Table of Contents
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Article Contents
- What are hormones and their relevance to daily function?
- Xeno-hormones: What are they and why be concerned?
- Hormone Disruptors: What are they and why be concerned?
- How to reduce Estrogens/Xenoestrogens
- Foods to balance the hormones
- Hormone replacement and safety
- OTC supplements and how they can help or not
- Meditation and breathwork
- References
What are Hormones?
Hormones are BIOchemicals (bio meaning within the human body) that provide signals to different organs and they control mood, behavior, emotions, growth, metabolism, digestion, sleep and sexual function. They control virtually every body function.
There are over 200 hormones in the body. The main discussion here involves:
- Testosterone (part of the “androgen” group): controls sexual characteristics, libido, muscle strength, cardiovascular function.
- Estrogen: needed to keep noes strong, brain and heart health.
- Progesterone: important for hormone balance and aids in both testosterone and estrogen production.
- Cortisol: helps with energy and reduction of inflammation.
- Sex hormone binding globulin: controls excess hormone.
- Adrenaline: energizes body in times of need.
- Thyroxine: involved in thyroid and all metabolic function.
- Insulin: handles blood sugar; too much will lead to fat storage and eventual diabetes.
Xenoestrogens
Xenoestrogens are non-human manufactured chemicals that bind to natural receptor sites and activate estrogen. These undesirable products will cause storage of fat, weaken testosterone activity and inhibit liver to excrete excess. They can lead ultimately to serious life-altering conditions. These chemicals can be absorbed through skin, can be inhaled and ingested.
Note: Plants like cruciferous veggies are also considered estrogen-like but are PHYTO-Estrogens that are not harmful and, in fact, very beneficial! There is no need to avoid them.
Sources of the harmful xenoestrogens are:
- Car interiors
- Car exhaust
- Plastics with Bisphenol-A in particular and petroleum products with Organochlorines
- Dry cleaning chemicals
- Conventionally produced meats with hormones endogenous to animal and those injected into it; foods fed to animals are GMO and contaminated with agrichemicals.
- Dairy with hormones endogenous to the animal and those injected into it; foods fed to animals are GMO and contaminated with agrichemicals.
- Pesticides, herbicides, fungicides
- Unfiltered water
What are hormone disruptors?
Science has found that these chemicals will alter the natural activity of the hormone and potentially cause significant illness.
Some hormone disrupters include:
- Above items
- Anabolic or “muscle building” steroids; caution is advised!
- Flame retardants (PBDEs – polybrominated diphenyl ethers)- cause hormonal derangements and malignancies.
- Chlorine and other chemicals in water; chlorine displaces iodine, an essential nutrient.
- Personal care products
- Cosmetics with phthalates
- Sunscreen
- Animal foods, dairy products, sugar, artificial foods/sugars (SODA is a very big problem)
- Artificial home furnishings
- Radiation, including from wireless, cell phones, laptops, Kindles, Alexa, Fitbits, wristwatch phones
- Plastics of all kinds in containers with petroleum
- Pesticides
How to reduce the Estrogen, Xenoestrogens and Hormone Disruptors?
Some ways to reduce these include:
- Exercise daily to help remove these from the body via the cardiovascular system, glands and excretory functions.
- Lose weight now.
- Reduce stress ASAP! Stress converts progesterone into cortisol and this in turn raises estrogen and can increase blood sugar and blood pressure.
- Eat plants – many of them daily.
- Eat more fiber.
- Healthy fats like avocado, coconut, olives, walnuts, pistachios, pecans, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds.
- Cut out the sugar and refined foods.
- Avoid or reduce meats, especially conventionally processed meats; be consciously choosing from humanely treated animals. Grass fed organic.
- Avoid artificial colors, foods preservatives like BHS (butylated hydroxyanisole).
- Avoid or reduce dairy significantly! They have bovine growth hormones. Use organic only.
- Avoid plastics!
- Avoid harsh cleaning products, solvents, paints, lacquers, etc.
- Avoid coated non-stick pans that contain PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid); prior to 2015, included in Teflon and is being “passed out” due to organictoxicity of the product when heated and cracking!
- Use stainless steel, ceramic, glass and earthenware to cook or store food in.
- Avoid flame retardants!
- Non-organic sunscreens contain serious hormone altering chemicals like benzophenone-3, octylmethyl-PABA, Oxyb.
- Stop using Roundup! It is hurting you and the entire ecosystem.
Be conscious of all that you choose for your entire life because everything you choose will affect your hormones, and most of the time it is a negative influence.
Foods to Balance Hormones
Here are foods to take to help balance the hormones:
- Arugula: DIM, sulforaphanes, isocyanates, vitamin K, A, copper, iron
- Avocados: helps balance insulin to keep estrogen in check
- Apple cider vinegar: improves digestion
- Beets, beet tops: assists in bile production
- Broccoli: another sulforaphane source; decreases excess testosterone
- Cauliflower: as above
- Cinnamon: reduces sugar, blood pressure
- Green tea: has chlorophyll and antioxidants
- Kale: liver detox
- Mushrooms: help slow enzyme aromatase from converting androgens into estrogens
- Iodine: from quality wild fish, sea vegetables like kelp, wakame, arame, hijiki, kombu and nori; to help with thyroid and adrenal regulation
- Yams: fiber, B12 and helps reduce cholesterol
- Nutritional yeast: highly nutritious
- Parsley: has calcium, K, vitamin C, folate
- Pistachios: high in protein and L-arginine for improved sexual health
- Walnuts: great source of magnesium
- Sea kelp/sea veggies in general: wakame, nori, arame, kombu
- Pumpkin seeds: contain zinc, protein, antioxidants and magnesium; have been studied for their help with testosterone boosting effects, improvement of sperm motility and bladder function; reduce prostate cancer
- A good quality organic whole food mineral supplement is wise
Hormone Replacement is a way for you to improve your health with caveat…
Be aware of the following on hormone replacement:
- Artificial synthetic hormone replacement can lead to increase in blood thickness and predispose one to blood clots, which can lead to heart attacks, emboli to lungs, strokes, etc. However, plant-based substances like DIM (di-indolyl-methane) that can block xenoestrogens are recommended. The substance that is formed when the vegetable is digested helps prevent AROMATASE enzyme from converting testosterone to estrogen. This is a natural balancer and is not like a drug that can seriously cause imbalances. Cruciferous veggies are a great source of this. Supplements are on the market and they can be helpful here without side effects. Further studies are needed to know how effective these products are for most men. DIM 100-900mg can be used safely for most who are interested.
- Another substance for men to consider is Shilajit. Shilajit is a sticky substance found in the Himalayan mountains and has been used for centuries to enhance vitality and immunity. It has been used in Ayurvedic medicine in Asia but has been spread to global use. It contains fulvic acid and phytochemicals that rejuvenate and stimulate energy production. A dose of 125 titrated up to 250mg per day can be taken in paste, powder or tablet form; do not use capsules. Check on quality and test for quality at home. Make sure you can have refund if not satisfied! Authentic Shilajit will sink when put in water and/or dissolve fully. If not, it is not good and should be returned.
Other supplements that may be tried that are highly rated and have money-back guarantee attached to their sales, however, not guaranteed are:
- Male Enhancement by Approved Science: a high rated product made in USA. Use of 3 types of ginseng, rhodiola, tongkat ali, DHEA, bioperine, cordyceps and more.
- Viasil by Swiss Research Labs: made in Switzerland. Has Panax ginseng, pomegranate, zinc, epidemium brevicomum (horny goat weed), citrus sinensis, Tribulus terrestris.
A Word on Meditation and Breathwork
Fundamental and key are the movements and the stillness that are an intrinsic part of human function.
You must be in full control of your body and breath to have a sense of wellness and robust vitality.
Take time to learn how to meditate, to breathe properly and perform the asanas that will make a total difference in your life.
We have the science and the true know-how to help improve our lives.
Don’t wait.
In Conclusion
So, Gentlemen, the best solution is to improve your overall lifestyle and this means change all that you have been doing if you are seeing no results or a deterioration of your strength and vitality.
Remember the words of a “genius” who said: “We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking when we created them.” — Albert Einstein
References
- www.kerryg.hubpages.com/hub/Reducing-Exposure-to-Xenoestrogens
- Kryger, M.D., Harvey, A. Listen to Your Hormones: a Doctor’s Guide to Sex, Love and Long Life. USA: Wellness MD Publications, 2004.
- www.pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29126512: Monneret, C. What is an endocrine disruptor? DOI: 101016/j.crvi.2017.07.0044,
- www.reviewcritic.org/brand-reviews/approved-science-review-health-supplements-finest
- www.viasil.com/how-it-works
Disclaimer: The contents of this discussion are for education purposes only. Any and all treatment for a medical or health condition must proceed under the guidance of your appointed healthcare provider.
Dr. Maria Scunziano-Singh is a graduate of New York Medical College, completed an Internal Medicine residency at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, achieved a Naturopathic Medical Doctor (NMD) Diploma from the Clayton College of Natural Health, is a Certified Lifestyle Medicine Physician from the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine, and is board-certified in Internal Medicine. With over 20 years in practice, her passion of bringing health to others through her practice at Access Healthcare Physicians has been expanded to Naturopathic Medicine at the WellCome OM Integral Healing & Education Center and Integrative Healing at OM in Spring Hill, Florida.
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