FertilityNutritionArticles
Detox from Estrogen Overload
By Katherine Rowe, LAc, FABORM
Both women and men have and need to have adequate levels of estrogen in our systems to carry out normal hormonal function. Because our environment and food supply are becoming increasingly saturated with estrogens, it is causing a whole host of health issues. Reproductive health issues like infertility in both men and women, certain types of cancer, uterine fibroids and polyps, ovarian cysts, heavy menstrual bleeding and severe cramps, endometriosis, fibrocystic breasts and aggravating menopausal symptoms can all be attributed to an excess amount of estrogen in the body. The interruption of our normal hormonal processes has been relatively downplayed in the discussion about factory farming and synthetic chemicals and plastics now ubiquitous in our food, water and body care products.
With most of my practice centering on menstrual disorders and infertility issues for men and women, I see first-hand the effects these environmental factors play in our reproductive and hormonal health. Currently, research is ongoing to prove that ‘hormone disruptors’ such as estrogens released from plastics and those found in our food and body care products are having devastating results on sperm count and menstrual health. As the use of these products by mainstream companies has grown in the last 30 years, average sperm counts have decreased 60% and sadly the rates of infertility have risen considerably. Until the data is conclusive, I think it’s very wise to focus on eliminating estrogen compounds from our diets and environment, particularly those of pregnant women and small children.
So what are 3 easy ways we can detoxify from our estrogen overload? Let’s look at Food, Plastics and Body Care Products to find out.
Food
Estrogens are fed to cattle and chickens to increase their milk and egg production and to promote faster growth. Organic meat and dairy products are not allowed to contain these added estrogens and are a good choice both because you will not consume extra estrogen and because it will help reduce the overall demand for these products. Another side effect is that the factory farms where estrogens are fed to animals leach these estrogens into the soil and water from the animal waste, causing an even bigger concern for our future. The same is true for the synthetic pesticides utilized by most major fruit and vegetable farmers, often located in Mexico and South America where it is difficult to ascertain food safety. When you don’t buy organic fruits and veggies, wash them with cold water and dish soap, or rinse them in a water-vinegar solution.
1. The number one thing you can do is buy organic milk, meat, eggs and other dairy products and to purchase vegetables and fruits grown without synthetic pesticides. The cheapest and easiest way to do this is to shop at our many farmers markets and talk to the growers. Local, small farms don’t have to resort to the same practices as the mega-factory farmers do.
Plastic
Most plastics until just recently contained a chemical known as bisphenol-A, a potent xenoestrogen (substance that mimics estrogen and binds to estrogen receptors in our body). The main concern with this type of estrogen in our environment is most prevalent when the plastic is heated, causing the bisphenol-A to leach into whatever food or liquid contained. To put it in perspective, one Dartmouth University study showed that plastic wrap heated in a microwave with vegetable oil had over 500,000 times the amount of xenoestrogen required to stimulate breast cancer cells to grow in a test tube. Plastic has been mostly a good and useful thing as we can recycle it and make millions of products with it rather cheaply. The good news is that companies that make baby products and water bottles are slowly starting to manufacture these items without bisphenol-A in them.
2. Don’t rely on plastic bottles for drinking water, use reusable aluminum bottles or buy a reusable water container that doesn’t have bisphenol-A. Disposable water and soda bottles may have been heated as they sit on trucks, dramatically increasing the amount of dangerous chemicals that leach into the beverage. Do not heat food in plastic containers; this includes all prepared frozen foods and leftovers cooked in the microwave. Purchase baby bottles and pacifiers from companies that advertise no Bisphenol-A.
Body Care Products
Finally, body creams and lotions that we rub into our skin can contain high amounts of xenoextrogens. Almost all body care products contain one or more of the preservatives known as methyl-, ethyl-, butyl- and propylparaben. These parabens are mildly estrogenic and because they are introduced topically into our system, they go right into our bloodstream and on into our tissues and organs. Phthalates are a chemical found in most cosmetics and fragrances which have been found to have a negative effect on male and female reproductive health. PABA and 4-MBC are chemicals found in sunscreen that are also highly estrogenic.
3. Read the labels on all body care products that you purchase. Avoid parabens, phthalates, PABA and 4-MBC. Sticking with brands such as Burt’s Bees, Alba, and Yes to Carrots are easy to find and very effective. Visit the website www.skindeep.com to find toxicity levels in many brand-name body care products. Research other natural care products to find ones you like—there are many good brands out there. You may pay a premium for these products but it is worth it!
I recognize that this is a controversial topic that can be placed on the backburner of our minds because there are too many things to worry about these days. But I am here to tell you that this matters. It matters to women who suffer from severe pain with their periods, to couples struggling to have a baby, to girls who are entering puberty at younger and younger ages and to the millions of women battling breast and cervical cancer in the world today. We do not deserve to be made sick by the food and products we buy. Following these 3 simple rules, you can choose to decrease the amount of estrogen in your body and our environment.