Awash in a Sea of Xenoestrogens

[Guest guest]

Good info on xenoestrogens for both men and women. Michelle

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Awash in a Sea of Xenoestrogens

Dr. Dixie Mills

 

For the most part, our bodies are amazingly resilient. We are hard-

wired to resist threats to our equilibrium. What our bodies are not

designed for is exposure to the many endocrine disruptors in our

environment, among them the family of chemicals known as

xenoestrogens.

 

Many of these xenoestrogens are proven carcinogens. They are also

well known for their ability to damage the immune system and

interrupt hormonal balance. Our cells can't always distinguish fully

between our own estrogen and xenoestrogens. Every cell has estrogen

receptors that recognize and open to the shape of an estrogen

molecular chain, regardless of where it comes from.

 

Pesticides are perhaps the biggest source of xenoestrogens. Most

bioaccumulate, meaning they are stored in fat cells of fish, poultry

and other food sources in increasing concentration until they reach

the top of the food chain — where you and I consume them! They are

highly estrogenic, and some experts estimate that the average

American ingests over a pound of pesticides a year.

 

A second major source of xenoestrogens is the many growth hormones

given to livestock and poultry, most of which contain fat-soluble

estrogens. When we consume those animals or their milk, we ingest

that estrogen. Organochlorides like dioxin (a by-product of chlorine

when it is burned or processed), PCB's, PVC's, and some plasticizers

are just a few of the many chemicals that act like estrogen in our

bodies. Many others have the effect of interrupting our normal

endocrine function, hence the term " endocrine disruptors. "

 

Mainstream medicine is finally paying attention because xenoestrogens

not only affect the cells of women, but those of men and children.

Sperm counts have dropped by 50% in some studies, a significant

factor in the epidemic of infertility. The age at which girls develop

secondary sex characteristics (breasts and pubic hair) is also

dropping. It is not exactly clear what role endocrine disruptors as a

whole have in the steady rise of chronic diseases in children (at

earlier ages!), but studies are underway to evaluate this.

 

It is easy to see why Dr. Lee's advice to support our bodies with

extra progesterone makes sense to help create hormonal balance.