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

The pill is prescribed for many “non-contraceptive” reasons such as acne, uterine fibroids, PMS, heavy bleeding or cramping with no consideration as to safety from breast cancer and blood clots. With the incidence of hormone induced cancers on the rise, it is important to address the root cause of your health problem before applying a band aid approach.

DID YOU KNOW…

Women taking “low dose” birth control pills are getting more estrogen than what is recommended for post-menopausal women.  “Low dose” just means lower than before, which is still a problem as the research shows.

Hormones are fundamental to health; when a hormone imbalance occurs it often causes health problems. The pill often masks imbalances with estrogen and progesterone.  Too little progesterone relative to estrogen can result in estrogen dominant symptoms like weight gain, breast tenderness, anxiety, fluid retention and fibrocystic breasts.

Uterine fibroids which can cause heavy, painful periods can actually be promoted by taking the pill or hormone replacement therapy.  Increased estrogen intake and xenoestrogen exposure from chemicals in products such as plastics, pesticides, cosmetics, household cleaning products and even the water we drink promotes the growth of uterine fibroids.

Diet and lifestyle are often key factors in many health problems. Foods such as red meat, dairy, shellfish, and peanuts promote inflammation and thickening of the uterine lining which results in pain and heavy bleeding.  Bowel problems caused by stress and poor diet can also promote inflammation and increase menstrual pain.  Heavy bleeding and excess cramps can also be associated with overexertion, chronic illness, food sensitivities and vitamin deficiencies.

It is important not to overlook other physical hormonal imbalances.  A concern such as weight gain may be associated with low thyroid function that could result from elevated estrogen or excess stress hormone production.  Weight loss is also difficult in women with elevated testosterone.

Accessing hormones as well as considering lifestyle and diet are critical to getting to the root of women’s health concerns.  Before using the pill to manage your health concerns, look a little deeper to understand what’s happening in the body to build a healthier you.