Fight Back Against The Xenoestrogen Health Danger

The industrial chemicals known as xenoestrogens disrupt the body’s hormonal balance and often lead to cancer and other health disasters. These pollutants found in plastics, pesticides, air and water are everywhere around us. But you can reduce your exposure and protect your health with some simple precautions and supplements.

Take In Fewer Xenoestrogens

You can avoid xenoestrogen chemicals that are likely to be in your food. For example, you can purchase organically grown fruits and vegetables. You can buy meat and dairy products that are hormone-free. You can also find out the composition of consumer goods you use regularly, including personal-care products and cosmetics. Buy natural versions of each from a health-food store. You’ll be surprised to learn how many personal-care products are natural and contain no synthetic xenoestrogens (the label will not mention xenoestrogens specifically). Read labels or call manufacturers and ask about synthetic materials in their products.

Improve Liver Metabolism Of Xenoestrogens

When xenoestrogen compounds enter your bloodstream via ingestion, skin or inhalation, they make their way to your bloodstream. Your liver processes and detoxifies your bloodstream constantly and, therefore, can change xenoestrogen compounds to a form that is fat soluble for elimination via your biliary system.

There are foods that harmfully increase body fat and estrogen storage. You may guess the most problematic: white flour foods such as pasta, pizza (crust), bagels, pretzels, most breads and baked goods; and sugar and concentrated sweeteners, including barley malt, beet sugar, cane sugar, corn syrup, corn syrup solids, date sugar, dextrose, fructose, high fructose corn syrup, pasteurized honey, maltodextrin and even turbinado sugar (notice that stevia is not on this list). Also, you’ll want to avoid trans-fatty acids, hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils. You’ll need to eliminate caffeine drinks, which increase cortisol and lead to insulin resistance.

The good news is that there are foods that are known to improve phase 1 detoxification in your liver. These include organic sources of: whole grains (best if sprouted); brewer’s yeast; sprouted seeds and beans; liver (if you can handle the taste); fresh fruits (especially organic); lemons (put lemon or lime in your water); fresh organic vegetables of various colors; whey; eggs; garlic; and the (organic) cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cress, bok choy and all green leafy vegetables. Think of these as the foods that help your liver (the vacuum cleaner of your blood) work optimally.

Now consider certain other ways that are sure to improve liver function, especially with phase 1 and phase 2 liver detoxification: exercising, controlling your weight, not smoking and avoiding alcohol (except for red wine at a maximum of 6 ounces daily).

Supplements

Additionally, there are dietary supplements that are known to make a difference for your hormonal health. The following is a list of dietary supplements that have been studied and shown to help lower bad estrogens (xenoestrogens and metabolites associated with cancer) via liver metabolism. Most of the supplements listed come in standard doses. For the others, please note the dosage:

• Omega-3 oils and flaxseed
• Rosemary, turmeric, chrysin
• Vitamin A
• B2 (riboflavin) 25 mg/day
• B3 (niacin) 125-150 mg/day
• B5 (pantothenic acid) 1,200-1,500 mg/day
• B6 (pyridoxine) 150 mg/day
• B9 (folic acid) 800-1,000 mcg/day
• B12 (cyanocobalamin) 1,000-2,000 mcg/day as a sublingual liquid
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin D
• Vitamin E (mixed tocopherols)
• MSM
• Trimethylglycine
• N-acetyl cysteine
• Alpha-lipoic acid
• Amino acids: methionine, cysteine, glycine, taurine, glutamine, ornithine, arginine
• Beta-carotene
• Bioflavonoids
• Coenzyme Q10
• Trace minerals: zinc, selenium, manganese, copper

You may not be able to supplement with all these, but the more the better — especially if you know you have symptoms that could be from estrogen excess from my former article.