Avoid Plastics and Chemicals that Mess with Your Hormones and Make you Fat

By Charles Poliquin BPA or Bisphenol A has recently gotten a lot of attention for its ability to alter hormones , decrease brain function, and lower reproductive health. Be aware that there are other chemicals and plastics that are just as important to avoid, and two new studies show that exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals alters molecular programming, causes premature reproductive aging, and makes you more likely to be overweight. This news comes two years after the Endocrine Society published a position statement on the health threats of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in the environment, food, and consumer products, making it amazing that people are still being exposed to these chemicals at very high rates.

A study published in Environmental Health Perspectives found that Spanish children who were exposed to larger amounts of endocrine-disrupting chemicals during gestation (as tested with umbilical cord measurements) were more likely to be overweight at 6 years of age than those with lower exposure. Researchers tested three endocrine-disrupting chemicals (PCB, DDE, DDT) and found that exposure to PCBs and DDEs were associated with a greater risk of being overweight in girls, DDT exposure was linked to the boys being overweight. These gender-based associations are likely because PCB and DDE mimic estrogen and therefore influence girls more noticeably in some effects. They do alter males hormone function as well but the hormonal disruptions manifest different in the body. DDT appears to disrupt male androgen function more directly.

The second study published in Molecular Endocrinology found that gestational exposure to estrogenic endocrine-disrupting chemicals alters metabolic programming, reproductive function, and hypothalamus function in females. Researchers tested the effect of exposing rats to endocrine-disrupting chemicals and found that their offspring had altered neuroendocrine gene and DNA expression. They also had early onset reproductive function and messed up metabolism. Have I scared you yet?

In addition to these drastic health effects, the Endocrine Society notes that these chemicals lower fertility in men, cause cancer, mess with brain function, alter thyroid activity, slow metabolism, and contribute to fat gain. These chemicals are serious stuff, and yes, they are everywhere, but there are a few things you can do to limit exposure. Because of the critical importance of this issue, Im going to use todays tip to provide some pointers on how to minimize exposure from

some of the most pervasive endocrine-disrupting chemicals.

BPA is found in plastics (bottles and other plastic), metal cans, and receipt paper, among other items. It acts like estrogen in the body and has been shown to increase hyperactivity in young girls, lower testosterone and sexual function in men, and alter brain function in both sexes.

Limit BPA Exposure: 1) Drink from a BPA-free water bottle. Stainless steel water bottles are a good choicemake sure it is lead free as well. Sigg bottles are one option.

2) Dont eat out of plastic containers (even BPA-free ones because theres concern with toxicity from all plastics). NEVER microwave a plastic container. Under high temperatures is when BPA is most easily transferred from plastic to food. Use glass containers.

3) Dont take receipts unless necessary. Almost half of paper receipts contain BPA and theres evidence that cashiers have very high BPA levels. Say no thanks to receipts.

4) Use cloth bags when shopping. If you forget your cloth bags, opt for paper if you can.

Phthalates are also used in plastic and are commonly found in vinyl plastics such as floorings, medical devices, varnishes, timed-release pharmaceuticals, and personal-care products such as perfume, lotion, and shampoo. They mimic estrogen in the body and will throw your whole androgen balance off, leading to fat gain in both men and women. They have also been proven to alter semen quality, inhibit reproduction in both sexes, and cause cancer, particularly prostate and breast.

Limit Phthalate Exposure: 1) Buy personal-care products such as shampoo, lotion, shaving cream, and cosmetics from a legitimate natural source. Whole Foods is trustworthy, but just because a product says it is natural, dont trust it. To read more, check out this research report, Safe Cosmetics: HYPERLINK "http://safecosmetics.org/downloads/NotTooPretty_report.pdf" http://

safecosmetics.org/downloads/NotTooPretty_report.pdf

2) Read the ingredients of your products and avoid these abbreviations. The shampoo bottle wont say phthalates, rather look for DBP, DEP, DEHP, BzBP, and DMP.

3) Be aware of the word fragrance, which may refer to a phthalates or other endocrine-altering chemical.

4) Choose plastics with the recycling code 1,2, or 5. The codes 3 and 7 are more likely to contain BPA and phthalates. Pesticides and growth hormones in food cause major disruption to the endocrine system. Pesticides alter endocrine function by binding with endocrine receptors and raising estrogen in men and women. The most compelling data associated with health risks from pesticides are linked to prostate cancer. They also cause breast cancer, but there is less proven research on the link. A large research study from 2003 of 90,000 participants in North Carolina and Iowa found a direct link between increased prostate cancer rates and exposure to six common pesticides. Even though these pesticides dont have a direct estrogenic effect, they do alter enzyme that metabolize estrogen and other androgens, which lead to hormonal imbalances in the body. Naturally, hormones fed to animals to make them grow more quickly or prevent sickness also wreak havoc on the bodys hormone receptors. Limit Pesticide Exposure: 1) Buy organic produce and meat whenever possible. Consider finding a small, local organic farm or food cooperative that you can develop a relationship with to ensure quality.

2) Wash all produce and know the items on the Dirty Dozen list of foods with the greatest pesticide contamination. Avoid these or buy organic: Apples, Celery, Strawberries, Peaches, Spinach, Imported Nectarines, Imported Grapes, Sweet Bell Peppers, Potatoes, Domestic Blueberries, Lettuce, Kale and Collards.

3) Read the Endocrine Society article for yourself. Luckily, it is free, so you can read it here: HYPERLINK "http://www.endo-society.org/journals/scientificstatements/upload/ edc_scientific_statement.pdf" http://www.endo-society.org/journals/scientificstatements/

upload/edc_scientific_statement.pdf

References:

Gore, A., Walker, D., et al. Early Life Exposure to Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals Causes Lifelong Molecular Reprogramming of the Hypothalamus and Premature Reproductive Aging. Molecular Endocrinology. October 2011. Published Ahead of Print.

Valvi, D., Mendez, M., et al. Prenatal Concentrations of PCBs, DDE, DDT and Overweight Children: A Prospective Birth Cohort Study. Environmental Health Perspectives. October 2011. Published Ahead of Print.

Diamanti-Kandarakis, E., Bourguignon, J., et al. Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals: an Endocrine Society Statement. Endocrine Reviews. June 2009. 30(4), 293-242.

Shapley, Dan. How to Avoid Phthalates in Three Steps. The Daily Green. February 4, 2008. http:// www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/phthalates-47020418