Article Reviewed By The Medical Faculty and Advisory Review Board
You’d be surprised at how many everyday things impact our hormones. There are the more obvious ones – like lifestyle choices, exercise routines/eating habits, aging – but there are also everyday products we use that can alter our hormone levels.
Although it’s nearly impossible to avoid synthetic products altogether, here’s an overview of some chemicals in synthetic products that can be particularly problematic to your hormonal health.
Again – it’s probably unrealistic to cut all of these things out of your life forever – but information is power.
It’s important to be aware of the potential impacts of the products that you surround yourself with, so you can make more educated decisions.
1. BPA
The chemical Bisphenol A is most commonly found in plastics but is also used in other products such as canned foods.
The chemical composition of BPA is very similar to estrogen. Studies have shown a correlation between exposure to BPA and symptoms of hormonal imbalances, such as early puberty and obesity.
It is important to note, though, these studies have only proven correlation, not causation that BPA exposure has directly led to these hormonal imbalances.
2. Perchlorate
Perchlorate can be found in a variety of common items, ranging from rocket fuel to milk products. Consuming too much of this chemical can make it hard for your thyroid to make enough hormones.
It is extraordinarily hard to avoid trace amounts of perchlorate in food and drinking water, but you can counteract some of its negative effects by making sure you’re getting enough iodine in your diet.
3. Lead
We all know that this one can cause problems, but you’ve probably heard more about lead’s negative impacts on your IQ levels and even that it can cause brain damage.
Lead can affect your hormones too, though. In animals, it has been shown to lower sex hormone levels. So next time you’re planning a home improvement project, be careful with that paint!
4. Pesticides
We all know that pesticides aren’t good for us, but did you know that they can impact your hormone levels? Pesticides in produce can cause an imbalance in testosterone levels.
A good way to prevent this is to lower your risk of consuming pesticides by buying organic produce.
5. Caffeine
Don’t worry, we understand – you have to have your morning coffee. But if you’ve started to notice some symptoms of hormone imbalance and you’re a big coffee drinker, it might be worth thinking about your caffeine intake.
Caffeine can raise levels of cortisol, a hormone that affects your stress levels.
6. Sugar
No surprise, sugar can turn on you. Too much sugar intake can increase your insulin levels, which causes the hormones that control your appetite not to work so well.
An imbalance in these hormones can lead to higher levels of estrogen and testosterone, bringing with it many symptoms of hormonal imbalance.
Once again, you don’t have to stop eating sugar altogether – but if it’s making you feel a little weird, it might be worth cutting down your intake.
7. Phthalates
Phthalates are a type of chemical known as an “estrogen blocker,” something that – once in our bodies – won’t allow our estrogen to perform up to par.
Unfortunately, we put phthalates into our bodies more than you’d like to think. They can be found in makeup, hairspray, nail polish and more – so check those bottles, ladies!
We Can Help
Listen to your body and track any changes you notice as this information can be helpful when determining if hormone imbalance is at play.
Schedule a consultation with the EvexiPEL provider nearest to you and learn more about the holistic method we take to treating hormones as well as other ways you can stay on top of your health.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA.
