What are Xenoestrogens anyway???

Products we use everyday are filled with synthetic chemicals. Since these are man-made chemicals that do not naturally occur, the body does not know how to deal with them. One group of synthetic chemicals that is responsible for many terrible effects are xenoestrogens (xeno means foreign). Other names for them are hormone disruptors, estrogen mimics, and endocrine disruptors. Since the chemicals are similar in structure to the natural hormone estrogen, they affect areas of the body naturally regulated by estrogen.

Two biological properties of xenoestrogens are bioaccumulation and biomagnification. Bioaccumulation means that since the body stores these chemicals in fat, and since the only way they can leave a woman's body is through the placenta, all of the xenoestrogens you are exposed to in your life stay in your body for your entire life. Biomagnification has to do with the food chain. Since these chemicals stay in the body, when a large fish eats a small fish, it is eating that fish's ENTIRE accumulation of the contaminents. Then, when the human eats the large fish, not only are we eating the xenoestrogens the large fish has been exposed to, but also all of the xenoestrogens that the little fish and algae were exposed to! That makes for a lot of toxins.

The main problem with xenoestrogens is that our bodies are bombarded with them all day. Not only are they present in the food we eat, but also in most of our toiletries and cleaners. They are also present in the home, in some types of carpets, paint and such. When I first found out about xenoestrogens, I checked my lotions, cleansers, hair products, feminine hygiene products, and make up. All had xenoestrogens. One of the most popular ones are parabens. They usually have another word before them such as methyl, or ethyl. Red dye no.3 is also another common one. Dioxin is another one. It is a biproduct of processes like bleaching and burning products. They have been found in tampons and pads.

Also, many plastics are hormonally active and release xenoestrogens into things they come in contact with. This is why it is never a good idea to heat or cook something in plastic, because the heat accelerates the leaching of the chemicals into the food. When you look at all the food that is packaged in plastic, and the abundance of plastic water bottles, containers and utensils, you begin to understand why this is such a problem.

Again, the main problem with xenoestrogens is that we are exposed to them dozens of times a day from dozens of sources. When you add in the fact that these chemicals stay in our bodies for life, you see that this is not only a problem, but an epidemic. A modern epidemic, since these synthetic chemicals didn't exist 70 years ago.

A good site for information on the toxins our bodies are daily exposed to is http://www.lesstoxicguide.ca/index.asp If you click first on Personal Care, and then on Common Hazardous Chemicals found in Personal Care Products, you will get a list of toxins to watch out for, including estrogen mimics.