December 30, 2024 • 28 mins
Could your holiday traditions be hiding a secret threat to your health? Discover the truth about endocrine disruptors lurking in festive items, from scented candles to beauty products, that could be affecting your hormones. This episode of Harmony Hub Health sheds light on the surprising ways these chemicals can interfere with your body's natural balance, leading to issues such as weight gain, fertility problems, and mood swings. Through personal stories and expert insights, we reveal how these disruptors can mimic or block hormone activity, potentially impacting reproductive health, thyroid function, and even increasing the risk of hormone-related cancers.
Learn practical, actionable steps to protect yourself and your family this holiday season. From choosing fragrance-free beauty products to using eco-friendly cleaning solutions, we explore how mindful decisions can foster a safer environment and preserve your hormonal health. As we approach the new year, reflect on your health goals and consider incorporating non-toxic personal care products and functional medicine practices into your routine. Embrace these small, mindful changes to gift yourself and your loved ones the invaluable gift of health, promoting well-being and balance in your life. Join me in creating a healthier holiday season and a harmonious new year.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Welcome to Harmony Hub Health, where my mission is
to provide comprehensive,affordable, integrative care
that addresses the root cause ofhealth issues.
At the Hub, the focus is onindividual patient journeys.
I strive to optimize health,vitality and longevity,
fostering a community where eachperson can thrive in body, mind
and spirit.
(00:21):
So today we are diving into atopic that's especially relevant
during the holiday seasonendocrine disruptors.
So endocrine disruptors, or EDs, are sneaky chemicals that can
mess with your hormone systems,leading to weight gain,
fertility struggles, mood swingsand other health concerns.
And here's the kicker Manyfestive items like certain
(00:43):
candles, holiday decorations andeven some beauty gift sets
could be harboring these hormonehijackers.
So as we undock the halls andempty out our stockings, let's
unwrap the hidden truths aboutthese disruptors and discover
how to make the after-holidayseason both joyful and healthier
for you and your loved ones.
Stick around, because I've gottips to help you navigate the
(01:05):
season with a functionalmedicine approach.
Let's get started, okay.
So what are endocrinedisruptors?
These are chemicals thatinterfere with the normal
(01:28):
functioning of your endocrinesystem.
Your endocrine system regulateshormones critical to various
bodily processes, and here's howthey act and the potential
impacts on your health.
So the first way is endocrinedisruptors can mimic hormones.
They imitate natural hormoneslike estrogen, testosterone and
thyroid hormones and they bindto their receptors and trigger
(01:51):
inappropriate responses.
They also work by blockinghormone activity, so they can
interfere with hormone receptors, preventing natural hormones
from binding and performingtheir functions.
That's how they hijack and youknow they can alter your hormone
production.
They may increase or decreasethe production of specific
(02:12):
hormones, disrupting hormonalbalance, and they can affect
hormone transport and metabolism, so they interfere with
proteins that transport hormonesin the blood or alter the
metabolism of hormones, leadingto abnormal levels.
So let's talk about how thoseactions then impact your health
and your hormones.
One important one is yourreproductive health, so this can
(02:33):
cause irregular menstrualcycles or ovulation issues.
It can cause reduced fertilityand this is in men and women and
developmental issues in thereproductive system.
Another main impact is on yourthyroid, so it causes thyroid
dysfunction, hypothyroid orhyperthyroid due to interference
(02:54):
with thyroid hormone productionor utilization, and impaired
cognitive development inchildren from thyroid hormone
disruption.
One of the biggest ones isweight and metabolic disorders,
so there's an increased risk ofobesity and insulin resistance
and who would have thought thatthis could happen?
Disruption in appetiteregulation and fat storage
(03:18):
mechanisms.
That all impacts your weight.
Next is hormone-related cancers.
So they do have an increasedrisk of breast, ovarian and
prostate cancers from hormonemimicry or disruption.
And then there's your immunesystem, so dysregulated immune
responses leading to increasedsusceptibility to infections or
(03:40):
autoimmune conditions.
And then let's not forget theneurodevelopmental disorder.
So there can be impaired braindevelopment and cognitive
functions, especially inchildren, due to interference
with thyroid or othergrowth-related hormones.
So by disrupting the finelytuned hormonal systems in the
body, endocrine disruptors canhave far-reaching and long-term
(04:02):
impacts on health.
Recognizing and minimizingexposure is key to protecting
hormonal balance and overallwell-being.
And you will definitelyrecognize these common holiday
endocrine disruptors Just lookaround you.
The first one we'll talk aboutare candles and fragrance
products.
So my mother actually tried tohand me some really good
(04:25):
smelling soap I think it washand soap on Christmas Eve to
have, and she looked a littleupset when I told her I didn't
want it and told her to take ithome.
She thought I was being rude,I'm sure, but I just did not
want those chemicals and I'vealways been the type that had
plug-in fragrance in everysingle room of the house.
I think some rooms even hadmore than one.
(04:46):
But many candles and fragranceproducts like air fresheners,
plug-ins and sprays.
They contain synthetic chemicals, such as phthalates and
parabens, and these chemicalsact as endocrine disruptors, so
they're interfering with yourbody's delicate hormone balance.
So here's how they work andhere's how they affect your
health, your body's delicatehormone balance.
So here's how they work andhere's how they affect your
(05:07):
health.
So, again, the phthalates canmimic estrogen in the body and
lead to hormonal imbalances.
And then these chemicals someof these chemicals can block
your hormone receptors and theycan prevent your natural hormone
from doing their job.
So instead of your hormonegetting to that receptor, it
gets gunked up with thesechemicals.
And these disruptors caninterfere with the production
(05:27):
and metabolism of key hormoneslike cortisol, your thyroid
hormones and your sex hormones.
So the effects on your health?
You know the syntheticfragrances have been linked to
decreased fertility and themenstrual irregularities.
Disruptors can interfere withthyroid hormone production,
leading to fatigue and weightgain and brain fog.
(05:47):
The chemicals in these productscan irritate your respiratory
system and potentially weakenyour immune function.
I have had a lot of people tellme that they cough when they
walk into places that have thesefragrances.
And then there's long-term risk.
So chronic exposure has beenassociated with obesity.
Can you believe that Maybe Icould blame those pounds I had
(06:09):
in the past on all my plugins?
Science says yes, you know eveninsulin resistance and even
some certain cancers.
But the good news is there arealternatives to candles and
fragrant products.
I've been using essential oils.
So, using an ultrasonicdiffuser with pure essential
oils, you can use scents likelavender, orange or pine.
(06:31):
They can create a festiveatmosphere without the toxic
load.
You can also switch to beeswaxor soy candles.
I'm looking at a candle rightnow from one of my favorite
patients who gave me.
It's a cardamom and cream.
Oh, it smells divine.
But you know beeswax and soy.
They're free from syntheticchemicals and they burn cleaner.
(06:54):
You can also make homemadepotpourri.
So if you simmer a pot of waterwith natural ingredients like
cinnamon sticks, orange peelsand cloves gives you that really
yummy holiday aroma without anyof those chemicals.
And you can also make your ownroom spray using distilled water
, essential oils and a smallamount of witch hazel.
So that's a good natural roomspray.
(07:14):
You could also replacesynthetic air fresheners with
charcoal bags, which naturallyabsorb odors and improve your
air quality.
So that is another great optionand by making simple swaps you
can still enjoy the cozy andfestive vibes of the holidays
without compromising your health.
So hormone balance is thefoundation of wellness, and
avoiding these disruptors is agift you can give yourself this
(07:37):
season.
Okay, the next one, which mostpeople don't even know, is
nonstick cookware.
So, although it's so convenient, often nonstick cookware
contains harmful chemicals thatcan interfere with your hormone
systems.
The primary culprits are perand polyfluorolacryl.
I'm sure I butchered that.
(07:58):
I just know them as PFAspolyfluoralkyl.
Did I say it right that time?
Anyways, pfas they're known asforever chemicals because they
have persistence in theenvironment and your body.
So here's how these chemicalsimpact your health and safer
alternatives to consider.
When nonstick pans are heated,especially at high temperatures,
(08:22):
they release toxic fumescontaining PFAs and other
compounds like PFOAs that's,perfluorooctanoic acid and PFAs
mimic or block hormones,particularly thyroid and sex
hormones.
So this disrupts normalhormonal communication and these
chemicals don't break down easy, so they accumulate in the body
(08:43):
over time.
So this really increases thehealth risks and effects on your
health.
There's links to reducefertility, menstrual
irregularities and adversepregnancy outcomes with this
non-stick cookware and PFAs candisrupt thyroid hormone balance,
leading to weight changes,fatigue and and brain fog, and
(09:04):
chronic exposure is associatedwith insulin resistance, weight
gain and increased cholesterol.
Who would have thought that you?
By cooking in your nonstick pan, you're raising your
cholesterol levels, and researchalso shows that PFAs may weaken
your immune function, makingyou more susceptible to illness,
and long-term exposure has beenlinked to kidney and testicular
(09:25):
cancers.
So there are safer alternativesto nonstick cookware.
The first is stainless steel.
It's durable, it's not toxic,it's versatile you can use a bit
of oil or butter to preventsticking.
There's also cast iron, sonaturally nonstick when seasoned
correctly and adds a smallamount of dietary iron to your
(09:46):
food.
There's ceramic coated cookware.
This is a safer, non-stickoption without PFAs or PFOAs.
You want to choose high qualitybrands to ensure the cooking is
durable.
You could also use glassbakeware perfect for baking and
free of any harmful chemicals.
And then there's carbon steel.
It's similar to cast iron, butlighter.
(10:07):
It becomes naturally nonstickover time with proper seasoning.
I purchased some new hexcladcookware for Christmas that came
, and this cookware I pickedbecause it's made of stainless
steel, aluminum and magneticsteel.
So the exterior of Hexclad ismade of laser etched stainless
(10:28):
steel, which gives the pans asignature hexagon pattern on it.
And the stainless steel isdesigned to be resistant to
scratching and chipping andallows you to use metal utensils
.
And then the core is aluminum,which helps distribute heat
evenly.
The aluminum never comes incontact with your food.
So if you've had HTMA beforeand I said, you know you really
(10:50):
do have a high load of aluminum.
Usually the first thing we lookat is your cookware.
And then the base of Hexclad ismade of magnetic stainless
steel, so that makes the panscompatible with induction
cooktops.
But it's also coated with anonstick ceramic coating called
Terabon.
So this cookware definitelychecked off all of these boxes.
(11:11):
But some healthy cooking tips isto avoid overheating any
cookware to reduce the releaseof any harmful fumes.
If you must use nonstick pansbecause I know quality pans can
be so expensive you want toreplace them as soon as they
become scratched or worn,because that increases that
chemical leaching, and then usewooden or silicone utensils to
(11:31):
protect the surface of yourcookware.
So by swapping out nonstickcookware for safer alternatives,
you can reduce your exposure toendocrine disruptors and take
another step towards supportingyour overall health.
It's a simple change with bigbenefits for your hormones.
Next we'll talk about plasticsand kitchenware, because plastic
items in our kitchens seemharmless, right, but they often
(11:53):
contain chemicals that candisrupt hormone systems.
The main offenders arebisphenols like BPA and
phthalates, which can leach intofood beverages and can even be
absorbed through skin contact.
So when you heat, when you havewear and tear or come in
contact with acidic or fattyfoods in these containers, they
(12:15):
can cause the plastics torelease harmful chemicals into
food or beverages and then youconsume them.
So chemicals like BPA andphthalates mimic estrogen and
those bind to hormone receptorsand disrupt natural hormone
function, and regular exposurecan lead to a buildup in the
body, increasing health risks,especially in children with
(12:38):
developing endocrine systems.
So these hormone imbalances,this disrupted estrogen and
testosterone levels, can lead tomood swings, fertility issues
and menstrual irregularities.
It's also been linked toobesity, insulin resistance and
increased risk of diabetes.
Impaired thyroid hormoneproduction, which leads to
fatigue, weight changes andcognitive difficulties.
(13:00):
There's prenatal and earlychildhood exposures that can
affect the brain development,behavior and physical
difficulties.
There's prenatal and earlychildhood exposures that can
affect the brain development,behavior and physical growth.
And again, there's a cancerrisk with long-term exposure.
You know hormone-sensitivecancers like breast and prostate
cancer have been shown to comefrom BPAs and phthalates.
But the good news is also thereare alternatives.
(13:22):
The first one is glass.
So glass is a good idea forfood storage, baking and serving
.
It's durable, it's non-toxicand it does not leach chemicals.
I fell down my stairs well,just a couple steps the previous
week and I was carrying fiveglass containers of chili to put
down in the deep freezer andluckily not one of them broke,
(13:46):
but thank goodness right.
You could also use stainlesssteel.
This is perfect for mixingbowls, water bottles and
utensils.
It's durable, recyclable andsafe for both hot and cold items
.
Silicone, you know high quality,food grade silicone is heat
resistant and flexible.
I use this for most of mybaking.
It makes an excellent optionfor baking mats, spatulas and
(14:09):
storage bags.
You can also use ceramics, sothose are great for serving
dishes, plates and cookware.
You just want to make sure it'slead free and high quality.
You also can use wood or bamboo.
It's eco-friendly and durable.
You could get like bamboocutting boards that we have one
of those utensils and evenchildren toys now there's a lot
(14:32):
of bamboo toys because they arenon-toxic.
You could also replace yourplastic wrap for storing food
with reusable cloth wrapsinstead that are coated with
beeswax or plant-based wax.
So other tips to reduce plasticexposure.
Number one would be.
Do not microwave or heat foodin plastic containers.
(14:53):
I never realized how big of adeal this was until I read all
of the current research that'scoming out, and I grew up with
plastic containers my entirelife.
So there's that.
So you ought to not chooseBPA-free or phthalate-free
products, but note that BPA-freemay still contain some harmful
(15:16):
substitutes like BPS, so just bemindful of that.
You want to transition toreusable options like glass or
stainless steel for waterbottles, food storage and
utensils, and you want to washyour hands frequently,
especially after handling all ofthese plastics.
But by minimizing plastic usein your kitchen, you can protect
your family from unnecessaryexposure to endocrine disruptors
(15:37):
.
So small changes like switchingto safer materials can have
significant impact on yourhormone health and overall
well-being.
Next on to beauty products andperfumes.
So your favorite beautyproducts and signature scent
might be doing more thanenhancing your appearance they
could be disrupting your hormonehealth.
Many conventional beautyproducts and perfumes contain
(15:59):
endocrine-disrupting chemicalssuch as phthalates, parabens and
synthetic fragrances, which caninterfere with hormone function
and overall wellness.
So phthalates and fragrancesthese chemicals help the sense
to last longer, but still mimicsestrogen and can throw off your
natural hormone balance.
And parabens are often used aspreservatives, so commonly found
(16:22):
in makeup, are often used aspreservatives, so commonly found
in makeup, lotions and shampoos.
Parabens act as xenoestrogensand disrupts your whole
endocrine system.
So fragrances or parfum on alabel can hide a cocktail of
chemicals, including known EDCs,and the skin is so highly
absorptive right, it allowschemicals to enter your
(16:43):
bloodstream directly.
So if we're talking about thehealth effects of the beauty
product EDCs, the first, asusual, is hormone imbalances.
It can cause irregularmenstrual cycles, pms or
worsened menopause symptoms.
It can cause reduced fertilityand potential complications
during pregnancy.
Synthetic chemicals caninterfere with thyroid hormones,
(17:06):
leading to fatigue, weightchanges and brain fog.
It's disrupting your thyroid,and fragrances and preservatives
can trigger skin irritation andallergic reactions, and the
long-term risks of increasedexposure may elevate the risk of
hormone-sensitive cancers likebreast cancer and ovarian cancer
.
You can make healthier choicesand find alternatives for your
(17:27):
beauty products.
You might want to look forfragrance-free or naturally
scented products.
You want to choose productsscented with essential oils or
labeled as fragrance-free.
You want to look for brandsthat explicitly avoid parabens,
phthalates and syntheticfragrances that explicitly avoid
parabens, phthalates andsynthetic fragrances.
You want to select certifiedorganic makeup, skincare and
(17:50):
hair care products with simpleingredient lists or, you know,
diy it.
Create your own skincareproducts with natural
ingredients like coconut oil,shea butter and essential oils.
If you would like somehealthier alternatives for
perfumes, you can use essentialoils like lavender, citrus or
vanilla in a roller ball for acustomizable natural scent.
You want to explore brands thatdisclose all ingredients and
avoid harmful chemicals.
(18:11):
Or you could use solid perfumesthat are made with beeswax and
essential oils.
They're portable, they're safeand they're a better alternative
than traditional sprays.
And you can also DIY perfume.
Make your own fragrance withessential oils diluted in a
carrier oil like jojoba oralmond oil.
Some tips to reduce yourexposures is read the labels,
(18:32):
avoid fragrance or parfum, andlook for transparent ingredient
lists.
Reduce the number of productsyou use daily.
You always want to test newproducts on a small patch of
skin to ensure no reaction, andthen you always want to check
certifications.
Look for cruelty-free, organicor EWG verified products.
This is one reason why AloeVeda is my product of choice,
(18:55):
because they avoid syntheticfragrances and they use
essential oils instead.
So switching to clean air,beauty and fragrance options can
dramatically reduce yourexposure to endocrine disruptors
, supporting your overallhormonal health, making informed
choices for what goes on yourskin is just as important as
what goes into your body, whichleads us into cleaning products.
(19:18):
Your home may sparkle after agood cleaning, but what's
lingering in the air and onsurfaces could disrupt more than
dirt.
It might be interfering withyour hormones.
Many conventional cleaningproducts contain EDCs, which can
throw your hormonal system offbalance and impact your
long-term health.
So how do cleaning products actas endocrine disruptors?
(19:39):
Again, phthalates and thefragrance products.
These are found in airfresheners, sprays, scented
cleaners.
Phthalates act as xenoestrogens, mimicking estrogen and
disrupting hormonal balance.
There's also triclosan andantibacterial agents, so these
are often found in gist shopsand cleaners labeled
(19:59):
antibacterial.
They can interfere with thyroidhormones and affect your immune
system.
And you know ammonia andchlorine, which are common in
disinfectants.
They may not directly act asEDCs, but they can irritate your
respiratory system and lead tooxidative stress, so that
indirectly affects your hormonehealth.
And then there's VOCs, which isvolatile organic compounds.
(20:22):
This is released from cleaningsprays and disinfectants.
They can cause respiratoryissues and disrupt your cortisol
levels, affecting your stressresponse.
And then surfactants andsynthetic detergents.
These chemicals can disruptskin and gut microbiomes,
impacting overall hormonalhealth directly and the health
(20:43):
effects of these cleaningproducts.
You know EDCs can mimic orblock hormones, leading to
issues like irregular periods,infertility or worsened PMS.
You know, blame your Tide.
I couldn't even tell you thelast time we've had Tide in this
house it's been years.
Chemicals like triclosan caninterfere with thyroid hormones,
(21:03):
causing fatigue, weight changesand hair loss, because this
causes thyroid dysfunction.
And VOCs and strong cleaningchemicals can trigger asthma and
reduce your body's ability tohandle oxidative stress, so that
respiratory and immune systemsare coming from those VOCs.
And then frequent exposure canalso damage your skin barrier,
so this leads to increasedchemical absorption and cause
(21:25):
skin and eye irritation.
So the healthier cleaningalternatives you know I have
completely switched to Norwex.
Not that I get a kickback forsaying that, but you know I use
Norwex detergent.
Not only is it good for myfamily's skin, but it's better
for our bodies overall and Ihave not used fabric softener in
(21:47):
years.
So you can do a DIY cleaner ifyou need to.
You can mix vinegar water andyou can even add in some
essential oils like lemon or teatree for an all-purpose cleaner
.
You can also use baking sodaand water.
That makes a really goodabrasive scrub.
You can also use baking sodaand water, that makes a really
good abrasive scrub.
And then you want to choosecleaners that's labeled
(22:08):
fragrance-free or those scentedwith essential oils instead of
synthetic fragrances, and lookfor brands that explicitly state
that they are free ofphthalates, triclosan and VOCs.
So certifications like EPA,safer Choice or EWG Verified are
definitely a plus that you wantto look for.
You can also use steam cleaners.
So use steam cleaners forfloors and upholstery.
(22:30):
They clean effectively withoutany chemicals.
And then replace thosedisposable wipes with washable
microfiber cloths.
They work so good and you canuse just water with those.
So make sure you read thelabels.
Avoid products with perfume,triclosan or fragrance, and then
use cleaning products inwell-ventilated areas to reduce
(22:51):
your VOC exposure and opt forliquid cleaners over sprays to
limit inhalation of chemicals.
And then you know, simplifyStick to a few multi-purpose,
non-toxic products instead of aseparate cleaner for every
surface.
Switching to safer cleaningproducts not only protects your
hormones, but also promotes ahealthier environment for your
entire household.
(23:12):
A clean home does not have tocome at the expense of your
endocrine health.
Okay, so those are the mainthings that you probably have
around you that you may not havehad any idea how it was
affecting your health.
So I'm just going to do a recapof how endocrine disruptors do
affect your hormones and health.
(23:33):
First is your reproductivesystem, so there is infertility,
there is PCOS and there areworsening of PCOS symptoms
around these endocrinedisruptors.
And you know, they're findingthat there is puberty happening
earlier because of theseendocrine disruptors.
(23:53):
Then we have our thyroid, sohypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism
or autoimmune thyroid diseasescan be affected by these EDCs.
Metabolic issues, so insulinresistance, type 2 diabetes and
obesity are all affected bythese endocrine disruptors.
There's neurological impact, soADHD can be linked to these
(24:15):
endocrine disruptors,developmental delays and even
cognitive deficits.
And then the cancer risk, sohormone-sensitive cancers such
as breast and prostate.
That's just a lot over thesethings that you can easily find
alternatives for.
When I personally started makingchanges in my own household by
getting rid of Tide severalyears ago, no fabric softeners
(24:40):
going to glass containers and,you know, switching my cosmetics
and all, are these things okayto be produced and sold in the
United States?
If they knew that all of theresearch shows these effects?
So I started doing a lot ofresearch because I was trying to
(25:02):
figure out why, and a lot of itdidn't make sense to me, just
like you know, if you look atEuropean ways and other
countries, a lot of thechemicals, a lot of the things
we use are just outright banned,okay.
So it seems like it's such acomplex issue and it involves a
lot of the chemicals.
A lot of the things we use arejust outright banned, okay.
So it seems like it's such acomplex issue and it involves a
lot of different factors,including regulatory frameworks,
you know, economic interests ofcourse everyone's buying the
(25:24):
stuff, so they're not going tostop selling it and scientific
uncertainty.
So you know there's a lack ofcomprehensive regulation.
Different countries have varyingstandards for regulating
endocrine disruptors.
Some countries, like theEuropean Union, they just have a
stricter regulation onchemicals.
But you know, in many countriesregulations may not
(25:45):
specifically address thelong-term, low-dose exposure
risks associated with them, andendocrine disruptors are not
always tested comprehensivelyfor their long-term effects on
human health.
Many chemicals used in consumerproducts have not undergone
thorough testing to assess theirfull impact on endocrine
function.
And even when testing doesoccur, from what I've seen, it
(26:07):
often focuses on acute toxicityrather than chronic, low-level,
long-term exposure.
And I can see how.
You know, scientific researchcan really be uncertain because
people are exposed to endocrinedisruptors in so many different
ways from the food, the water,air, different products and at
different levels.
So it makes it really difficultto isolate the impact of any
(26:28):
one chemical or combination ofchemicals on just an
individual's health.
And then we're not even going toget into the economic interest,
because endocrine disruptingchemicals are cheaper to produce
and widely used inmanufacturing.
So you can find them inplastics, pesticides, cosmetics,
cleaning products and foodpackaging.
(26:48):
So industries often resistregulation because it's very
costly to reformulate productsor shift to a safer alternative.
You know it's easy just to gobuy an air freshener than it is
to purchase.
You know therapeutic gradeessential oils they can be so
expensive.
The good news is, I do feellike there is a growing
awareness.
There's public awareness aboutendocrine disruptors and it is
(27:10):
increasing.
There are so many advocacygroups, scientists and activists
pushing for stricterregulations and better labeling
of products.
But it takes a lot of time foryou know, public pressure to
lead to meaningful change.
I would love to hear about, youknow, your favorite non-toxic
gifts for the holidays or whatyou're swapping out.
Come and find me on Facebook atHarmony Hub Health and let me
(27:33):
know all about it.
And as we wrap up today'sepisode on endocrine disrupting
chemicals, or EDCs, and howfunctional medicine can help us
navigate these hidden toxins.
It's a great time to reflect onthe health we want to nurture
as we move into the new year.
Just like we take care inchoosing the right gifts, let's
also be mindful of what we'regifting our bodies Healthy
(27:56):
habits, informed choices and thesupport of a holistic approach.
This holiday season, considermaking small changes, whether
it's opting for non-toxicpersonal care products,
supporting your body withfunctional medicine practices or
simply being more conscious ofthe chemicals in your
environment.
The gift of health is the bestone we can give ourselves and
our loved ones.
(28:16):
Thank you for tuning intotoday's episode.
Stay well, stay informed andenjoy the holidays with a fresh
perspective on how to protectand care for your body.
Happy holidays and I'll see younext time on Harmony Hub Health
.
You.
Welcome to Harmony Hub Health, where my mission is
to provide comprehensive,affordable, integrative care
that addresses the root cause ofhealth issues.
At the Hub, the focus is onindividual patient journeys.
I strive to optimize health,vitality and longevity,
fostering a community where eachperson can thrive in body, mind
and spirit.
(00:21):
So today we are diving into atopic that's especially relevant
during the holiday seasonendocrine disruptors.
So endocrine disruptors, or EDs, are sneaky chemicals that can
mess with your hormone systems,leading to weight gain,
fertility struggles, mood swingsand other health concerns.
And here's the kicker Manyfestive items like certain
(00:43):
candles, holiday decorations andeven some beauty gift sets
could be harboring these hormonehijackers.
So as we undock the halls andempty out our stockings, let's
unwrap the hidden truths aboutthese disruptors and discover
how to make the after-holidayseason both joyful and healthier
for you and your loved ones.
Stick around, because I've gottips to help you navigate the
(01:05):
season with a functionalmedicine approach.
Let's get started, okay.
So what are endocrinedisruptors?
These are chemicals thatinterfere with the normal
(01:28):
functioning of your endocrinesystem.
Your endocrine system regulateshormones critical to various
bodily processes, and here's howthey act and the potential
impacts on your health.
So the first way is endocrinedisruptors can mimic hormones.
They imitate natural hormoneslike estrogen, testosterone and
thyroid hormones and they bindto their receptors and trigger
(01:51):
inappropriate responses.
They also work by blockinghormone activity, so they can
interfere with hormone receptors, preventing natural hormones
from binding and performingtheir functions.
That's how they hijack and youknow they can alter your hormone
production.
They may increase or decreasethe production of specific
(02:12):
hormones, disrupting hormonalbalance, and they can affect
hormone transport and metabolism, so they interfere with
proteins that transport hormonesin the blood or alter the
metabolism of hormones, leadingto abnormal levels.
So let's talk about how thoseactions then impact your health
and your hormones.
One important one is yourreproductive health, so this can
(02:33):
cause irregular menstrualcycles or ovulation issues.
It can cause reduced fertilityand this is in men and women and
developmental issues in thereproductive system.
Another main impact is on yourthyroid, so it causes thyroid
dysfunction, hypothyroid orhyperthyroid due to interference
(02:54):
with thyroid hormone productionor utilization, and impaired
cognitive development inchildren from thyroid hormone
disruption.
One of the biggest ones isweight and metabolic disorders,
so there's an increased risk ofobesity and insulin resistance
and who would have thought thatthis could happen?
Disruption in appetiteregulation and fat storage
(03:18):
mechanisms.
That all impacts your weight.
Next is hormone-related cancers.
So they do have an increasedrisk of breast, ovarian and
prostate cancers from hormonemimicry or disruption.
And then there's your immunesystem, so dysregulated immune
responses leading to increasedsusceptibility to infections or
(03:40):
autoimmune conditions.
And then let's not forget theneurodevelopmental disorder.
So there can be impaired braindevelopment and cognitive
functions, especially inchildren, due to interference
with thyroid or othergrowth-related hormones.
So by disrupting the finelytuned hormonal systems in the
body, endocrine disruptors canhave far-reaching and long-term
(04:02):
impacts on health.
Recognizing and minimizingexposure is key to protecting
hormonal balance and overallwell-being.
And you will definitelyrecognize these common holiday
endocrine disruptors Just lookaround you.
The first one we'll talk aboutare candles and fragrance
products.
So my mother actually tried tohand me some really good
(04:25):
smelling soap I think it washand soap on Christmas Eve to
have, and she looked a littleupset when I told her I didn't
want it and told her to take ithome.
She thought I was being rude,I'm sure, but I just did not
want those chemicals and I'vealways been the type that had
plug-in fragrance in everysingle room of the house.
I think some rooms even hadmore than one.
(04:46):
But many candles and fragranceproducts like air fresheners,
plug-ins and sprays.
They contain synthetic chemicals, such as phthalates and
parabens, and these chemicalsact as endocrine disruptors, so
they're interfering with yourbody's delicate hormone balance.
So here's how they work andhere's how they affect your
health, your body's delicatehormone balance.
So here's how they work andhere's how they affect your
(05:07):
health.
So, again, the phthalates canmimic estrogen in the body and
lead to hormonal imbalances.
And then these chemicals someof these chemicals can block
your hormone receptors and theycan prevent your natural hormone
from doing their job.
So instead of your hormonegetting to that receptor, it
gets gunked up with thesechemicals.
And these disruptors caninterfere with the production
(05:27):
and metabolism of key hormoneslike cortisol, your thyroid
hormones and your sex hormones.
So the effects on your health?
You know the syntheticfragrances have been linked to
decreased fertility and themenstrual irregularities.
Disruptors can interfere withthyroid hormone production,
leading to fatigue and weightgain and brain fog.
(05:47):
The chemicals in these productscan irritate your respiratory
system and potentially weakenyour immune function.
I have had a lot of people tellme that they cough when they
walk into places that have thesefragrances.
And then there's long-term risk.
So chronic exposure has beenassociated with obesity.
Can you believe that Maybe Icould blame those pounds I had
(06:09):
in the past on all my plugins?
Science says yes, you know eveninsulin resistance and even
some certain cancers.
But the good news is there arealternatives to candles and
fragrant products.
I've been using essential oils.
So, using an ultrasonicdiffuser with pure essential
oils, you can use scents likelavender, orange or pine.
(06:31):
They can create a festiveatmosphere without the toxic
load.
You can also switch to beeswaxor soy candles.
I'm looking at a candle rightnow from one of my favorite
patients who gave me.
It's a cardamom and cream.
Oh, it smells divine.
But you know beeswax and soy.
They're free from syntheticchemicals and they burn cleaner.
(06:54):
You can also make homemadepotpourri.
So if you simmer a pot of waterwith natural ingredients like
cinnamon sticks, orange peelsand cloves gives you that really
yummy holiday aroma without anyof those chemicals.
And you can also make your ownroom spray using distilled water
, essential oils and a smallamount of witch hazel.
So that's a good natural roomspray.
(07:14):
You could also replacesynthetic air fresheners with
charcoal bags, which naturallyabsorb odors and improve your
air quality.
So that is another great optionand by making simple swaps you
can still enjoy the cozy andfestive vibes of the holidays
without compromising your health.
So hormone balance is thefoundation of wellness, and
avoiding these disruptors is agift you can give yourself this
(07:37):
season.
Okay, the next one, which mostpeople don't even know, is
nonstick cookware.
So, although it's so convenient, often nonstick cookware
contains harmful chemicals thatcan interfere with your hormone
systems.
The primary culprits are perand polyfluorolacryl.
I'm sure I butchered that.
(07:58):
I just know them as PFAspolyfluoralkyl.
Did I say it right that time?
Anyways, pfas they're known asforever chemicals because they
have persistence in theenvironment and your body.
So here's how these chemicalsimpact your health and safer
alternatives to consider.
When nonstick pans are heated,especially at high temperatures,
(08:22):
they release toxic fumescontaining PFAs and other
compounds like PFOAs that's,perfluorooctanoic acid and PFAs
mimic or block hormones,particularly thyroid and sex
hormones.
So this disrupts normalhormonal communication and these
chemicals don't break down easy, so they accumulate in the body
(08:43):
over time.
So this really increases thehealth risks and effects on your
health.
There's links to reducefertility, menstrual
irregularities and adversepregnancy outcomes with this
non-stick cookware and PFAs candisrupt thyroid hormone balance,
leading to weight changes,fatigue and and brain fog, and
(09:04):
chronic exposure is associatedwith insulin resistance, weight
gain and increased cholesterol.
Who would have thought that you?
By cooking in your nonstick pan, you're raising your
cholesterol levels, and researchalso shows that PFAs may weaken
your immune function, makingyou more susceptible to illness,
and long-term exposure has beenlinked to kidney and testicular
(09:25):
cancers.
So there are safer alternativesto nonstick cookware.
The first is stainless steel.
It's durable, it's not toxic,it's versatile you can use a bit
of oil or butter to preventsticking.
There's also cast iron, sonaturally nonstick when seasoned
correctly and adds a smallamount of dietary iron to your
(09:46):
food.
There's ceramic coated cookware.
This is a safer, non-stickoption without PFAs or PFOAs.
You want to choose high qualitybrands to ensure the cooking is
durable.
You could also use glassbakeware perfect for baking and
free of any harmful chemicals.
And then there's carbon steel.
It's similar to cast iron, butlighter.
(10:07):
It becomes naturally nonstickover time with proper seasoning.
I purchased some new hexcladcookware for Christmas that came
, and this cookware I pickedbecause it's made of stainless
steel, aluminum and magneticsteel.
So the exterior of Hexclad ismade of laser etched stainless
(10:28):
steel, which gives the pans asignature hexagon pattern on it.
And the stainless steel isdesigned to be resistant to
scratching and chipping andallows you to use metal utensils
.
And then the core is aluminum,which helps distribute heat
evenly.
The aluminum never comes incontact with your food.
So if you've had HTMA beforeand I said, you know you really
(10:50):
do have a high load of aluminum.
Usually the first thing we lookat is your cookware.
And then the base of Hexclad ismade of magnetic stainless
steel, so that makes the panscompatible with induction
cooktops.
But it's also coated with anonstick ceramic coating called
Terabon.
So this cookware definitelychecked off all of these boxes.
(11:11):
But some healthy cooking tips isto avoid overheating any
cookware to reduce the releaseof any harmful fumes.
If you must use nonstick pansbecause I know quality pans can
be so expensive you want toreplace them as soon as they
become scratched or worn,because that increases that
chemical leaching, and then usewooden or silicone utensils to
(11:31):
protect the surface of yourcookware.
So by swapping out nonstickcookware for safer alternatives,
you can reduce your exposure toendocrine disruptors and take
another step towards supportingyour overall health.
It's a simple change with bigbenefits for your hormones.
Next we'll talk about plasticsand kitchenware, because plastic
items in our kitchens seemharmless, right, but they often
(11:53):
contain chemicals that candisrupt hormone systems.
The main offenders arebisphenols like BPA and
phthalates, which can leach intofood beverages and can even be
absorbed through skin contact.
So when you heat, when you havewear and tear or come in
contact with acidic or fattyfoods in these containers, they
(12:15):
can cause the plastics torelease harmful chemicals into
food or beverages and then youconsume them.
So chemicals like BPA andphthalates mimic estrogen and
those bind to hormone receptorsand disrupt natural hormone
function, and regular exposurecan lead to a buildup in the
body, increasing health risks,especially in children with
(12:38):
developing endocrine systems.
So these hormone imbalances,this disrupted estrogen and
testosterone levels, can lead tomood swings, fertility issues
and menstrual irregularities.
It's also been linked toobesity, insulin resistance and
increased risk of diabetes.
Impaired thyroid hormoneproduction, which leads to
fatigue, weight changes andcognitive difficulties.
(13:00):
There's prenatal and earlychildhood exposures that can
affect the brain development,behavior and physical
difficulties.
There's prenatal and earlychildhood exposures that can
affect the brain development,behavior and physical growth.
And again, there's a cancerrisk with long-term exposure.
You know hormone-sensitivecancers like breast and prostate
cancer have been shown to comefrom BPAs and phthalates.
But the good news is also thereare alternatives.
(13:22):
The first one is glass.
So glass is a good idea forfood storage, baking and serving
.
It's durable, it's non-toxicand it does not leach chemicals.
I fell down my stairs well,just a couple steps the previous
week and I was carrying fiveglass containers of chili to put
down in the deep freezer andluckily not one of them broke,
(13:46):
but thank goodness right.
You could also use stainlesssteel.
This is perfect for mixingbowls, water bottles and
utensils.
It's durable, recyclable andsafe for both hot and cold items
.
Silicone, you know high quality,food grade silicone is heat
resistant and flexible.
I use this for most of mybaking.
It makes an excellent optionfor baking mats, spatulas and
(14:09):
storage bags.
You can also use ceramics, sothose are great for serving
dishes, plates and cookware.
You just want to make sure it'slead free and high quality.
You also can use wood or bamboo.
It's eco-friendly and durable.
You could get like bamboocutting boards that we have one
of those utensils and evenchildren toys now there's a lot
(14:32):
of bamboo toys because they arenon-toxic.
You could also replace yourplastic wrap for storing food
with reusable cloth wrapsinstead that are coated with
beeswax or plant-based wax.
So other tips to reduce plasticexposure.
Number one would be.
Do not microwave or heat foodin plastic containers.
(14:53):
I never realized how big of adeal this was until I read all
of the current research that'scoming out, and I grew up with
plastic containers my entirelife.
So there's that.
So you ought to not chooseBPA-free or phthalate-free
products, but note that BPA-freemay still contain some harmful
(15:16):
substitutes like BPS, so just bemindful of that.
You want to transition toreusable options like glass or
stainless steel for waterbottles, food storage and
utensils, and you want to washyour hands frequently,
especially after handling all ofthese plastics.
But by minimizing plastic usein your kitchen, you can protect
your family from unnecessaryexposure to endocrine disruptors
(15:37):
.
So small changes like switchingto safer materials can have
significant impact on yourhormone health and overall
well-being.
Next on to beauty products andperfumes.
So your favorite beautyproducts and signature scent
might be doing more thanenhancing your appearance they
could be disrupting your hormonehealth.
Many conventional beautyproducts and perfumes contain
(15:59):
endocrine-disrupting chemicalssuch as phthalates, parabens and
synthetic fragrances, which caninterfere with hormone function
and overall wellness.
So phthalates and fragrancesthese chemicals help the sense
to last longer, but still mimicsestrogen and can throw off your
natural hormone balance.
And parabens are often used aspreservatives, so commonly found
(16:22):
in makeup, are often used aspreservatives, so commonly found
in makeup, lotions and shampoos.
Parabens act as xenoestrogensand disrupts your whole
endocrine system.
So fragrances or parfum on alabel can hide a cocktail of
chemicals, including known EDCs,and the skin is so highly
absorptive right, it allowschemicals to enter your
(16:43):
bloodstream directly.
So if we're talking about thehealth effects of the beauty
product EDCs, the first, asusual, is hormone imbalances.
It can cause irregularmenstrual cycles, pms or
worsened menopause symptoms.
It can cause reduced fertilityand potential complications
during pregnancy.
Synthetic chemicals caninterfere with thyroid hormones,
(17:06):
leading to fatigue, weightchanges and brain fog.
It's disrupting your thyroid,and fragrances and preservatives
can trigger skin irritation andallergic reactions, and the
long-term risks of increasedexposure may elevate the risk of
hormone-sensitive cancers likebreast cancer and ovarian cancer
.
You can make healthier choicesand find alternatives for your
(17:27):
beauty products.
You might want to look forfragrance-free or naturally
scented products.
You want to choose productsscented with essential oils or
labeled as fragrance-free.
You want to look for brandsthat explicitly avoid parabens,
phthalates and syntheticfragrances that explicitly avoid
parabens, phthalates andsynthetic fragrances.
You want to select certifiedorganic makeup, skincare and
(17:50):
hair care products with simpleingredient lists or, you know,
diy it.
Create your own skincareproducts with natural
ingredients like coconut oil,shea butter and essential oils.
If you would like somehealthier alternatives for
perfumes, you can use essentialoils like lavender, citrus or
vanilla in a roller ball for acustomizable natural scent.
You want to explore brands thatdisclose all ingredients and
avoid harmful chemicals.
(18:11):
Or you could use solid perfumesthat are made with beeswax and
essential oils.
They're portable, they're safeand they're a better alternative
than traditional sprays.
And you can also DIY perfume.
Make your own fragrance withessential oils diluted in a
carrier oil like jojoba oralmond oil.
Some tips to reduce yourexposures is read the labels,
(18:32):
avoid fragrance or parfum, andlook for transparent ingredient
lists.
Reduce the number of productsyou use daily.
You always want to test newproducts on a small patch of
skin to ensure no reaction, andthen you always want to check
certifications.
Look for cruelty-free, organicor EWG verified products.
This is one reason why AloeVeda is my product of choice,
(18:55):
because they avoid syntheticfragrances and they use
essential oils instead.
So switching to clean air,beauty and fragrance options can
dramatically reduce yourexposure to endocrine disruptors
, supporting your overallhormonal health, making informed
choices for what goes on yourskin is just as important as
what goes into your body, whichleads us into cleaning products.
(19:18):
Your home may sparkle after agood cleaning, but what's
lingering in the air and onsurfaces could disrupt more than
dirt.
It might be interfering withyour hormones.
Many conventional cleaningproducts contain EDCs, which can
throw your hormonal system offbalance and impact your
long-term health.
So how do cleaning products actas endocrine disruptors?
(19:39):
Again, phthalates and thefragrance products.
These are found in airfresheners, sprays, scented
cleaners.
Phthalates act as xenoestrogens, mimicking estrogen and
disrupting hormonal balance.
There's also triclosan andantibacterial agents, so these
are often found in gist shopsand cleaners labeled
(19:59):
antibacterial.
They can interfere with thyroidhormones and affect your immune
system.
And you know ammonia andchlorine, which are common in
disinfectants.
They may not directly act asEDCs, but they can irritate your
respiratory system and lead tooxidative stress, so that
indirectly affects your hormonehealth.
And then there's VOCs, which isvolatile organic compounds.
(20:22):
This is released from cleaningsprays and disinfectants.
They can cause respiratoryissues and disrupt your cortisol
levels, affecting your stressresponse.
And then surfactants andsynthetic detergents.
These chemicals can disruptskin and gut microbiomes,
impacting overall hormonalhealth directly and the health
(20:43):
effects of these cleaningproducts.
You know EDCs can mimic orblock hormones, leading to
issues like irregular periods,infertility or worsened PMS.
You know, blame your Tide.
I couldn't even tell you thelast time we've had Tide in this
house it's been years.
Chemicals like triclosan caninterfere with thyroid hormones,
(21:03):
causing fatigue, weight changesand hair loss, because this
causes thyroid dysfunction.
And VOCs and strong cleaningchemicals can trigger asthma and
reduce your body's ability tohandle oxidative stress, so that
respiratory and immune systemsare coming from those VOCs.
And then frequent exposure canalso damage your skin barrier,
so this leads to increasedchemical absorption and cause
(21:25):
skin and eye irritation.
So the healthier cleaningalternatives you know I have
completely switched to Norwex.
Not that I get a kickback forsaying that, but you know I use
Norwex detergent.
Not only is it good for myfamily's skin, but it's better
for our bodies overall and Ihave not used fabric softener in
(21:47):
years.
So you can do a DIY cleaner ifyou need to.
You can mix vinegar water andyou can even add in some
essential oils like lemon or teatree for an all-purpose cleaner
.
You can also use baking sodaand water.
That makes a really goodabrasive scrub.
You can also use baking sodaand water, that makes a really
good abrasive scrub.
And then you want to choosecleaners that's labeled
(22:08):
fragrance-free or those scentedwith essential oils instead of
synthetic fragrances, and lookfor brands that explicitly state
that they are free ofphthalates, triclosan and VOCs.
So certifications like EPA,safer Choice or EWG Verified are
definitely a plus that you wantto look for.
You can also use steam cleaners.
So use steam cleaners forfloors and upholstery.
(22:30):
They clean effectively withoutany chemicals.
And then replace thosedisposable wipes with washable
microfiber cloths.
They work so good and you canuse just water with those.
So make sure you read thelabels.
Avoid products with perfume,triclosan or fragrance, and then
use cleaning products inwell-ventilated areas to reduce
(22:51):
your VOC exposure and opt forliquid cleaners over sprays to
limit inhalation of chemicals.
And then you know, simplifyStick to a few multi-purpose,
non-toxic products instead of aseparate cleaner for every
surface.
Switching to safer cleaningproducts not only protects your
hormones, but also promotes ahealthier environment for your
entire household.
(23:12):
A clean home does not have tocome at the expense of your
endocrine health.
Okay, so those are the mainthings that you probably have
around you that you may not havehad any idea how it was
affecting your health.
So I'm just going to do a recapof how endocrine disruptors do
affect your hormones and health.
(23:33):
First is your reproductivesystem, so there is infertility,
there is PCOS and there areworsening of PCOS symptoms
around these endocrinedisruptors.
And you know, they're findingthat there is puberty happening
earlier because of theseendocrine disruptors.
(23:53):
Then we have our thyroid, sohypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism
or autoimmune thyroid diseasescan be affected by these EDCs.
Metabolic issues, so insulinresistance, type 2 diabetes and
obesity are all affected bythese endocrine disruptors.
There's neurological impact, soADHD can be linked to these
(24:15):
endocrine disruptors,developmental delays and even
cognitive deficits.
And then the cancer risk, sohormone-sensitive cancers such
as breast and prostate.
That's just a lot over thesethings that you can easily find
alternatives for.
When I personally started makingchanges in my own household by
getting rid of Tide severalyears ago, no fabric softeners
(24:40):
going to glass containers and,you know, switching my cosmetics
and all, are these things okayto be produced and sold in the
United States?
If they knew that all of theresearch shows these effects?
So I started doing a lot ofresearch because I was trying to
(25:02):
figure out why, and a lot of itdidn't make sense to me, just
like you know, if you look atEuropean ways and other
countries, a lot of thechemicals, a lot of the things
we use are just outright banned,okay.
So it seems like it's such acomplex issue and it involves a
lot of the chemicals.
A lot of the things we use arejust outright banned, okay.
So it seems like it's such acomplex issue and it involves a
lot of different factors,including regulatory frameworks,
you know, economic interests ofcourse everyone's buying the
(25:24):
stuff, so they're not going tostop selling it and scientific
uncertainty.
So you know there's a lack ofcomprehensive regulation.
Different countries have varyingstandards for regulating
endocrine disruptors.
Some countries, like theEuropean Union, they just have a
stricter regulation onchemicals.
But you know, in many countriesregulations may not
(25:45):
specifically address thelong-term, low-dose exposure
risks associated with them, andendocrine disruptors are not
always tested comprehensivelyfor their long-term effects on
human health.
Many chemicals used in consumerproducts have not undergone
thorough testing to assess theirfull impact on endocrine
function.
And even when testing doesoccur, from what I've seen, it
(26:07):
often focuses on acute toxicityrather than chronic, low-level,
long-term exposure.
And I can see how.
You know, scientific researchcan really be uncertain because
people are exposed to endocrinedisruptors in so many different
ways from the food, the water,air, different products and at
different levels.
So it makes it really difficultto isolate the impact of any
(26:28):
one chemical or combination ofchemicals on just an
individual's health.
And then we're not even going toget into the economic interest,
because endocrine disruptingchemicals are cheaper to produce
and widely used inmanufacturing.
So you can find them inplastics, pesticides, cosmetics,
cleaning products and foodpackaging.
(26:48):
So industries often resistregulation because it's very
costly to reformulate productsor shift to a safer alternative.
You know it's easy just to gobuy an air freshener than it is
to purchase.
You know therapeutic gradeessential oils they can be so
expensive.
The good news is, I do feellike there is a growing
awareness.
There's public awareness aboutendocrine disruptors and it is
(27:10):
increasing.
There are so many advocacygroups, scientists and activists
pushing for stricterregulations and better labeling
of products.
But it takes a lot of time foryou know, public pressure to
lead to meaningful change.
I would love to hear about, youknow, your favorite non-toxic
gifts for the holidays or whatyou're swapping out.
Come and find me on Facebook atHarmony Hub Health and let me
(27:33):
know all about it.
And as we wrap up today'sepisode on endocrine disrupting
chemicals, or EDCs, and howfunctional medicine can help us
navigate these hidden toxins.
It's a great time to reflect onthe health we want to nurture
as we move into the new year.
Just like we take care inchoosing the right gifts, let's
also be mindful of what we'regifting our bodies Healthy
(27:56):
habits, informed choices and thesupport of a holistic approach.
This holiday season, considermaking small changes, whether
it's opting for non-toxicpersonal care products,
supporting your body withfunctional medicine practices or
simply being more conscious ofthe chemicals in your
environment.
The gift of health is the bestone we can give ourselves and
our loved ones.
(28:16):
Thank you for tuning intotoday's episode.
Stay well, stay informed andenjoy the holidays with a fresh
perspective on how to protectand care for your body.
Happy holidays and I'll see younext time on Harmony Hub Health
.
You.
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