Hormone Imbalance: What It Means To Feel A Little Off & Why
Have you ever felt a little off balance? And not quite sure what it is that is making you feel that way?
Some may say it’s environmental or maybe it’s something happening internally that you can’t quite pinpoint. But what if it’s both? In this post we’ll talk more about our hormones and the world around us.
Biology 101 - A Lesson In The Endocrine System
The human endocrine system is sensitive to even slight changes, and your external environment can be a major influencer of this system. There are countless factors challenging hormonal balance, so it is tough to say there is one specific variable, but there are a few toxicants that are known to affect hormone function.
Certain chemicals bind to the receptor sites on cells, and act as blocks for the hormones your body naturally produces. These pollutants can then in turn challenge your menstrual cycle. Persistent organic pollutants are main players at this table.
What Are We Taking In?
Persistent organic pollutants, or POP’s, are a classification of pollutants that rarely break down inside of us. They bioaccumulate in a human's fat cells, and biomagnify in the food chain (2017, Toxtown).
These POP’s can stay in the body for years and have long half lives. Pesticides used on many of our food products today is how we often take these POP’s in.
Inhalants, such as heavy metals and cigarette smoke are another factor in this. These have been discovered floating around the developing egg in women. One highlighted study looked into the effect of suspended particulate matter, and found it is seen to create menstrual irregularities in High School aged women.
While we might hate to admit it, our personal cosmetic products can also play a role in this (yes, maybe even that favorite face lotion of yours). Some age defying products can bind to your estrogen receptor sites. It seems an impossible task but in the interest of our overall health we need to rethink our definition of beauty and make educated decisions regarding what you put on your skin.
It’s important to do a quick audit of your life every once in a while and do a xenoestrogens detox. It’ll do you and your health some good in the long run. And just in case we have to say it; If things burn when you put them on, you probably shouldn’t use it!
Don't worry, we’re not here to just scare you then leave you hanging out to dry.
Try some of these tips:
Make sure filters are changed frequently on your home’s filtration system
Avoid running during peak traffic hours
Buy organic foods and milk to reduce chemical exposure
Turn on the internal air circulator in your car when stopped in your vehicle so you are not directly exposed to exhaust
Small things like removing your shoes when you enter the house can mitigate chemicals that may be on your shoes
References
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs): Your Environment, Your Health | National Library of Medicine. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://toxtown.nlm.nih.gov/chemicals-and-contaminants/persistent-organic-pollutants-pops
