How to Avoid Endocrine Disruptors

Even if you are a person who is trying to eat all the right foods and exercise multiple times a week, it may not be enough to ward off some symptoms and conditions. While a healthy diet and moderate exercise are HIGHLY recommended for optimal health, we need to consider something else. That is toxins. More specifically, endocrine disruptors. So let’s chat about how to avoid endocrine disruptors.

As a mama and functional medicine provider, I take toxin exposure very seriously. I know the dangerous impacts it can have on my health, my family’s health, and my client’s health. Toxin exposure can affect brain clarity, physical health, and emotional health.

Suppose you are trying to run a business, reach your peak performance, or be the best mama you can be. In that case, it’s vital to pay attention to dangerous chemicals you may be exposing yourself to, as they can have huge consequences on your overall well-being.

What is The Endocrine System?

First off, let’s do a quick dive into what the endocrine system is in the first place. It is a series of glands that secretes and produces hormones that the body uses for numerous functions. Your hormones help control growth and development, mood, organ function, metabolism, reproduction, and more.

Hormone receptors are located all throughout your body. Since hormones can’t be targeted to one specific area, taking them to fix a particular issue (taking birth control to fix PMS, for example) can have multiple side effects.

As mentioned above, there are tons of hormone receptors throughout your body. Just a tiny amount of hormones (or chemicals that mimic hormones) can have enormous consequences on your body’s numerous functions. This is why I’m so passionate about informing my clients on how to avoid endocrine disruptors.

What are Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals?

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDC) are compounds that can either mimic, inhibit, infer, or modify your body’s sensitivity to hormones. These compounds can be found in nature, but are also man-made. Since hormones can pretty much affect every system in your body, it’s imperative to be aware of them!

Over the past decade, the increase in synthetic chemicals found in our society is quite concerning. We are starting to see these chemicals show up everywhere. And when I say everywhere, I mean everywhere! It’s in our everyday products (think make-up, handsoap, & shampoo!) and the food and water we consume on a daily basis!

Here are some EDCs that can have a negative impact on your health.

• Bisphenol A (BPA)- up to 93% of people have BPA in their body according to the EWG.

• Dioxin

• Arsenic

• Atrazine

• Organophosphate pesticides

• Flame retardants

• Mercury

• Perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs)

• Phthalates (this is labeled as “fragrance” in products)

• Lead

How Can Toxins Impact Your Health?

It’s essential to know the potential effects of toxins on your health. If you try to cure your health issues without looking at toxin exposure, your health problems may never truly be solved. Our body has indeed been created to rid itself of dangerous materials like toxins. This involves a detox process, including your liver, gallbladder, lymphatic system, and more.

While our body has a natural detox process, it may not work optimally due to our body’s toxin load in today’s society. Our “toxic bucket” gets filled and then starts to overflow. Your hormones become imbalanced and can cause a domino effect of health troubles. These toxins, including endocrine disruptors, can then travel throughout the body, wreaking havoc on normal processes.

Here are a couple of ways endocrine disruptors can influence your health.

EDCs and Reproductive Health

A huge part of reproductive health is based on hormone balance. An imbalance of thyroid, cortisol, estrogen, progesterone, and more, could have damaging effects on your ability to conceive. If your hormones are unbalanced because of endocrine disruptor exposure, you may find yourself with longer than normal periods and/or struggling to get pregnant and stay pregnant.

EDCs and Metabolism

Endocrine disruptors may play a role in obesity. These compounds may disrupt the regulation of energy metabolism and the creation of fat cells. EDCs could play a part in the obesity crisis we are seeing in today’s society (along with many other factors).

EDCs and Brain Function

Hormones and brain function are significantly associated with one another. Your brain is particularly sensitive to endogenous hormones. EDCs can disrupt those neural circuits that form during periods of brain organization. Hormone-disrupting chemicals have been linked with schizophrenia, depression, hyperactivity, and autism in children.

Endocrine disruptors can also influence:

• Sleep

• Growth and development

• Tissue function

• Blood sugar

• Brain function

• Sensory perception

Where are Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) Found?

Here is a list of the potential places where these toxins could be hiding. Avoiding EDCs and replacing your products doesn’t usually happen overnight. However, I want to make you aware that when you do see these names, you know to be extra cautious with them and transition to healthier options. The sooner, the better to swap out these products! I know it can be overwhelming and it does not have to be done overnight but do the best you can to help your health and your family’s health.

• Shampoo/Conditioners

• Lotions

• Make-Up

• Hand soap

• Laundry detergent

• Household cleaners

• Children’s clothes

• Water

• Plastic toys

• Plastic containers

• Cash register receipts

• Diapers

• New furniture

How to Limit Your Exposure to Endocrine Disruptors

While toxins are everywhere, there are ways that you can reduce your exposure to reduce any negative side effects they may be causing you.

8 Tips on how to avoid endocrine disruptors:

• Educate yourself on the alternative names that EDCs may be labeled as

• Buy non-toxic alternatives as much as possible

• Switch to non-toxic cleaning products in your home

• Buy organic foods and products like clothing (especially for your little ones at home)

• “All-natural” doesn’t necessarily mean it’s safe from harmful toxins

• Use a water filter to avoid endocrine disruptors in water sources

• Let new furniture air out before putting them in your home (place outside or garage it for a couple of days)

• Transition to glass Tupperware containers instead of plastic

How Can A Functional Medicine Provider Help You?

A functional medicine provider doesn’t just cover up your symptoms; they get to the root cause. Many times, toxin exposure is a main culprit to health issues.

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