I missed a recent NYT
article “Puberty Before Age 10: A New Normal” as we were away. I had a chance to read it thanks to electronic
edition’s “most emailed section" (love that section). The
article refers to 2010 research confirming 10% white girls and over 20% black
girls have breast development by 7. This presents potential problems with growth,
bone health, and if accompanied by early
periods breast cancer. However, this isn’t
only a “girl” problem the same factors causing this can result in increased
risk of fertility and sperm problems for boys and a higher risk of prostate cancer.
And in case you come to the table from a vanity perspective, the things
disrupting endocrine function in our children increases risk of obesity in
adults.
These “things” I so scientifically mentioned are
environmental factors that mimic estrogen and known as xenoestrogens (xeno
meaning foreign or different, xenophobia that great SAT word meaning fear of
foreigners). It turns out we need to be skeptical and xenophobic when it comes
to these “foreigners” and our bodies and our families’ bodies. It’s not just one
source but the cumulative effects of so many estrogen mimics in our environment
that’s so hazardous.
The more I research
this topic the more concerned I become. And because my intent with this blog is
not to incite fear, I always return to the question what can we do to minimize risk? While many feel the most crucial period is in utero, there are improvements we can all make. Short of moving to an organic farm a la Woody Harrelson, here are my suggestions:
Crucifers or
cruciferous vegetables are one of your best nutritional defense tactics against
xenoestrogens. Broccoli, cabbage, kale, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts are
rich in a compound that's abbreviated I3C. I3C converts to another substance that can
block some of these harmful estrogens. So sauerkraut, kale chips, and healthy
slaws should definitely have a prominent place in your diet and make sure
you’re purchasing organic produce because pesticides are a source of xenoestrogens.
Exercise-
exercise is one of the only tools with the potential to delay early puberty. It lowers estrogen
levels and can reduce body weight. Increased weight increases the hormone
leptin which increases estrogen. Dr Lustig the endocrinologist quoted in the NYT article explains “higher estrogen
levels leads to greater insulin resistance causing more girls to have more fat
tissue, more leptin and more estrogen, the cycle feeding on itself.”
Sunscreen and lotions-
of all personal care products the ones absorbed and therefore most toxic are topical creams applied to the skin. If you are going to make one change with “cosmetics”
start here. There are many carcinogenic and hormone disrupting ingredients such
as oxybenzone and retinyl palmitate in sunscreens. Make sure what you’re using
isn’t in the Sunscreen Hall of Shame from the Environmental Working Group, many
popular brands are on this list. I used Viva Sana on our recent trip; Badger, Kiss my
Face and Aubrey Organics are other good choices. As far as lotion Weleda and Hugo Naturals are two reliable companies. I mentioned some other favorites in “Is Your Food Organic but Moisturizer Carcinogenic” post. If you’re already on the good sun protection bandwagon, toss your conventional
dryer sheets (another source of xenoestrogens).
Plastics and cans-
perhaps most of you know not to microwave plastics (do you all know?) but I
cringe when I see all the plastic people are still drinking out of and
transporting food in. Drink water from glass bottles and invest in glass food containers. The less plastic the better, even at room
temperature chemcals from plastic leaches into the water. My current favorite are
the Takeya bottles.
Meat- was that Easter ham or Passover brisket organic? Cows and chickens are fed estrogens to
increase milk and egg production. Organic animals are not allowed to
have hormones administered. And less hormones administered means less
circulating in our environment. Hormones in meat are especially concerning
because estrogens are fat-soluble meaning they accumulate in fat tissue of
animals. Aside from organic meat, we can all benefit from less meat in our
diets.
I heard the term “toxic soup” and it’s easy to feel that
applies to our environment. Our governmental agencies aren’t proactive in
limiting our exposure to these hormone disruptors (recently denied BPAs are
problematic). It’s really up to each of us to make decisions to improve our
health and spread the word to friends and others who may not be aware of the
problems lurking in their food and home products.
Did you read the NYT article? Were you familiar with the term xenoestrogen? What measures have you taken to decrease your exposure or your families' exposure?
