The ability to naturally balance our hormones is within us all. But one of the constant obstacles that come between us and sustaining healthy, balanced hormones is hidden chemicals. I’ve just started researching and understanding the impact these can have, and wanted to share with you what these chemicals are.
Are you ready? Let’s get to it!

#1: Plastics

I recently covered the dangers of plastics in a post. Let’s quickly go over why I’m slowly starting to part ways with them. Plastic is a source of BPA and Phthalates. BPA (short for bisphenol-a) is can be found in water bottles or canned food. The reason why BPA can send your hormones off balance has to do with their ability to raise estrogen. This is not a gender-exclusive effect, by the way- both men and women can be affected by the estrogenic potential of BPA. Frequent exposure can mess with the delicate balance of our hormones, increasing the risk for hormone-related disorders and even playing a contributing role in birth defects in infants. And don’t be fooled by packaging that claims to be free of it. They’ll most likely contain compounds that are just as bad as BPA. As for Phthalates, you can find those in fragrances, children’s toys, and plastic packaging. They’re currently under scrutiny for their affiliation with hyperthyroidism and male infertility and have started being taken off the production line in children’s toys. [1] [2] [3]

#2: Dioxins

Whenever you’re bleaching or deodorizing food or a type of personal care item, you wind up with a little bit of byproduct in the form of dioxins. These guys are very resilient and hardly become biodegradable (in other words, they don’t break down easily). The constant exposure to dioxins can potentially lead to an assortment of significant problems, anywhere from cancer to infertility, nervous system disorders, and even skin lesions. Yikes! [4]

#3: Parabens

Sure, you know how to read the ingredients for your food, but have you ever done so for things like skincare? You may want to start reading up on the ingredients that can have quite a negative effect on your hormones! One of which includes parabens. Parabens are basically a preservative that can be found in various beauty, skin care, and other kinds of personal care products. Ladies, pay close attention to what I have to say next. A reason why these are a HUGE no-no is due to emerging research linking them to breast cancer. Even the tiniest amounts appear to incite the growth of specific kinds of breast cancer cells. If you think I’m over exaggerating or pulling lies out of thin air, consider this. In Europe, parabens are banned, while in the United States and several other countries they continue to be used. Just some food for thought. [5] [6]

#4: Triclosan

This controversial ingredient is still up for debate, but it’s worth mentioning. Triclosan is a chemical that can be found in hand sanitizers and toothpaste (so you’re intimately coming into contact with it). In 2016, the FDA had banned it from antibacterial soaps due to companies failing to prove it was safe. Google up Triclosan and you find conflicting studies. You have some finding it safe, and others not. Here’s what can be said about Triclosan, and then you can decide the verdict for yourself. Triclosan actually has a similar structure to our good friend BPA, so it acts like a xenoestrogen (a foreign estrogen) in the body. Xenoestrogens act like a wild card and interfere with our natural hormone balance, so it’s very important that we avoid exposure to them as much as possible. Triclosan can also affect thyroid hormone metabolism and testosterone production, so don’t underestimate its reach! [7]

#5: (Artificial) Fragrances

Fragrances indulge our sense of smell. They make our shampoos smell luxurious, and provide that fresh, crisp scent to our laundry. You can find them in nearly all beauty products, air fresheners (both plug-ins and sprays), creams and lotions, cleaning supplies, soaps, dryer sheets, laundry detergents, sunscreens, perfumes, colognes, and scented candles. Whew! Quite a list, isn’t it? So… what gives? Why are they so bad? Nearly 95% of all artificial fragrances are derived from petroleum and act like a curtain hiding other suspicious ingredients behind it. These include phthalates (surprise!) and benzenes, a class of chemicals with ties to cancer, allergies, nervous system imbalances, and birth defects, amongst other concerns. While I don’t think there’s a chance you can completely avoid artificial fragrances (because what happens when you go to a party and get a whiff of someone’s perfume?), you can certainly swap out as much of your items that contain it as possible. There are plenty of natural beauty brands, candles, and cleaning supplies to choose from these days as more and more companies are waking up to the reality of the potency of these menacing ingredients. Good places to check out include health food stores, Thrive Market, and the Environmental Working Group (EWG), which contains a list of safer alternatives to everyday personal and home-use products. [8] [9]

#6: Pesticides, Atrazine, and Roundup

These three have been lumped together due to their common source: non-organic food. Similar to the Triclosan debate, there’s conflicting research out there over whether or not conventional produce is inferior or equal to organic. But let’s lay down the risks and go from there. While all three are meant to protect crops from the elements and pesky insects, they come with their risks. Pesticides, for instance, have been found to be contributory factors to a spectrum of health issues; hormonal imbalances, infertility, birth and development disorders, Alzheimer’s, and, surprisingly, obesity. Both Atrazine and Roundup also possess similar effects, especially as hormone disruptors. Atrazine is highly estrogenic and causes male fish to turn into female fish. Yikes! It’s the second most common weed killer (right after the infamous Roundup) and can also be found in tap water. So, what to do about these guys? Your safest bet is to do your best to opt for organic produce whenever possible (whether at the grocery store, growing your own at home, or paying a visit to your local farmer’s market). If you must buy conventional, please be sure to soak or spray them with a produce wash. You can look online for a DIY recipe or buy one online or at your local health foods store. [10] [11] [12] [13]

Sources:

[1] https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/just-how-harmful-are-bisphenol-a-plastics/
[2] https://www.webmd.com/children/bpa#1
[3] https://noharm-uscanada.org/issues/us-canada/phthalates-and-dehp
[4] https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dioxins-and-their-effects-on-human-health
[5] https://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/news/20151027/parabens-breast-cancer#1
[6] https://www.breastcancer.org/risk/factors/cosmetics
[7] https://www.webmd.com/beauty/news/20180705/banned-from-soap-triclosan-in-toothpaste
[8] https://www.ewg.org/enviroblog/2014/08/expert-panel-confirms-fragrance-ingredient-can-cause-cancer
[9] https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/toxic-perfumes-and-colognes/
[10] https://www.nature.com/scitable/blog/green-science/the_dangers_of_pesticides
[12] https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/phs/phs.asp?id=336&tid=59
[13] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2842049/