What Are Xenoestrogens?

Xenoestrogens are foreign chemicals in our food chain and in the environment. They overload us with estrogen mimickers that disrupt our hormones and can make us sick. They are found in meat and chicken fattened with estrogenic drugs, food dyes, and animal and human food treated with pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides. They are found in our water supply because hormone medications that aren’t metabolized end up in our lakes. They are also found in countless household and personal products which many of us use every day, plastics, fuels, car exhausts, dry cleaning chemicals, and industrial waste.

Xenoestrogens Cause Weight Gain

In children, excessive estrogen can contribute to precocious puberty. For women in menopause, hormone imbalance and concerns of estrogen dominance can contribute to weight gain .Excess estrogen increases body fat. Fatty tissue produces and stores more estrogen. The estrogen in turn, causes the body to increase fat tissue, and so the cycle continues.

Xenoestrogen Increases Cancer Risk in Men and Women

Liver function may be compromised by xenoestrogens, allowing for the older hormones to become more toxic as then enter back into the bloodstream. These toxic forms of estrogen dramatically increase the risk for breast cancer, endometriosis, ovarian cysts, cervical dysplasia, prostate issues, menopause, andropause (male menopause) and thyroid disorders.

Symptoms of Estrogen Dominance

Chronic exposure to these estrogens may cause severe symptoms of estrogen dominance, as is being seen more frequently in younger women. These symptoms may include:

  • weight gain, bloating, mood swings
  • infertility
  • uterine fibroids, endometriosis
  • irregular periods, PMS, early puberty
  • breast tenderness
  • autoimmune disorders
  • allergic tendencies
  • sugar cravings
  • anxiety
  • migraines
  • muscle pains
  • acne

Optimal Nutrition to Detoxify Estrogen?

There are many great foods that help the body detoxify estrogen:

  • Cruciferous vegetables: broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts & cabbage
  • Anti-inflammatory foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids which are found in fish ie. Wild salmon
  • Plant based fats such as avocados, coconut oil and olive oil
  • Raw nuts and seeds such as almonds, pecans, walnuts, chia and hemp seeds
  • Onions, garlic and scallions
  • Include foods with Phytonutrients in your diet which help with elimination of natural and chemical estrogen
  • Herbs such as oregano, thyme, rosemary, sage and turmeric
  • Organic Acids: Fresh lemon, Apple Cider Vinegar
  • Supplement with essential nutrients such as B vitamins, zinc, green tea, magnesium and selenium

How to Minimize Exposure to Xenoestrogens

  • Buy organic foods, or wash your produce thoroughly
  • Reduce or eliminate alcohol consumption besides certain red wines
  • Avoid plastics that contain Bisphenol A, preservatives like BHA and food dyes
  • Avoid packaged foods as the paper and cardboard wrappings are coated with toxic PFC’s
  • Don’t heat food in plastic containers in the microwave, use glass containers
  • Wear gloves when using household chemicals
  • Avoid using pesticides in your garden
  • Avoid lotions, shampoos and cosmetics containing parabens and sodium lauryl sulphates.

 

The best way to prevent exposure to xenoestrogens is to understand the food chain and what one needs to add and subtract from their diet to optimize health.

Get started on the path to a healthier you. For a personalized nutrition protocol that includes implementation, education and motivation, contact Marsha today.


Sources For This Article Include:

Hofmekler, Ori.  “The Anti-Estrogenic Diet.”  North Atlantic Books.  2007
http://primaldocs.com/members-blog/detoxify-excess-estrogen-naturally/
http://www.healthline.com/health-blogs/hold-that-pause/what-are-xenoestrogens-fat