By Dr. Samantha Ristimaki, BSc, ND of Balance Wellness Center

Estrogen is a hormone that helps women be women.  Many problems women experience such as breast cysts, uterine fibroids, ovarian cysts, endometriosis as well as breast, uterine and ovarian cancer are all promoted by excess estrogen.  Environmental factors may be contributing to these conditions.  Chemicals called xenoestrogens are man-made compounds that mimic naturally occurring estrogens and are found throughout foods and products you use every day!

PESTICIDES:  Pesticides are used on animals, farms, lawns and golf courses (Golf courses use 7 times the amount of pesticides than farmers use.)  They enter the body through the skin and lungs. 

BEEF: Cattle for beef production in Canada and the US are given zeranol or estradiol, as well as testosterone or trenbolone acetate.  All these hormones are estrogenic and since cows are big animals, high levels of estrogens have been found in North American beef products.

FARMED FISH: Herbicides are used to keep sea lice under control in sea-based farms and algaecides are used in above-ground fish farms.

DAIRY: The International Journal of Cancer published a joint study as part of the National Enhanced Cancer Surveillance System, and it reported a strong association between the consumption of cheese and the risk of getting testicular cancer.  They found the increase stemmed from the high amounts of hormones estrogen and progesterone in Canadian dairy products.  Testicular cancer has become more prevalent over the last few decades and is now the leading cancer among young men at a time when more people are ingesting dairy products.  Research stated that dairy foods contain high levels of female sex hormones.  Cows in the US are also given bovine growth hormone (BGH) so they can produce more milk.  BGH is banned for use in Canada.

COSMETICS: Make-up, shampoo, conditioners, shaving creams and deodorants contain phthalates or parabens.  Preservatives in skin lotions, suntan lotions and body lotions are also estrogenic. 

PLASTICS: Bisphenol-A and phthalates are used to make plastics like: water bottles, plastic baby bottles, plastic on packaged foods, some dental composites and lined tin cans.  The bisphenol-A prevents plastic from breaking down in sunlight.  Canned foods have been found to have twenty seven times the level of estrogen used to stimulate breast cancer cell growth in test tubes.  Be aware that heating plastic releases these chemicals.  A study at Dartmouth University found that plastic wrap that had olive oil on it produced concentrations of xenoestrogens 500,000 times the amount of estrogen needed to produce breast cancer cell proliferation.

CLEANING CHEMICALS: Ordinary household cleaners such as laundry and dish detergent break down into chemicals that include nonylphenol and octylphenol.  Laundry detergent persists in clothes, even after the rinse cycle.  As clothes are worn, the skin is exposed to estrogenic compounds and the bacteria naturally found in the skin break down soap residues that are subsequently absorbed into the skin.

DRYER FABRIC SOFTENER SHEETS AND FABRIC SOFTENERS: These contain benzyl acetate, benzyl alcohol, ethanol, A-terpineol, ethyl acetate, camphor, chloroform, linalool or pentate which can all break down and be absorbed by the skin.

BLEACHING CHEMICALS: Chlorine-bleaching process used to whiten tampons, pads and toilet paper produces the chemical dioxin as a bi-product.  Unless stated otherwise, tampons are rayon which is a synthetic fiber made of wood pulp.

PHARMACEUTICALS: Synthetic estrogens and birth control pills are all toxic estrogens.  Not only do these chemicals affect those who are prescribed them, but once the chemicals are flushed out of the body via urine, they go into the general water system and affect us all as we eat fish, shellfish or drink the contaminated water.

What to do about it?

Choose organic foods where possible

Wash all fruits and vegetables thoroughly with fruit washes

Choose beef from organic sources

Opt for free-range poultry and eggs

Stick to organic dairy products or switch to goat milk & cheese

Choose wild fish over farmed fish

Never microwave with plastic wrap covering your food

Buy fresh or frozen food as opposed to canned products

Buy a water filter

Drink & store water in a glass or stainless steel container

Choose organic shampoo, conditioner, soap and body lotion that are paraben free

Avoid complex cleaning products – try water & vinegar

Choose chemical-free detergents, fabric softeners sheets

Purchase 100% unbleached cotton pads, tampons and toilet paper

By Dr. Samantha Ristimaki, BSc, ND of Balance Wellness Center

Breast Cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in young women ages 20-59, accounting for 37% of new cases and 22% of deaths.  An estimated 4,415 Canadian women under the age of 50 will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, and close to 575 will die.

With more women being affected by breast cancer, education and awareness are extremely important in the fight against this disease.  The treatments for women with breast cancer have advanced significantly over the past few years, however early detection is still a woman’s best bet in conquering breast cancer.

Genetic factors, although very important, are not the only risk factors that predispose young women to breast cancer.  Hormones, environment, lifestyle and personal health history play a big role. 

 Are you at higher risk?

First period before 12 years of age

First child after 30 or no children at all

Mother, sister or daughter with breast cancer

Female relative with ovarian or endometrial cancer

Father or brother with prostate cancer

Overweight or obese

Dense breast tissue

Moderate to high alcohol intake

Smoker

Radiation exposure

Frequent flying

Environmental chemical exposure

High fat diet

Fibrocystic breast disease

Personal history of breast cancer

Oral contraceptive use

Hormone replacement therapy

Lack of physical activity

Shift work and night working 

Even if you do not fall into any of the above categories, it is important to get to know your breasts and pay careful attention to any changes that occur.  Look, touch and pay attention to how they feel.  It’s important to be aware of the following:

LUMPS – Palpable masses in any area of the breast and the tissue up to the armpit or unusual thickening of breast tissue that doesn’t go away after your period.

PAIN & SENSATION – It’s normal to experience breast tenderness before your period but pain, swelling or itching in a localized area is not normal.

SIZE & SHAPE – Rapid unexplained changes in the size, shape or position of one or both breasts or the appearance or direction of the nipples.

TEXTURE – Dimpling, puckering, scaling or redness of the skin that doesn’t go away.

DISCHARGE – Sudden onset of nipple discharge or comes from only one breast.

Consult your medical provider should you notice any of the above.  Ensure you get yearly PAP tests and breast exams at least every 3 years. If you have a family history of breast cancer, talk to your medical provider about more frequent screenings.