The world of endocrine disruptors

What exactly is an endocrine disruptor? Do they really matter? What can we do to reduce the amount of known endocrine disruptors we meet in our day-to-day lives? Endocrine disruptors are exogenous agents that can interfere with the production, release, or other aspects of natural hormones. Everyone has hormones in their body and hormones are important aspects in several areas in the body. This will be a lengthy post covering what endocrine disruptors are, how they affect us, what is classified as an endocrine disruptor, which products commonly have them, and what some good alternatives to those products are.

The endocrine system is what is in charge of these hormones, and hormones can be useful in several aspects of the body such as:

  • growth and development

  • metabolism and energy levels

  • Reproduction

  • Response to injury, stress, and mood

  • Homeostasis (constant internal balance)

The endocrine system consists of a series of glands:

  • Adrenal Glands

  • Pituitary

  • Hypothalamus

  • Thyroid

  • Thymus

  • Parathyroid

  • Pineal

  • Ovaries and Testes

  • Islet of Langerhans

While people often (incorrectly) assume hormones pertain only to puberty and reproduction, hormones can contribute to much more in the body. Hormones are what give us the satisfied feeling of love, hormones are what induce labor, and hormones kickstart the breastfeeding journey. They also contribute to our weight loss or gain, our moods, and even our body type (tall, short, skinny, curvy, etc) they are also what contribute to many features of the human body. Body hair is thanks to our hormones, this is why men generally have facial hair, and women (usually) do not. Things can go amiss in the hormone department, and this can cause issues in several areas of life if our hormones are out of balance or disrupted. PCOS or endometriosis are hormone disorders that a lot of women experience. Nearly 1 in every 20 women who are diagnosed with endometriosis are also diagnosed with PCOS; that is 7-8% of women with endometriosis.

Endometriosis: “A benign inflammatory disorder that occurs when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside of the uterus, typically on the ovaries, pelvic cavity, fallopian tubes, or rectovaginal area. It can cause chronic pain, decreased quality of life, and infertility. About 11% of women in the U.S. have endometriosis, and it's particularly common among women in their 30s and 40s.”

PCOS: “A hormonal condition that affects the ovaries and can cause irregular menstrual periods, symptoms of excess androgens (acne, hirsutism, and scalp hair loss), and ovaries that appear "polycystic" on pelvic ultrasound. It's one of the most common causes of infertility and affects up to 20% of women during their reproductive age.”

5-10% of women overall experience one of these conditions in their lifetime. Although they are different conditions, both can cause extreme pain and difficulties in conceiving. Studies are still abysmal on these conditions, leaving many women frustrated when they are not receiving proper care or being taken seriously when presenting with these symptoms. This also means they are unsure what causes the disorders in the first place, though it is thought that a disrupted endocrine system is at least a partial cause/concern. On top of that many women also have to deal with ovarian cysts which can be a symptom of PCOS or endometriosis but also can be present despite otherwise healthy reproductive organs. An estimated 10% of women have these cysts, but unfortunately, as with PCOS and endometriosis this is also not as studied and women are often told they are overreacting and to take some pain medications. General advice surrounding cysts from the internet states that they “usually” don't cause symptoms.

In short, there is a plethora of things that can go wrong when your hormones are out of balance, and a lot of the time (in women especially) there isn’t a whole lot that can be done if you can even get someone to listen to you. It seems hormones are still a bit of a mystery and not always taken seriously especially in issues women deal with, such as weight gain/inability to lose weight. I can not tell you how many rounds I have gone with “health gurus” insisting that the key to weight loss is simply caloric restrictions, and if we aren’t losing the weight then we are simply doing it wrong. As a woman who has struggled with this, and as someone who has witnessed countless women struggle with their weight through all kinds of promising diets, I think it’s a fair assessment that hormones also play a part in weight. I shouldn’t have to severely underreat to drop a few pounds.

This blog post isn’t here to pick apart the dismal medical system that can’t seem to understand women’s health. Although I admit, I would have some fun doing so. This post is about the known endocrine disruptors and what we can do to eliminate or decrease our exposure to these things. Known endocrine disruptors:

  • BPA- a chemical used in making plastics; found in receipt paper, lining the inside of some cans, polysorbate plastics and recycle #7 plastics

  • Dioxin- a chemical found in the industrial process; found in animal products including meat, fish, milk and eggs

  • Atrazine- herbicide that is widely used; found in corn crops and drinking water

  • Phthalates- Plasticizers; found in plastic food containers, plastic toys, and some self-care products

  • Flame retardants- Makes something flame resistant; found in furniture, carpets, pajamas, car seats, and house dust.

  • Perchlorate- a component of rocket fuel; found in drinking water and some foods

  • Mercury- naturally occurring toxic metal; some fishes and some vaccines for dogs

  • Lead- heavy metal; some older paints and pipes, drinking water, and some vaccines.

  • PFCs- chemical added to many household items; found in some non-stick pans, some clothing, and furniture

  • Arsenic- Toxic chemical; drinking water

  • Glycol ethers- Solvents; found in paint, cleaning products, brake fluid, and some cosmetics

  • Organophosphate pesticides- Pesticides; found in most conventionally farmed produce

  • PFAS- a large group of chemicals commonly known as “forever chemicals”; found in firefighting foam, non-stick coating, paper, and textile coatings

  • Phytoestrogens- naturally occurring substances found in some plants; found in soy foods

  • PCBs- Banned in 1979; found in electoral equipment such as transformers, hydraulic fluids, heat transfer fluids, lubricants, and plasticizers.

  • PBDE- used to make flame retardants: found in furniture foam and carpets

  • Triclosan- an ingredient that was previously used in antimicrobial products and personal care products such as liquid body wash and soaps

  • Fragrance- An unknown combination of chemicals that companies don’t have to list; found in many personal care products, cleaners, laundry soaps, soaps, lotions, air fresheners, sprays, and even diapers/menstrual products

Okay, so we have a list of scary chemicals, but what does this mean? How do we know which products or foods contain these items? How do we avoid them? What can we do about them? Do we need to avoid them? It can seem very daunting when we look at the bigger picture, especially when we begin to realize how many things have these chemicals. The above examples are in no way an extensive list here. So what do we do when things like our car seats and mattresses are covered in these PFAs, what do we do when the very water we drink is contaminated with these chemicals and microplastics? It’s terrifying though, and honestly, it’s a very stressful one at that. The first step is to not let it consume you. Stress is just as bad and toxic as this list of chemicals, and we don’t need to be stressing ourselves to death. I don’t say this to push the toxic positivity narrative either, stress can be detrimental and for things we can’t control it does no good to worry ourselves to the point of sickness. Next, we find out which products contain these items and what would be a good swap (if possible) for these items.

Products and foods that are endocrine disruptors and their swaps:

  • Cat litter: swap this for natural clay or wood litter, you can find these at chewy.com or ask your vet

  • Pillow protectors: opt for a 100% cotton protector

  • Diapers: opt for a natural brand such as Honest Company, dyper, or coterie. Cloth diapers are also a great option though not accessible to everyone.

  • Surface cleaners- use diluted vinegar or check out companies such as Earthley Wellness, Branch Basics, or other natural brands that are available at Walmart or Target.

  • Floor Cleaners- use diluted vinegar or check out companies such as Earthley Wellness, Branch Basics, or other natural brands that are available at Walmart or Target.

  • Glass Cleaners- use diluted vinegar or check out companies such as Earthley Wellness, Branch Basics, or other natural brands that are available at Walmart or Target.

  • Scrubbing powder- use diluted vinegar or check out companies such as Earthley Wellness, Branch Basics, or other natural brands that are available at Walmart or Target.

  • Tub and Tile Cleaner- use diluted vinegar or check out companies such as Earthley Wellness, Branch Basics, or other natural brands that are available at Walmart or Target.

  • Dishwasher detergent- use a diluted vinegar or check out companies such as Earthley Wellness, Branch Basics, or other natural brands that are available at Walmart or Target

  • Dish soap- use diluted vinegar or check out companies such as Earthley Wellness, Branch Basics, or other natural brands that are available at Walmart or Target.

  • Laundry bleach- use diluted vinegar or check out companies such as Earthley Wellness, Branch Basics, or other natural brands that are available at Walmart or Target.

  • Laundry detergent- use diluted vinegar or check out companies such as Earthley Wellness, Branch Basics, or other natural brands that are available at Walmart or Target.

  • Stain remover- use diluted vinegar or check out companies such as Earthley Wellness, Branch Basics, or other natural brands that are available at Walmart or Target.

  • Hand sanitizer- opt for a natural plant-based sanitizer like ones from the Honest Company, Earthley Wellness, Grove, or Dr. Bronners.

  • Hand soap- opt for a castile soap instead.

  • Bar soap- opt for a castile soap instead.

  • Body lotion- check out companies such as Earthley Wellness, Holy Naturals, and Holisticary Aromatherapy (shameless plug), or make your own. Use oils or butters instead as well.

  • Shampoo- opt for something from Earthley Wellness (shampoo bar), Sienna Naturals, prose, Ursa Major, Ceremonia, 100% Pure, True Botanicals, Ehtique, Vegamour, Innersense, Attitude or Holy Naturals

  • Conditioner- opt for something from Earthley Wellness (shampoo bar), Sienna Naturals, prose, ursa major, Ceremonia, 100% pure, true botanicals, Ehtique, Vegamour, Innersense, Attitude or Holy Naturals

  • Shaving cream- Earthley Wellness makes a nourishing shave soap

  • Face lotion- Earthley Wellness and holy naturals both have a wide variety of moisturizers and soaps

  • Toothpaste- a natural toothpowder would be a good swap, if you don’t want that just about any fluoride-free toothpaste will do you good.

  • Deodorant-Earthley Wellness makes a fantastic and truly natural deodorant, Schmidts also makes good deodorants and still fits the natural name last I had seen as they do not use fragrance.

  • Cosmetics- some natural makeups include 100% pure, Mad Hippie (they also make skincare), Well People and Thrive has their own brand but you can’t see these products before purchasing, unfortunately.

  • Facial cleanser- Earthley Wellness has a skincare line, Holy Naturals has great skin care options, and Mad Hippie as mentioned before also has a skincare line that people love.

  • Vinyl shower curtains- a natural linen or cotton shower curtain instead of a vinyl one. This will be a learning curve, but it should work just the same.

  • Air fresheners- opt for natural fragrance candles, essential oils in a diffuser, or simmer pots on the stovetop.

  • Dryer sheets- swap out for wool dryer balls. Always consult with your dryer manual before adding essential oils to dryer balls. Vinegar in the wash can also help (which is also a replacement for fabric softener as well- do not use vinegar with hard water, you will know you have hard water if you get any mineral stains in your toilet or shower).

  • Carpet cleaners- baking soda works well here, either plain or add powdered herbs and some essential oils. Check your vacuum manual to see if you can safely do this. Hydrogen peroxide and vinegar can replace carpet sprays as well. Be wary that hydrogen peroxide can and does bleach.

  • Menstrual products- opt for pure cotton pads and tampons, try out period underwear, use a cup or disc, try cloth pads (this is a learning curve but cloth pads are easy to clean and help reduce cramping and bleeding. Opt for a homemade/handmade brand and do not buy these off amazon).

  • Foods: Go for organic when possible. This is not perfect but it can help. Support farmers markets and local sellers. If all organic is too much, check out the dirty dozen list of things to buy organic here.

I would like to note that this list is not perfect and is subject to change. Many brands end up being bought out and then add things like fragrance to their products, despite them being advertised as natural. Native brand is a huge culprit of this, they started by offering amazing natural options and fragrance-free products only to turn around and begin adding the fragrance. In my opinion, fragrance is the biggest culprit in the world of endocrine disruptors. It is added to just about everything, the entire world is obsessed with fragrance. From laundry soap to cosmetics, the scent is added. Many companies advertise their brands as natural but still use fragrances. Look for items that list essential oils or certain herbal components rather than just fragrances. Swap for unscented products, it is an adjustment though. After being so engrained in thinking everything needs to smell fresh and floral, letting natural scents take over can be tough. If you were to only swap one thing though, I highly recommend ditching the fragrance and learning to love the world of natural scents.

Linked Brands that I have used and/or trust:

Earthley Wellness

Holy Naturals

Simply Earth (essential oils)

Plant Therapy (essential oils)

The honest company (mostly baby products)

Mad Hippie (I haven’t used this brand but I know other people who are avoiding things use this brand)

100% Pure (I haven’t used this one either but I checked out the ingredients thoroughly and it’s the cleanest makeup I have found)

Now while I have briefly gone over the ingredients of a few things for these companies, I can not promise they do or always will offer a natural or endocrine disruptor-free option. I really a lot on the inforamtion online to learn and make these posts, sometimes things are missed or companies lie. Some of these brands also still use some ingredients that some people do not like or will not use. It is up to you to do the work and check out which brand will fit your lifestyle. I can only give tips based on things I use personally or have seen other people in the natural lifestyle use/promote.

So one of the first steps in reducing endocrine disruptors is to make simple swaps, this doesn’t have to be a huge thing either. You can start to swap stuff out as you use up your old products. It can seem daunting though, once you realize how many households, personal care, beauty care, and clothing items might house these items. Another thing I recommend for people looking to get into a more natural life is to check out the book Really Very Crunchy by Emily Morrow. It’s fun and quirky. I think she does a great job tackling the real issue of “everything is trying to kill us” but without the added stress. She gives real tips and solutions to these things, but she doesn’t use fear-mongering or scare tactics to get people to switch.

So we have established switching products, but why? What is important about switching? How can it be beneficial to switch? What is the research behind endocrine disruptors? These are a relatively recent discovery, at least the realization that some of the products or chemicals in our lives could be harming us. It’s the same old thing basically when people discovered lead poisoning was a thing, except now it’s the world saturated in fragrance/plastics/pesticides that are doing the poisoning instead.

Why make the switch?

"The old tenet of the field of toxicology, “The dose makes the poison,” is an inaccurate measure for many chemicals currently in use. Current research suggests that for some adverse health outcomes, a variety of substances are toxic at lower doses.” -Made Safe Nontoxic Certified August 26, 2021

“Endocrine disrupting chemicals can interfere with the normal functions of the endocrine system and lead to problems with reproduction (i.e. egg and sperm production) and development (i.e. healthy fetal growth) in both humans and wildlife” -EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency June 24, 2024

Study on Endocrine disruptors and their effects from Guttmacher

So, it's clear that when something is an endocrine disruptor it’s not good for us. Ranging from thyroid issues to fertility issues in both men and women down to something as simple as the inability to lose weight. There is a lot that goes wrong with the endocrine system, and when outside sources are disrupting it then it is important to solve the issue and get the best help or solution for you. In cases like this connecting with someone who specializes in hormonal issues will be your best bet, although again a great start is to figure out what household items you have that might be causing issues and seeing you can swap them out for something else.

Lastly, I would like to cover essential oil usage for the endocrine system. As an aromatherapist, a lot of my training involves using essential oils for the different body systems and being able to support our bodies with beneficial aromatherapy specific to our needs.

Essential oils that are good for the endocrine system

  • Adrenals:

-Mandarin: digestive aid, eases anxiety, increases circulation, prevents stretch marks and reduces fluid retention

-Moroccan Chamomile: newer to the market. Excellent as a skincare remedy, has anti-inflammatory properties, and is a stimulant of leucocyte production/vulnerary components.

Uses: use these oils to create a digestive blend or a calming blend to help relieve stress.

  • Pituitary

-Nutmeg: used for arthritis, fatigue, muscle aches, poor circulation and rheumatism. Works as a digestive aid, encourages appetite, prevents constipation, fights gallstones, supports the reproductive system (helping with scanty periods) relieves frigidity and impotence.

-Clove bud: effective for minor aches/pains, dental pain, acne, cuts, and bruises, preventing infections, and as a general pain reliever. Good for the digestive system as well.

Uses: use these oils to create a blend that helps with aches and pains from growing, growth, or puberty. These oils are best for ages 12+

  • Hypothalamus

Peppermint: stomach ailments, soothing to the digestive system, headaches, travel sickness, and jet lag.

Ginger: colds, flu, nausea (motion and morning sickness), rheumatism, coughs, and circulation issues.

Uses: use these oils to create a blend to support the digestive system or for nausea symptoms.

  • Thyroid

Myrrh: good for female complaints, and skin ailments, detoxifying the body, expelling mucus and phlegm from the lungs.

Spruce: used for asthma, bronchitis, coughs, colds, flu, infection, muscle aches, poor circulation and respiratory weakness

Uses: use these oils to create a lovely topical blend that can aid in muscle aches, skin conditions, and general immune support. Alternatively add in oils like basil, geranium and clary sage to make a blend for that time of the month.

  • Thymus

Fennel: Invigorating, stimulating, restoring and warming

Grapefruit: Spiritually uplifting, eases muscle fatigue/stiffness, relieves nervous exhaustion and alleviates depression

Juniper Berry: supportive and restoring.

Cypress: prevents excessive perspiration, good for hemorrhoids, is good for oily skin, and acts as an astringent in skincare.

Uses: use these oils to help support the immune system or create blends to aid in symptoms of sickness

  • Parathyroid

-no known oils

  • Pineal

Lavender: burns, healing, prevents infection, reduces scarring

Sandalwood: body care, chapped or dry skin, mood disturbances, stress and stretch marks

Uses: use these oils to create a skin healing blend and help to aid in cell growth.

  • Islet of Langerhans:

Helichrysum: good for acne, bruises, boils, cuts, dermatitis, eczema, irritated skin and wounds

Spearmint: uplifting oil, good for fatigue and depression, relieves itching, cools the skin, and aids in healing wounds use these oils to help create a lovely sleep blend.

Uses: Use these oils to create a balancing blend to help combat fatigue, use these blends for wound healing or skin soothing.

  • Ovaries and Testes:

Rose: aphrodisiac, wonderful for meditation, good for skin preparation, beneficial for mature or dry skin, soothing, anti-inflammatory properties.

Jasmine: aphrodisiac

Petitgrain: uplifting, calms anger and stress, good for acne-prone and oily skin.

Geranium: overall balancing effect, good for wrinkles, reduces edema and fluid retention, overall skin cleanser, helps in balancing the hormonal system.

Uses: Use these oils to create a calming blend for intimate time, use these oils for a skin cleanser to help combat hormonal imbalances

So that's everything, what the endocrine system does, what disrupts it, what products contain these things that disrupt, what swaps we can make, and essential oils that can help support areas of the endocrine system. The endocrine system as a whole is in charge of a lot! We don’t realize how vital our hormones are in the body until imbalances come into play. Hopefully this covered some questions that poeple had, helped steer you in the right direction to begin making swaps and helped open your eyes to what is in the stuff that we buy. I know it can seem daunting but a lot of other people have done this work so you don’t have to. Check out moe information on my website to see brands I love and products I make.

Social media accounts I think might be helpful in making swaps:

TL:DR- toxic chemicals in our products disrupt our hormones and cause a variety of issues including weight gain and fertility issues.

Sources:

List of products tested for endocrine disruptors

What are endocrine disruptors

Known endocrine disruptors

Ovarian Cysts

Endometriosis

PCOS

Difference between PCOS and endometriosis

What is the endocrine System

Endocrine Disruptors

Aromahut

Some definitions in this post were found google AI search

 Thank you so much for reading, support means a lot. If you have any questions feel free to email me at holisticary@gmail.com or call/text me at 641-631-6355
This blog post was meant to educate and entertain, it is entirely my opinion and not meant to treat or diagnose anyone or to be taken as absolute unwavering fact. Please seek proper medical care and advice. Some links might contain affiliate links, this is at no cost to you and helps the blog.

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