Is Your Environment and Lifestyle Making You Soft ?!
EDC Effects
Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals will compete with natural endogenous hormones for the same receptor site.
Could your environment be affecting your health and hindering your fitness goals ? There is a possibility that Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) in your environment are disrupting some important biological systems; male or female.
Endocrine disrupting chemicals are chemicals that can interfere with endocrine systems. These disruptions can cause cancerous tumors, birth defects, hormone imbalances, and other developmental disorders.
EDCs can act at very low doses, and are especially dangerous during pregnancy and in infancy.
These EDCs are found in certain plastics, detergents, food, toys, and a wide array of self-care products. The problem is that EDC’s mimic natural hormones and will compete for the same receptor site. So even if certain hormones are in abundance in the serum, there could be much less being used at the cellular level.
Below I have included some graphs that demonstrate that the rise in plastic production and consumptions correlates directly with the decline in sex hormones, sperm production and overall fertility in both men and women. While there are other major contributing factors to this phenomenon such as higher obesity rates and an increase in sedentary lifestyle; the EDC aspect of the equation cannot and should not be ignored.
Water Filtration Systems
Harmful substances and endocrine disruptors can be found in your drinking water. In order to prevent this one should invest in a reliable and reputable water filtration system. I like to use these great under the sink kits from APEC. I was able to install mine myself, but if that job is not for you then a plumber can easily get this done for you.
Here are links to two great systems that I have and use:
1. APEC 5-Stage Reverse Osmosis Filtration System
2. APEC 7-Stage Reverse Osmosis Filtration System with UV Sterilizer
Shampoo & Conditioner
Parabens, phalates, and other endocrine disrupting chemicals are also present in many shampoos and conditioners on the market. This is extremely concerning considering the open pore effect that a warm shower has. If your products contain harmful chemicals then you are basically giving them easy access through your skin and scalp directly into your system. They can then bind to receptor sites and potentially block useful natural hormones from doing so.
Here is the shampoo and conditioner that I use:
Soaps
Parabens, phalates, and other endocrine disrupting chemicals are also present in other liquid and bar soaps. Again, this gives another opportunity for endocrine disrupting chemicals to enter the body.
Here are the liquid and bar versions of soap that I use:
Water Containers
We already covered how to filter your water and protect you from harmful chemicals and substances. However, the next stage of protection must come from what you choose to store your water in and ultimately drink from. You want to avoid reusing any of the traditional water bottles or gallons that you get from the supermarket. You want to ensure that your main water container as well as your shaker cup is BPA and even BPS free. You don’t want to filter your water just to potentially reintroduce endocrine disruptors via harmful plastics.
Here are the containers that I use:
Sunscreen
One of the major things that people overlook in terms of EDCs is sunscreen. EDCs that are found in sunscreen are placed directly on the skin, are rubbed into the skin, and then are heated by direct sunlight. This ensures that the EDCs are absorbed into the blood stream and can then begin to bind to receptor sites. Studies now show that these chemicals can stay in the body for weeks. Imagine the effect this can have on an adult’s hormone systems. Now imagine the effects that it can have on toddlers with developing systems. This is why you need to get the correct sunscreen for everyone in your family.
Here is the sunscreen that I use:
Toothpaste
I personally will always prefer a toothpaste with natural ingredients and no floride. It took some getting used to but I am 100% on board with this toothpaste.
Here is the Toothpaste that I use:
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences / Endocrine Disruptors / https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/endocrine/
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences / Reproductive Health / https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/conditions/repro-health/
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences / Reproductive Health / https://factor.niehs.nih.gov/2020/3/science-highlights/brain
- World Economic Forum / The World’s Plastic Problem in Numbers / https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/08/the-world-of-plastics
- Seven Sunscreen Chemicals Enter Bloodstream after one use. / CNN Health / https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/21/health/sunscreen-dangers
- Sunscreen: What Science Says About Ingredient Safety / BBC News / https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20190722-sunscreen-safe-or-toxic
