Xenoestrogens, what are they and why should I avoid them?

Xeno-what?!

Xenoestrogens are chemicals that imitate estrogen and act like estrogen in your body, negatively impacting your hormone balance.  Health conditions associated with excessive xenoestrogens in the body include PMS symptoms, fibroids, endometriosis, breast cancer, early puberty, ovarian cysts, migraines and weight gain.

Probably the most famous xenoestrogen is BPA, the bisphenol-A found in plastic water bottles, plastic packaging, lining canned food and baby bottles (although Canada was the first to ban BPA from baby bottles in 2008).

BPA has gotten lots of publicity, even from the David Suzuki Foundation with their ‘12 ways to avoid hidden BPA.’

However, there are lots of other classes of chemicals that are considered xenoestrogens and can influence your hormone balance.  We are literally exposed to them everywhere, so it is impossible to eliminate them completely from our lives (unless you can live in a bubble!).

I like handing out the following list to my patients which contains many sources of xenoestrogens.  I suggest they take a look and pick 1-2 items that they are exposed to daily or in excessive amounts and make a change in their lives.  1-2 changes can go a long way to improving the health of yourself and your family.

Xenoestrogen list

What are you doing to make a positive change for your hormonal health? Feel free to share your stories and tips!

Image from: http://www.feminiya.com/steps-to-achieve-the-best-from-your-workouts/