Are you struggling with hormonal issues and haven’t figured out why? Well, your diet might be to blame. Toxins in your food could be causing significant hormonal imbalances that could lead to severe health problems. By following a paleo diet and being cautious about the products you use, you can reduce your exposure to these harmful toxins.
How Toxins in Your Diet Disrupt Your Hormones
Research has demonstrated how chemicals from plastics are affecting the way our internal organs function. Furthermore, scientists are investigating how these substances act as “endocrine disruptors,” interfering with hormones in the body and increasing the risk for cancer and other illnesses.
Phthalates, which leach from many plastics and food packaging, are some of the worst endocrine offenders. They are also found in cosmetics. These harmful compounds can transfer from food wrappers into our food, but evidence suggests that they might be introduced into the food even before it’s packaged, making their way into the food chain at farms where livestock is raised and at manufacturing facilities where foods are processed.
The Testosterone Crisis
A study at the University of Michigan School of Public Health shows that phthalates interfere with testosterone in both men and women. In adult men and boys, those who have the highest levels of these chemicals in their bodies have the lowest levels of testosterone.
Testosterone, the primary sex hormone for men, plays a crucial role in critical functions for both men and women. It is essential for adequate growth and physical strength. Additionally, it contributes to heart health, bone strength, and brain function.
As phthalate contamination in food has increased over the past five decades, testosterone levels in men have decreased. Consequently, men are experiencing a decline in fertility, while genital problems in newborn males have significantly increased.
“This may have important public health implications since low testosterone levels in young boys can negatively impact reproductive development, and in middle age can impair sexual function, libido, energy, cognitive function and bone health in men and women,” says researcher John D. Meeker.
Harming Women’s Fertility and Health
Lab tests at Brown University show that phthalates can reduce the fertility of women and increase their risk for precancerous lesions. In animal studies, female subjects exposed to high amounts of phthalates experienced significant internal changes as they aged. The contaminant restricts fertility and decreases levels of estradiol, an essential form of estrogen produced in the ovaries. Simultaneously, phthalate exposure seems to raise cancer risk.
Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine found that women with high exposure to PCBs, phthalates, and pesticides tended to begin menopause 2-4 years earlier than women with lower exposure levels.
Phthalates have also been linked to diabetes. A study at Brigham and Women’s Hospital shows that when concentrations of phthalates increase in the body, a woman’s risk of developing diabetes can increase by up to 70%.
Reducing Your Exposure to Phthalates
Eating fresh, organic fruits and vegetables that make up a significant portion of the paleo diet is one of the best ways to reduce your exposure to phthalates in food.
Here are some other ways to minimize your exposure to these toxins:
- Never heat food in plastic containers. Heat can cause phthalates to transfer from the plastic to the food. Use ceramic or glass containers instead.
- Avoid processed foods whenever possible.
- Eat organic meat, especially organic chicken. Researchers have found evidence of phthalates in the meat of non-organic chickens that they believe originally came from the chicken feed fed to these animals.
- Try not to handle receipts from retail stores and ATMs. The thin paper of those receipts contain phthalates that can be absorbed by your skin.
- Do not drink hot beverages out of plastic cups.
- Take off your shoes when you are at home to minimize tracking in these chemicals in your living space.
- Minimize your use of cosmetics and nail polish: They usually contain phthalates.
- Look for specific numbers on plastic packaging.
Remember, the best foods come in their natural, organic wrappers. By adopting a healthier lifestyle and being more mindful of your diet, you can reduce the harmful impact of endocrine disruptors on your body.
