Health Consequences of Xenoestrogens

Xenoestrogens are becoming harder and harder to avoid. They’re in plastic, beauty products, hormonal birth control, water, food preservatives, receipts, nonstick cookware, pesticides, and more. It’s nearly impossible to get away from them completely. (1) Therefore reducing your exposure and learning to detox your body from xenoestrogens is very important for overall health.

What Are Xenoestrogens?

Synthetic or chemical compounds that mimic the action of estrogen in the body and disrupt normal hormone function. (1, 2)

Xenoestrogens are so similar to estrogen, they bind to estrogen binding sites. Then they either suppress hormonal function or cause unwanted hormonal reactions. Since they’re foreign hormones they’re not in tune with the current needs of our endocrine (hormonal) system and quickly disrupt hormonal balance. (1, 2)

For example, excessive exposure to xenoestrogens often leads to estrogen dominance, a condition of high estrogen levels associated with many health issues I will discuss below.

Heath Problems Xenoestrogens Can Cause:

• Estrogen dominance
• Increased risk of preterm delivery
• Genital malformations
• Reproductive disruption of embryo
• Autism
• Decreased milk production
• Increased risk of miscarriage
• Decreased fertility (in men and women)
• Endometriosis
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
• Decreased semen quality
• Sperm epimutations
• Cancer (particularly of the breasts, testes, prostate, uterus, and ovaries)
• Precocious puberty (a condition in which puberty begins at a very early age)

(1, 3, 4, 5)

One example of the harmful effects of xenoestrogens on hormonal health and fertility can be seen in a study of male frogs exposed to the herbicide Atrazine (which contains xenoestrogens).

These male frogs, were “demasculinized (chemically castrated) and completely feminized as adults. Ten percent of the exposed genetic males developed into functional females that copulated with unexposed males and produced viable eggs. Atrazine-exposed males suffered from depressed testosterone, decreased breeding gland size, demasculinized/feminized laryngeal development, suppressed mating behavior, reduced spermatogenesis, and decreased fertility.” (5)

While this example of pesticides turning male frogs into female frogs is extreme, it illustrates the very real hormonal consequences of xenoestrogens.

How to Reduce Your Exposure:

Avoid:

• Plastic
• Most beauty products, deodorants, perfumes, nail polish, and sunscreen
• Hormonal birth control
• Food preservatives and dyes
• Receipts
• Nonstick cookware
• Pesticides and Herbicides
• Soy
• Silicon
• Most cleaners, air fresheners, and laundry detergents

(1, 2)

Instead:

• Use metal and glass tuperwares and water bottles
• Use reusable cloth produce bags
• Minimize the amount of food in plastic packaging that you buy
• Buy wooden or non plastic toys for your kids
• Use high quality clean beauty products or make your own
• Use non hormonal birth control
• Get email receipt over print or decline receipt when feasible
• Use cast iron or stainless steel cookware
• Buy organic foods
• Use a high quality water filter that filters out hormones
• Use natural cleaners

(1, 2)

How to Detox Your Body of Xenoestrogens:

Eat raw carrots!

Raw carrots contain a unique fiber that absorbs excess estrogen (including xenoestrogens) and other endotoxins and helps sweep it out of the body. (2)

Works Cited

1. Lauren. “Xenoestrogens.” Innate Functional Nutritionist. Accessed 16 February 2021. Instagram post.

2. Julia. “Endocrine Disruptors Damage Your Hormonal Balance.” Julia’s Wellness Tips. 25 April 2020. https://juliaswellnesstips.com/2020/04/25/endocrine-disruptors-damage-your-hormonal-balance/

3. Kubala, Jillian. “How Your Diet Can Affect Estrogen Levels.” Healthline. 30 November 2020. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods-to-lower-estrogen

4. “Xenoestrogens and their Harmful Effects.” Healthy Focus. Accessed 16 Februaury 2021. https://healthyfocus.org/what-are-xenoestrogens/

5. Hayes TB, Khoury V, Narayan A, Nazir M, Park A, Brown T, Adame L, Chan E, Buchholz D, Stueve T, Gallipeau S. Atrazine induces complete feminization and chemical castration in male African clawed frogs (Xenopus laevis). Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2010 Mar 9;107(10):4612-7. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0909519107. Epub 2010 Mar 1. PMID: 20194757; PMCID: PMC2842049.