Hormone balancing can be more difficult to achieve with some patients for a variety of reasons. Lifestyle, adrenal function and even the chemicals introduced into our body can interfere with progress. There are several chemicals that are actually toxic to our body and are known to interfere with our body’s hormone system. These chemicals could be introduced to our body through diet, personal care products, or from our environment. So often it is helpful for a person to assess their toxic load when trying to optimize health.
Chemicals to Avoid in Personal Care Products
Parabens
These are strong endocrine disrupters and are known to mimic estrogen. As a result, many have been linked with breast cancer. They are used in products as a preservative and can be found in MANY products. Anything listed that ends in paraben should be avoided (Methylparaben, tetramethylparaben, etc.).
Oxybenzone
This is an endocrine disruptor as well, and is the active ingredient found in most sunscreens. It also causes our body to create free radicals which increase our risk of cancer.
Aluminum
This is a heavy metal that can bio-accumulate in your system to a toxic level and has been linked to breast cancer. It is found in most deodorants.
Synthetic Dye
These are derived from coal tar and petroleum and are categorized as a carcinogen. They can also be contaminated by heavy metals. This is toxic to our brain. Examples are FD&C Blue 1, Yellow 5 & 6, Red 33, etc.
Dimethicone
This is a siloxane, which is an endocrine disruptor and can impair fertility. It has been linked to uterine cancer.
Triclosan
This is actually a pesticide and is an endocrine disruptor. It also disrupts thyroid function. It is the active ingredient in antibacterial soaps.
This is not an all-inclusive list of chemicals that should be avoided, but it is some of the major endocrine disruptors. Endocrine disruptors are a class of chemicals that disrupt your hormones. They can mimic a hormone, causing symptoms of elevated hormones. As a result, the body does not produce as much hormones since it perceives the levels as high. They can also disrupt function of reproductive organs causing cancer or infertility. They should definitely be avoided with hormone imbalances.
It is hard to live in a bubble so we never get exposed to ANYTHING. But remember, our skin is the largest organ in our body. We can definitely minimize our risk if we just commit to eating whole foods and reading labels of what we put on and in our bodies.
You can definitely minimize your risk by reading labels of what you put on your body. Looking for more guidance? Schedule a discovery call with a health coach today.
Looking for more guidance?
Schedule a discovery call with a health coach today.
