This topic came up during a chat today with one of my contacts when we were discussing the apparent increasing rates of ADHD and autism in children.
Endocrine disruptors come in many guises, but essentially what they are doing is blocking, mimicking or altering our body’s hormone signals in a negative way, preventing them from doing what they are supposed to do.
Sadly our third world lives are a veritable ocean of these disruptors; from the parabens found in many personal care products such as shower gel and toothpaste to the BPAs found in plastics such as food containers water bottles and I’ve even seen this in the lining of some cans. From the pesticides used in agriculture to the flame retardants used on the sofas we sit on in our homes, it’s quite hard to avoid not coming into contact with BPAs.
In addition to hormonal imbalances, endocrine disruptors have been linked with other health issues such as infertility and abnormalities in fetal development, brain development (particularly in young children and babies in the womb), the immune system and an increased risk of cancer.
Minimizing our exposure to these human made disruptors can be made by
While completely avoiding endocrine disruptors can be challenging, here are some potential ways to reduce exposure:
1. Buy organic milk and, if you can afford it, other organic dairy products.
2. Buy organically grown fruit and vegetables (I know they aren’t cheap, but some of you may be able to buy directly from local small holdings and farms which will reduce the chemicals sprayed on to preserve the produce/
3. Yes chicken is white meat and supposed to be healthier, but growth hormones are often added to poultry feed to expedite their time to market.
4. Check the ingredients used in toothpaste and other personal care items; avoid sodium lauryl sulphate and parabens in particular.
5. Check your non stick saucepans and frying pans and bin any that have started to break down. Going forward, try to avoid these.
