certification on food means it will not contain pesticides, herbicides, and preservatives which contain xenoestrogens.
• Filter your water! We offer filtered water in BPA-free packaging, but you still need to address the tap water you use in your home. Waste water treatment plants are not able to remove all the contaminants in water. Distillation and reverse osmosis are the most effective options.
• Consider what you cook your food in. Non-stick coatings, such as Teflon, contain hormone disrupting chemicals that are released into your food and into the air you breathe. Did you know that owners of pet birds are advised not to cook with Teflon because birds cannot tolerate breathing it? Safer options are pans coated in copper or ceramic, cast iron, or stainless steel.​

​Personal and Cleaning Product Choices:

• Plastic packing is most common for personal care products because it makes packaging the product possible, but many natural brands choose  to use plastic that recycled and/or BPA-Free. This reduces the amount of new plastic (and xenoesterogens) being created. Check the product label to see what type of plastic they use - it will say if they made a choice to use cleaner plastic!
• There are many options that are packaged in tin, paper, glass, or not at all! We carry several brands that minimize their plastic, giving you a variety of options.
• Don't use any products with "fragrance" listed in the ingredients, unless they verify that it is naturally made and not synthetic. We carry both fragrance-free and naturally scented options.
• Choose to use natural plant-based cleaners, not petroleum-based cleaners. Petroleum is the main source of xenoesterogens, and they are what make the main ingredients in conventional cleaners. 
• Next time you need to buy menstrual products, clothes, bed sheets, towels, and anything else made of cotton, consider buying organic. Conventional cotton is one of the most heavily sprayed crops in the world, meaning it's full of pesticides. We offer organic cotton balls, swabs, and pads that do not contain any pesticides.  We also offer the menstrual cup as a safe and environmentally friendly alternative.

Can I Clean Xenoestrogens Out of My body?

​Your body is always trying to regulate and clean itself. Your liver, kidneys, colon, and skin are designed to get the junk out of your body.  When you sweat, lose weight, and use the restroom you are flushing out some of the stored waste in your body. This is why avoidance of xenoestrogens is very helpful. Evidence shows that are steps you can take to help and accelerate the process of your body flushing out the toxins, including xenoestrogen. You can do a cleanse that will help support your liver and colon in excreting waste (yes, you want to spend some quality time on the toilet!) We offer several safe, gentle, and effective cleanses. Anti-oxidants such a glutathione, vitamin c, and NAC can also be taken daily to prevent accumulation of toxins in your fat cells and organs. Another option is to counter the estrogen dominance effects with progesterone cream or herbs that balance reproductive hormones, such as vitex and dong quai. Come talk to us and we can help you explore your options!

One option you can start with is Renew Life's Cleanse Smart Advanced Total Body Program:

Disclaimer: This blog is not designed to replace medical advice or treat health conditions. We encourage you to work with your doctor for the treatment of any of your medical conditions, as we are not medical professionals and are not giving you medical advice. ​

Sources

​https://www.americangeosciences.org/geoscience-currents/non-fuel-products-oil-and-gas
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1469672/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3388472/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17127015/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/xenoestrogen
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12456297/
https://www.zeroxeno.com/xenoestrogens-101
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5359373/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24466711/
https://healthygoods.com/blog/glutathione-our-secret-weapon-in-the-free-radical-war/
https://nutritionreview.org/2019/05/environmental-estrogens-the-invisible-threat-that-surrounds-us/