How Common Commercial Goods Can Harm You
Though you may not realize it, many of your daily habits are feeding estrogen to your body. It's not through hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and it's not caused by changes in your diet. Xenoestrogens are chemical compounds manufactured in laboratories and are included in many of the products that you buy at the grocery store. To learn about how to protect yourself from too much of this substance, keep reading below.
What Are Xenoestrogens?
Xenoestrogens are chemicals with a similar structure to estrogen and they act like estrogen once they find their way into your blood stream. The body's process of absorbing estrogen is similar to putting together a puzzle. Your blood is full of estrogen receptors that roam around searching for compatible chemicals. Once they find a puzzle piece that fits, they accept it even if it's not estrogen produced by the body.
What Are the Effects of Too Much Exposure?
Exposure to these synthetic chemicals can upset the hormonal balance that your body works to maintain or it can further exacerbate the imbalance that results from menopause. Estrogen levels that are not balanced by progesterone can result in estrogen dominance. Studies have suggested that this condition can lead to increased weight gain, osteoporosis, endometriosis, and breast cancer.
How Do I Come in Contact With Xenoestrogens?
Xenoestrogens are found in a variety of products that you may come in contact with every day. They're in the nail polish you use during your manicure. They're carried in the auto exhaust you inhale from polluted air. They're in the shampoos you use to wash your hair and the plastic containers that you use to store dinner leftovers. In fact, many foods use preservatives that contain xenoestrogens. It could be near impossible to avoid these pseudo hormones altogether, but there are some changes you can make to your daily routine to lessen your exposure.
- Look for natural products to garden or care for your lawn instead of using pesticides.
- Search for beauty care products that do not contain the paraben stearalkonium chloride.
- Stay away from foods with the preservative BHA, or butylated hydroxyanisole. When purchasing sunscreen, make sure it doesn't contain 4-MBC, a xenoestrogen.
- Reheat food in glass or ceramic containers instead of in plastic ones.
More Information about Xenoestrogen
High estrogen levels can cause obesity, heart disease, and insulin resistance. Click on the following link to read more about high estrogen levels.
