Xenoestrogens [zee- no-es-tro-gens]

What are xenoestrogens? If you have never heard of them, Xenoestrogens are a type of xenohormone that imitates estrogen. They can be either synthetic or natural chemical compounds. Xenoestrogens are a subcategory of the endocrine disruptor group that specifically have estrogen-like effects. Xenoestrogens are not biodegradable so, they are stored in our fat cells. And they are found in a variety of everyday items.

Xenoestrogens interfere with the process of hormone production. This can cause a plethora of problems in Women such as -PMS, Breast Cancer, Uterine Cancer, Ovarian Cancer, Fibroid Breast Disease, Fibroid Uterine Disease, and Infertility. In Men it can cause-Low Sperm Count, Testicular Cancer, Prostate Cancer and Infertility. It can cause girls as young as 7 or 8 to go through puberty and young boys to develop breasts and/or smaller testis. As if that were not bad enough, unlike natural hormones which are released from your system after they are used; xenoestrogens remain in the fatty tissues of the body creating a toxic residue.

Below is a list of how to avoid sources of xenoestrogens, but it is by no means complete. Every day, we are constantly exposed to these substances in the world we live in.

1. Never use plastic in a microwave to heat your food. Plastic wrapped foods, heated in the microwave, contain some of the highest levels of xenoestrogens. 2. Use glass or stainless steel whenever possible to store your food. 3. Keep your bottled water out of the sun; heat leaches out xenoestrogens. 4. Avoid oral contraceptives.

5. Wash your produce well. Pesticides contain xenoestrogens. 6. Avoid “health and beauty aids” that contain parabens and phenoxyethanol such as: shampoos, lotions, soaps, toothpastes, cosmetics and other personal care products.

7. Buy organic meats and eggs whenever possible but more important use organic dairy products.

8. Don’t use weed killers-try salt instead.

9. Avoid all pesticides, fungicides and herbicides.

10. Try to avoid buying [food] cans with plastic linings (BPA). Look for BPA free cans. 11. Avoid frozen vegetables that come in a microwavable cook-in bag.

12. Use chemical free detergents and avoid fabric softener. Do not use dryer sheets. 13. Avoid spermicides and condoms that contain spermicides. 14. If you buy coffee out often, bring your own stainless steel travel mug and have them fill it. Even the cardboard cups are usually lined with plastic and anytime hot food comes in contact with plastic or styrofoam, toxic chemicals and xenoestrogens are leached out.

15. Soft plastics used as packaging materials are often treated with chemical compounds called phthalates, a xenoestrogen, to increase its flexibility.

The world we live in is a contaminated one, it is sad but true. It may be hard to avoid all of these things, but knowledge is power. Change what you can. If you have any estrogen dominant diseases such as endometriosis, fibroids, breast cancer, prostate cancer, PMS etc., you owe it to yourself and make radical changes.

Let’s try our best to live a simple and natural life to help our body heal and be healthy.