Clean Living: An Important Truth You Need to Know

Are you concerned about clean living? To many people, clean living is about staying mindful – mindful of what you put in and on your body.

When choosing what to eat and drink as well as what products to use, you may consider the number of calories, how processed things are and whether there is a lot of sugar or other refined carbohydrates.

However, one very important issue to consider when thinking about eating and drinking healthfully and choosing products is the issue of endocrine disruptors.

Impacting clean living: endocrine disrupters

So what are endocrine disruptors? The endocrine system is made up of a very important network of glands in your body that communicate with each other and with the rest of the body through hormones. These hormones regulate everything from growth, metabolism, sexual and reproductive function, and mood.

Endocrine disruptors are chemicals that interfere with the communication between the network of glands and their hormones in such a way that can cause adverse reproductive, developmental, neurological or immune effects. We are seeing more and more premature puberty, obesity, cancer and even birth defects related to endocrine disruptors.

In 2013, the World Health Organization (WHO) released a report that was touted as one of the most comprehensive reports on endocrine-disrupting chemicals to date. The report revealed a wide variety of health problems associated with exposure to these chemicals, including prostate cancer, thyroid cancer, neurological and developmental problems in children, and ADHD.

As you can see, chemicals in our everyday lives impact our endocrine system which in turn leads to health problems. Being mindful of clean living can help you reduce your risk.

Knowing where you’ll find endocrine disrupters

Unfortunately, endocrine disrupters are found all over the place. They’re in plastic water bottles, hormones in our milk and eggs, cosmetics, industrial chemicals used in fire retardants and even some of the plastics used in toys!

In 2009, the Environmental Working Group did a study that found over 200 such chemicals in the blood from the umbilical cord of newborn babies. That means that even babies are being exposed to these chemicals during gestation from their mothers being exposed! Learn more in this article that describes the study of newborn baby’s chemical exposure.

Avoiding these hormone-disrupting chemicals

When you begin to research this topic, it can become a bit overwhelming because as I said, these endocrine disrupters are EVERYWHERE.

Here are a few simple things that you can start doing immediately to move towards clean living:

1. Don’t drink bottled water from plastic bottles.
2. Eat organic.
3. Don’t eat farm raised fish.
4. Don’t use nonstick pans.
5. Look for fragrance free products.

Dr. Mercola wrote a pretty extensive blog on endocrine disrupters. You might be surprised at some of the ways we’re exposed to toxic chemicals!

Here is a terrific resource of the Dirty Dozen Endocrine Disrupters and how to avoid them. If you’re concerned about these endocrine-altering chemicals, it’s a must read.

Because I care about your well-being, I need to share with you what I know about healthy, clean living. Learning about endocrine disrupters is important. So, please take the time to educate yourself and let me know if you have any questions at your next appointment. I’m always happy to put you on the path to better health.

For more on healthy eating, read my blogs on Gut Bacteria and Why You Should Care and Why You Need to Embrace an Anti-Inflammatory Diet.

Dr. Sharman