Our contemporary world offers many advantages, but endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are not one of them (1). These substances are unfortunately ubiquitous and unquestionably detrimental to hormone function, fertility, and general health (2,3,4).
However, there is a benefit. It’s not as hard as you may think to rid your house of these toxins, and just a few small changes can significantly reduce your exposure to EDCs.
Here are some tips for decluttering your life to support hormone balance and fertility.
1. Make changes to the way you clean.
A potentially hazardous combination of carcinogens, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and unidentified fragrances can be found in conventional cleaning products (5). I advise replacing them with less toxic alternatives. Greener options abound on store shelves, or you may make your own DIY cleaners using basic, secure items like vinegar and baking soda.
2. Give that up for this.
When you begin to consider all the ways that EDCs are present in your home, it’s easy to become overwhelmed. But remember that every little change counts. Start with a product that you are going to run out of; a cleaning product would be a good choice as it doesn’t hold any special meaning for you. Once it is empty, choose a more secure choice.
According to studies, switching to safer goods can significantly lower the number of EDCs in our urine in just three days (6). This implies that the following exchanges will undoubtedly build up quickly:
Replace your traditional candles with ones made of soy or beeswax
Swap out paraffin and petroleum-based wax candles for soy or beeswax alternatives perfumed with essential oils that are sourced naturally.
Replace chemical sunscreen with mineral sunscreen
Seek out sunscreens with titanium dioxide or zinc oxide as the active ingredient.
Replace your disposable pads and tampons with reusable or organic ones
The FDA does not regulate menstruation supplies, and traditional products contain bleach and chlorine. A more sustainable concept? Select a sustainable and reusable solution such as menstruation discs, cups, or period underwear.
3. Find out which ingredients are best avoided.
You should be aware of which goods, such as hand soaps, detergents, and scented linen fresheners, can include substances you should avoid. Replace any items labeled “fragrance” or “parfum” because phthalates are present in at least 85% of fragrance mixes that aren’t mentioned (7). These are well-known endocrine disruptors that are particularly harmful to the health of sperm (8).
![6 Easy Moves You Can Make at Home for Your Hormone Health](https://i0.wp.com/jasminefeliciano.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/6-Easy-Moves-You-Can-Make-at-Home-for-Your-Hormone-Health-pin.png?resize=683%2C1024&quality=80&ssl=1)
4. Every day, let in some fresh air.
Make it a daily habit to open your doors and windows. The likelihood is that indoor combustion sources, such as the gas stove you use for cooking every night or your favorite scented candle, pollute indoor air more than outside air, unless you live in a really polluted location (9).
5. Bid farewell to plastic in the cooking area.
It’s time to clear up that neat pile of plastic food storage containers in the refrigerator! Replace your plastic food storage containers with glass ones or make a pledge never to microwave food in plastic containers again. Heat speeds up the leaching of microplastics, bisphenols, and phthalates. I personally use these glass containers for meal prepping. They are so easy to clean, easy to store in the fridge and keep food fresh!
Related Post: Beyond Taste: The Health Impact of Your Cookware Choices
6. Purchase vitamins and detoxifying devices.
Take supplements with Milk thistle, vitamin C, glutathione, NAC, and turmeric root as these are ingredients that aid in your body’s removal of toxins and free radicals. Maintaining clean indoor air quality can be greatly aided by an effective air purifier. Experts advise searching for one that collects minuscule particles using a HEPA filter.
To Wrap Things Up
Although there are many chemicals in our environment that, in large doses, can be harmful to hormones and reproductive health, there are many strategies to minimize your exposure at home. Simple changes, selective product selection when it comes to scents, and high-quality supplement purchases can all help.
Sources |
- Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs): In Vitro Mechanism of Estrogenic Activation and Differential Effects on ER Target Genes – PubMed (nih.gov)
- Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals: An Endocrine Society Scientific Statement – PMC (nih.gov)
- Environmental Toxins and Infertility – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf (nih.gov)
- Disruption by stealth – Interference of endocrine disrupting chemicals on hormonal crosstalk with thyroid axis function in humans and other animals – PubMed (nih.gov)
- Occupational risk factors for hand dermatitis among professional cleaners in Spain – PMC (nih.gov)
- Interventions on Reducing Exposure to Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals in Human Health Care Context: A Scoping Review – PMC (nih.gov)
- Endocrine Disruptors and Asthma-Associated Chemicals in Consumer Products – PMC (nih.gov)
- Phthalates – widespread occurrence and the effect on male gametes. Part 2. The effects of phthalates on male gametes and on the offspring – PubMed (nih.gov)
- The Inside Story: A Guide to Indoor Air Quality | US EPA
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