By David Blyweiss, M.D., Advanced Natural Wellness

April 24, 2013

• Hormone disruptors that make you sick and fat
• Is this health threat lurking in your home?
• 4 ways to lower your risk

Today there’s a health threat that sometimes leaves my patients speechless. It doesn’t matter whether they are male or female. Their jaws almost always drop to the floor when I tell them about it.

The threat I’m talking about is estrogen dominance.

And today it’s affecting men and women alike.

Whenever I diagnose a male as having high estrogen levels, they’re always taken aback. They think of it as the “woman’s hormone” and never suspect it could be a problem for them. But it’s a very real dilemma for men these days.

When a man has too much estrogen it can contribute to prostate problems. It can also throw your manly testosterone levels out of balance and send you into “male menopause,” or andropause. Too much estrogen also contributes to the development of male breasts (gynecomastia,) erectile dysfunction and prostate cancer.

And women can be equally at risk. Many of them are concerned they don’t have enough estrogen. So when they find out having too much of it can be dangerous to their health, they’re surprised. High levels of estrogen in women contribute to breast cancer, uterine cancer, infertility, uterine fibroids and ovarian cysts.

And whether you are a man or a woman, estrogen stimulates your body to store fat, especially dangerous belly fat which is an ongoing source of chronic systemic inflammation. The more fat you’re carrying, the more estrogen you produce. So it’s a never-ending cycle.

What’s going on here? Why do so many men and women have such high levels of estrogen in their bodies?

Well, here’s the answer: A worrisome group of man-made chemicals called xenoestrogens, or endocrine disrupters. These are environmental pollutants that display estrogen-like activity. When they attach to estrogen receptor sites in your body, they wreak havoc on your health.

And nobody is safe from them – or their disastrous effects.

You might think xenoestrogens would be confined to chemical compounds like pesticides and fertilizers. But that’s not the only place you’ll find them.

If you walk through your house, you’ll be amazed at all of the places these estrogen mimics are hiding.

In the kitchen…

Any foods or liquids in plastic bottles, plastic wraps and cans should be viewed with a skeptical eye. You see, most plastics contain bisphenol-A (BPA), and some contain b. Both of these are xenoestrogens.

And it’s not just water bottles and other plastics.

The cans used for canned foods are usually lined with a plastic coating that also contains BPA. So it’s always a good idea to avoid foods that come in plastic bottles, plastic wrap and cans. I always try and store my foods in glass or stainless steel.

Commercially raised meats and poultry are pumped up with hormones that alter your estrogen levels. Synthetic estrogens are used to make livestock grow bigger faster. And a man-made growth hormone called rBGH is used by dairy farmers to increase milk production in cattle… this hormone is one amino acid away from human growth hormone. That’s one of these reasons I always recommend eating grass-fed meats and free-range poultry. Buy USDA certified organic milk, which doesn’t allow rBGH.

Commercial fruits and vegetables have usually been doused with a heavy dose of pesticides, herbicides and fungicides.

And once they get into the body, almost all of them mimic estrogen. The Environmental Working Group has compiled a list of what they call the “dirty dozen.” This is a list of produce that have the highest pesticide residue after washing. It also includes a list of the “cleanest 15.” You can download the complete guide from the Environmental Working Group yourself if you want more information.

In the bathroom…

Your shampoo, deodorant and other personal care products may contain preservatives known as parabens. These chemicals are absorbed through your skin and interrupt natural hormone production in the body. They come in many different forms; methylparaben, butylparaben, propylparaben and anything else that ends in ‘paraben. So look for these estrogen mimics on the label before you buy.

Phthalates are another problem in the bathroom. Not only are they found in things like perfume, eye shadow, moisturizer, nail polish, liquid soap, and hair spray… they might also be hiding in your shower curtain. As the vinyl in your shower curtain breaks down, it can increases the release of phthalates into your living environment.

In the rest of your home…

You may find these endocrine disruptors hidden in:

• Detergents, fabric softeners and dryer sheets, particularly if they are scented
• Fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides
• Vinyl upholstery, tile and hosing

Here’s your best defense for protecting against these cancer-causing estrogen mimics…

Estrogen mimics are insidious. They are finding their way into your home in ways you would never expect. But there are plenty of ways to beat the odds of estrogen dominance.

In addition to the tips above, here are four things you can start doing immediately…

1. Eat plenty of cruciferous vegetables. Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, collard greens and cauliflower can all help reduce estrogen dominance. A key ingredient in these veggies is DIM (diindolylmethane.) It helps balance your hormones. DIM is also available in supplement form. About 100 mg. daily should do the trick.
2. Resveratrol is a powerful anti-aging supplement that prevents estrogens from binding to estrogen receptors. You can get some resveratrol from grapes and wine. But not enough to block estrogen formation from xenoestrogens. I suggest supplementing with 200 mg. of resveratrol each day.
3. Filter your drinking water. Using filtered water reduces your exposure to endocrine-disrupting hormones that are often found in municipal water supplies and well water.
4. Don’t forget to gently move your body! You may want to re-read my resolution on exercise in my Resolution Report. In addition to helping shed hormone-promoting pounds, moving your body lowers estrogen production at its source – the pituitary gland. But don’t think you need to go overboard. Consistently moving your body can make a significant dent in your estrogen levels.

Excess estrogen in women it can harm everything that makes you female… your breasts, uterus and ovaries. And the same goes for you men. Estrogen mimics can sap your manhood and literally castrate you.

If you want to avoid an overload of cancer-causing estrogen, it’s urgent you take all of the recommendations in this issue at heart.

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Resources:
Ruthann A. Rudel and Laura J. Perovich. Endocrine disrupting chemicals in indoor and outdoor air. Atmos Environ. 2009 January 1; 43(1): 170–181.

Gehm BD, et al. Resveratrol, a polyphenolic compound found in grapes and wine, is an agonist for the estrogen receptor. PNAS December 9, 1997 vol. 94 no. 25 14138-14143

Zhi-Hua Chen, et al. Resveratrol inhibits TCDD-induced expression of CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 and catechol estrogen-mediated oxidative DNA damage in cultured human mammary epithelial cells. Carcinogenesis 2004 25(10):2005-2013.