Are endocrine disruptors making it hard for you to lose weight?
If you’re facing problems such as weight gain or feeling run down, you’re probably not thinking to blame “endocrine disruptors”, right? Whether you’ve heard of them or not, endocrine disruptors are a form of toxins that can wreak havoc on your body’s regular hormone function. You may be shocked to know that they’re also hiding in most of the personal care products that you’re using on a daily basis. Despite taking part in regular exercise and eating healthily, some people still struggle to lose weight.
That’s right … quite literally, your everyday personal products could be making you gain weight and/or hang onto extra weight that you already have and can’t seem to lose. For this reason, they’re also sometimes referred to as “obesogens”. Obesogens don’t directly cause weight gain but may increase sensitivity, or susceptibility in gaining weight. Some 20 chemicals have been identified as obesogens so far.
Animal studies even show that even a tiny amount of endocrine disruptor exposure during the prenatal period triggers obesity later in life. The Environmental Working Group reported that exposure in the womb to BPA and air pollution were associated with increased body mass index and fat when children reached school age and adolescence. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, obesity in children has tripled since the 1970s with almost one-fifth of American children being obese.
Here are eight ways you can reduce your exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals:
- Use non-toxic laundry and cleaning products
- Swap your skincare products
- Reduce your household fragrances
- Store your food in glass
- Avoid perfumes
- Eat fresh, unpackaged foods
- Ditch non-stick cookware
What are ‘Endocrine Disruptors’ and Why are They Dangerous?
These hormones create changes in your cells, in response to your body’s needs. Endocrine disruptors or Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) are chemicals that throw off your natural hormone processes. You come across them every day from your cleaning products to your skincare routine.
Endocrine disruptors can interrupt with the production or activity of hormones which can lead to cancerous tumors and weight gain, amongst other health problems. They can stop and start hormone production as well as imitate them, tricking your body into doing something it shouldn’t.
Endocrine disruptors can be found in so many everyday products, making it hard to go completely cold turkey but there’s plenty you can do to reduce the risk of exposure. Endocrine disruptors can be found in:
- Cleaning products
- Sunscreens
- Skincare & Personal Care
- Laundry detergent
- Air fresheners
- Plastic
- Flame retardants
- Pesticides
There is a wide range of substances that are thought to cause endocrine disruption. However, chemicals that are currently known to be endocrine disruptors include:
- Bisphenol A (BPA)
- Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP)
- Phytoestrogens
- Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
- Diethylstilbestrol (DES)
- Dioxin and dioxin-like compounds
What Can You do to Reduce Endocrine Disruptors?
1) Use Non-Toxic Laundry and Cleaning Products
Many cleaning products in your home could be exposing you to endocrine disruptors. Start removing toxins from your home by switching out your laundry and cleaning products, first! It’s the easiest way to make a big impact.
Find green, 100% organic, non-toxic alternatives to clean your home. Pure Haven is the only full line of products that are 100% free of toxins guaranteed, and the cleaning products are the best of the best! With no sulfates, dyes, or fragrances, clean your house with the knowledge you’re not introducing any pollutants to your home for you and your family.
2) Swap your Skincare Products out for Non-Toxic
Swap your conventional skincare products with a skincare routine that’s rich with harmful chemical-free counterparts. Choose non-toxic, environmentally-friendly skincare products, free from parabens, phthalates and synthetic chemicals.
Pure Haven’s non-toxic skincare bundle with pre+probiotics has everything you need to jump start your new skincare regime, feed your skin and reverse aging, too! Want to boost your hydration and reverse-aging even faster? Add on our Hyaluronic Acid, Beauty Booster and/or Brightening/Soothing Serum. You do not need harmful chemicals (or endocrine disruptors) to have the best skin of your lifetime!
3) Ditch Home “Fragrance”
It’s easy to reach for the plug-in air freshener or aerosol to give your house a boost of fragrance. But, you can keep your house smelling just as fresh without air fresheners. Before cleaning rugs and carpets, remember to change your vacuum filter for maximum freshness.
Open the window, put out some fresh flowers or try a diffuser with essential oils. If you like to use candles to set the mood and scent of a room, look for truly non-toxic candles. Avoid using artificial air fresheners to help reduce your exposure to endocrine disruptors.
4) Store Your Food in Glass Containers
Phthalates are chemicals that make plastic soft and are often found in lots of everyday products such as plastic containers, sandwich bags, food packaging, and plastic wrap. Phthalates are also endocrine disruptors. Try and eliminate plastic sources wherever possible, use a glass or stainless steel water bottle and straws.
Fats absorb phthalates more easily so be especially careful when storing fatty foods. Store your food in glass containers and they will stay fresh and toxin-free. Try to avoid heating or freezing food in plastic containers as extreme temperatures can release the phthalates, meaning you can ingest it.
A study by Harvard University researchers found that PFAS chemicals may increase the chances of gaining weight after dieting. With women with higher levels of PFAS chemicals in their blood, regaining an average of 3.7 to 4.8 pounds more than women with lower levels of the chemical. PFAS chemicals can be found in food packaging materials and even cosmetics.
5) Avoid Perfumes & Fragrance
Many of you may love your signature scent but it most likely contains some sneaky ingredients that could be interfering with your body’s functions. There’s no need to ditch fragrances altogether but it’s important to know what your spraying on yourself and the amazing natural alternatives that are available.
Perfume ingredients are usually considered a company secret, therefore, manufacturers can hide numerous chemicals under the term “fragrance”. The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics found that 70% of the perfumes they tested, contained phthalates.
One study found that the urine of pregnant women who used perfume have phthalate concentrations 167% higher than non-users. Fret not, there are natural alternatives that smell delicious and are chemical-free. Natural perfumes made from essential oils and plant ingredients are free from synthetic chemicals. Avoid anything that lists “fragrance” as an ingredient.
6) Eat Fresh, Unpackaged Foods
Your diet can be a source of endocrine disruptors due to packaging and food processing. By choosing fresh, unpackaged foods as well as BPA-free cans, this will help to reduce your exposure to BPA, phthalates and other endocrine disruptors trying to get in.
Due to current farming practices including pesticides, herbicides, and general industrial runoff, even healthy products can become endocrine disruptors. If you can, shop locally and organically, ideally buying produce at your nearest farmer’s market.
7) Ditch Non-Stick Cookware
Very commonly, non-stick surfaces are aluminum pans coated with a synthetic called polytetrafluoroetheylene (PTFE), which is also known as “Teflon”. At high temperatures, toxic fumes can be released from pots and pans with this coating.
A Norwegian study found that perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), found in non-stick frying pans, can affect the body’s steroid hormones. This includes estrogen, testosterone and cortisol, the hormones essential for regulating a number of bodily functions. Instead, choose cast iron or stainless steel cookware.
We can help you make your home a Pure Haven!
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Figuring out what brands are truly safe (most are not) can be overwhelming. Check out this list of harmful ingredients as a starting point, but truthfully, this is why we make our products – we do the research so you don’t have to.
Reach out to our team if you’d like to learn more about Pure Haven products, to make a purchase, and/or join our incredible team of Consultants (earn free products and income when you share with others, and shop at 30% off “wholesale prices” every day). We can help you take your health and future into your hands, without any compromises!
