40 Ways to Avoid Xenoestrogens – A Non-Stop Threat to Your Health

 

 

 

On a typical day you probably shower in chlorinated water, put lotion on your skin, roll down the window to get some air on your way to work, eat lunch from the microwave and grab the receipt for your groceries on your way home.

Do you know that just today, you have been exposed to hundreds of chemicals called Xenoestrogens? Every one of these chemicals can be harmful, but when combined they are synergistically even more damaging.

What are Xenoestrogens?   The meaning of the word Xeno is “foreign”.  So, xenoestrogens are chemical compounds that imitate estrogen in the body.  They are also referred to as “environmental hormones” or EDC –  Endocrine Disrupting Compounds. They disrupt metabolism and the normal function of the endocrine system by competing for estrogen receptor sites.   The body sees them as a hormone, and they can block the uptake of our body’s natural hormones. This may lead to an over abundance of estrogen in the body.

One of the main functions of estrogen is to encourage cell growth and activate the proteins that speed up cell division. Estrogens work with the immune system, reproductive system, bone growth and metabolism in both men and women.  Xenoestrogens are stored in the body’s fat cells and they are not biodegradable. With too much estrogen in the body, the natural balance of hormones and trace minerals are thrown off decreasing immunity to fight of yeast, fungal or viral infections.

We are exposed to these chemicals every day in our lives. They are in the air, water, soil, new or dry cleaned clothing, body products, food and medicines like birth control and hormone replacement therapy.  Xenoestrogens are in petrochemicals (like gasoline), insecticides, pesticides and electronics manufacturing. They are byproducts of bleaching paper and incinerating chlorinated products.

Again we are at the beginning of a new experiment on the human race as many of these chemicals have only been introduced within the last 70 years. Science is  beginning to study the effects of xenoestrogens now, and unfortunately and many of the studies are only on one or two specific xenoestrogens, not how they work when combined.

With the sudden rise in obesity, infertility, early onset puberty, neurological development in all ages, diabetes, increases in ovarian, breast, testicular and prostate cancer it makes you wonder just how many chemicals our immune systems can handle.

With awareness of what to look out for, you can limit your exposure to Xenoestrogens by following a few of these tips.

Here are 40 ways you can avoid xenoestrogens and protect your health: 

Makeup/Cosmetics/Body Care Products

• Avoid cosmetics and creams that contain parabens (ethylparaben, propylparaben, buylparaben and methylparaben), propyl gallate (an antioxidant used in beauty care products), phenoxyethanol, and stearalkonium chloride, these chemicals are estrogenic. While oral substances will be 80-90% absorbed by the body, those that are applied to the skin are absorbed at 100%.  So a skin dose of these chemicals are equal to ten times the oral dose in the body.
• Avoid sunscreen that contains the xenoestrogen 4-Methylbenzylidene camphor, also known as 4-MBC or Benzophenone.
• Limit your exposure to nail polish and nail polish removing products.
• Beware of bubbles or foaming agents containing Sodium Lauryl Sulfate.
• Avoid antibacterial soaps containing Tricolsan (endocrine disrupting pesticide)
• Use chemical free toothpastes, soaps, hair care products, and deodorants.
• Use a good filter for the water in your shower, for your drinking water and or ice maker.
• Try essential oils or and naturally based fragrances in products.

Cleaning products

• Avoid using fabric softeners that allow petrochemicals to enter your body through your skin.
• Avoid using air fresheners and candles made with chemicals, as they may contain phthalates.
• Steer clear of anything containing Alkylphenol which is used in cleaning detergents.
• Use chlorine-free products and unbleached paper products such as coffee filters, paper towels, toilet paper, menstrual pads and tampons. Read more about the dangers of chlorine on our website here: Dangers of Chlorine.
• Choose biodegradable and chemical free laundry and household cleaning products.

Food

• Avoid all types of unfermented soy.
• Avoid eating foods with BHA (butylated hydroxanisole) This compound is a xenoestrogen and common food additive.
• Do not eat any GMO foods or products.
• Avoid the use of Roundup and other garden chemicals as they contain organophosphate pesticides which interfere with testosterone and are a neurotoxin.
• Check labels to avoid artificial food additives, including sweeteners and MSG. Take along our Grocery Watch List for a list of  food additives to avoid.  Click here to print your own copy: Grocery Watch List.
• Buying locally grown, organic food that is in season also reduces your exposure to pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides
• Choose organic, grass-fed, hormone free dairy products and range free meats. In non-organic meat and dairy, estrogenic compounds are used to make them weigh more or produce more.
• Peel the skin off of any non-organic vegetables and fruits.
• Eat as cleanly as possible and avoid animal fat if not hormone free.
• Try not to use food in cans, as over 85% contain BPA that is used to line the containers.
• Wash food well to remove pesticides.
• When growing your own food, use salt and vinegar to remove weeds instead of pesticides.
• Drink Milk Thistle Tea to support your liver.
• Remember to take your Fulvic Mineral Complex to help keep your trace minerals in balance and detoxify.
• Eat soluble fiber it will help to bind with toxins and reduce estrogen levels.  Eating cruciferous vegetables like cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli help the liver to metabolize estrogens.
• Use a good water filter that removes Atrazine, which is a herbicide known to turn male frogs into female ones.

Plastics

• Avoid using plastic cling wrap.
• Avoid children’s toys and baby bottles made of plastic.
• Avoid Flame Retardants used in building materials,  furniture, and clothing listed as Polybrominated biphenyl ether (PBDE’s)
• Avoid products with Phthalates and DEHP (plasticizers)
• Use glass to store your food and water in.
• Keep windows rolled up when commuting in heavy traffic or you may breathe in a higher amount of petrochemical residue.
• Do not use plastic bottles that have been frozen or heated.
• Do not use non-stick cookware or water-resistant coatings on clothes, carpets or furniture, as they may contain PFC’s or Perfluorinated Chemicals.
• If you must use a microwave, do not heat anything in plastic containers.
• Refuse receipts from stores as they contain xenoestrogenic chemicals.

Until we make a decision as a group to hold manufacturers more accountable for the chemicals that they are using in products, the best way to protect your self is with your daily individual choices for you and your family.  One choice, one day at a time, can lessen the burden on your body of this modern chemical storm that  we now live in.

Read more about Xenoestrogens in the following  books:

Our Stolen Future by Theo Colburn, Diane Dumonski and John Peterson Myers

Healthy Living in a Toxic World by Cynthia Fincher, PhD.

The Hundred-Year Lie: How Food and Medicine are Destroying Your Health by Randall Fitzgerald

By Kathleen Threet, Staff Writer at Vital Earth Minerals

 

Awaken Feeling Rested without Drugs

Just an hour here or 40 minutes there can make a big impact on your life.  Most people don’t realize how essential sleep is, and how a lack of sound restful sleep can affect every area of daily life.  A good night’s sleep promotes physical health, longevity, and emotional well-being as well as giving you clear thinking and the ability to learn and retain information.

Not getting enough sleep now and then is not disastrous; it’s the chronic, long term sleep deprivation that leads to a wide array of health conditions like obesity, diabetes, paranoia, hallucinations, shorter life span and even death.  Unfortunately surveys conducted by the National Sleep Foundation revealed some disturbing statistics:

• 40 million Americans suffer from over 70 different sleep disorders
• 60 percent of adults report having sleep problems a few nights a week or more
• 40 percent of adults experience daytime sleepiness that interferes with work
• 60 percent of children experience sleep problems several nights per week

Why is sound natural sleep essential?

Your body has a natural schedule that performs specific functions during different times of the cycle.  We all have an internal 24-hour sleep-wake cycle called a circadian rhythm, or biological clock.  During night time hours the body produces melatonin, a hormone that makes you sleepy.  During this time your body repairs itself, builds up energy for the coming day, maintains health, stimulates growth, and boosts your immune system.  It also renews the mind, a key role in learning, memory and creativity.

During daylight hours, melatonin production is replaced by Orx neutrons that are essential for maintenance of the awake state.  During the awake cycle, we exercise our muscles by moving around, circulation is increased, creativity is at its peak, and we burn the energy that was produced during the sleep cycle.  Each part of the biological clock has equal importance in life.

What about sleeping pills

So if I can’t sleep, why not just take a sleeping pill or over the counter sleep inducing formula?  Sleeping pills do not allow your biological clock to function properly, giving the person taking them a false sense of having slept.  When sleeping pills are present, the body is not able to perform the sleep cycle functions properly.

Another good reason not to take sleeping pills are the side effects, including a shorter life span,  increased risk of cancer, depression, and reduced brain cell activity during the day, not to mention the increased risk of death.

The chemicals used in sleeping pills have a direct impact on the brain’s neurotransmitters. One particular neurotransmitter, which is referred as “GABA”, is affected in a significant way while on sleeping pills.  GABA is largely responsible for the nerve cell functions within the lung area. When affected, these cells will fire off and literally shut down. This can lead to serious difficulty in breathing. Other dangers can include falling, as well as impaired judgment and mental focus especially when driving a car.

What causes sleep problems?

There are many causes that are beyond the solutions outlined here, such as accidents, diseases, emotional disorders, alcohol and drug abuse, obesity or metabolic issues.

But there are many self induced causes that can be corrected.

• Eating sugar, an imbalance of carbohydrates, alcohol or caffeine after 4:00 in the afternoon
• Medications such as antidepressants, cold and flu medications that contain alcohol, pain relievers that contain caffeine (Midol, Excedrin: diuretics, high blood pressure medications, thyroid hormone.
• Depression, anxiety, chronic stress, worry.
• Lack of vitamins and minerals

Which vitamins and minerals will help me sleep?

The supplements listed below all contribute toward relaxation, day or night, helping to reduce stress, anxiety and worry, which in turn lead to clear thinking and superior problem solving.

Calcium 600 mg before bedtime will have a relaxing effect on the body, helps alleviate stress and muscle cramps.

Magnesium – approximately 250 mg relaxes muscles.

B vitamins are known to have a sedative effect on nerves.  Nutritional yeast is an excellent source of all the B vitamins in their natural balance.  1 or 2 tablespoons in a glass of milk or liquid calcium before bed.  Foods high in B vitamins are liver, whole grains, wheat germ, tuna, walnuts and peanuts, bananas sunflower seeds and blackstrap molasses.

Fulvic Minerals – 1 ounce before bedtime helps absorption of all other sleep inducing supplements and foods.  People report sounder more restful sleep after taking Fulvic Minerals

Sleep is such a commodity in our 24/7 world.  So, it doesn’t matter if you drink some tart cherry juice (to help increase melatonin production), meditate, choose to unplug from technology,  or take a warm bath as simple steps to relaxation may be the key to getting longer and deeper quality sleep.

Please share with us your tips for a good night’s rest and join us on Twitter, Face book or Google Plus.

To learn more about our mineral products and quality liquid supplements please visit our website at: Vital Earth Minerals

By Kathleen Threet, Staff Writer at Vital Earth Minerals

Please note that any advertisements that you see on this blog are placed here by WordPress.com. The Administrators of this blog have no connection to or financial interest in any of the promoted products and/or services and gain no income from any advertising displayed on this blog. Please do not click on any promotions that you do not wish to support.

 

Striving for pH Balance In An Acidic World

What does pH mean?

The meaning of pH is Potential Hydrogen which means the degree of concentration of hydrogen ions in a substance or solution.  It is measured on a scale that goes from 0 (Acid) to 14 (Base or Alkaline).  The higher the number indicates that the substance is more alkaline in nature and has a greater potential for absorbing more hydrogen ions.  The lower the number indicates more acidity with less potential for absorbing hydrogen ions.

This applies to our entire body as we are over 70% water.  With every body process utilizing fluids, from blood, spinal fluid, urine, saliva and intercellular fluids, pH plays an important role in our health. Our body’s biochemical reactions are either sped up or slowed down by our pH levels.  This is done by managing the speed that electricity moves through our bodies.  It also controls the speed of enzyme activity.

If a substance is higher in pH (more alkaline) the more electrical resistance the liquid holds. This means that electricity in our bodies travel slower with a higher pH.  When conditions are more acidic, electricity runs fast and resources are burned up quickly.

What can happen if your body pH is too acid?

Your body pH is key to your health and well-being.  Blood remains in a narrow range for pH at around 7.3, below or above this range can indicate warning signs of disease.  When your pH is off, oxygen to the cells is affected, microbes can mutate and grow, and enzymes that are normally helpful can become damaging.  These types of conditions leave you vulnerable to yeast, fungal, parasite infections or even cancer.

Acidosis or high acid levels can be linked to insulin sensitivity, obesity, osteoporosis, Parkinson’s, coronary artery disease, liver and kidney disease for starters. It can also cause damage to organs like the heart or brain long-term. This condition also prevents you from loosing weight, can cause premature aging and wear out your immune system by overloading it with toxins.

Our body produces and eliminates acid waste products every twenty-four hours.  If there is more acid in our system than can be released the body must store it.  This requires a buffering system to be in place as acid is corrosive. Oxygen is used in the blood to act as a binder which makes it unable to be used by the cells. The kidneys also work to remove acid from the body as it is transported by bloodstream.

How does the body use minerals to maintain pH? 

The body uses minerals to help stabilize pH levels by combining with acids to create salts that are eliminated through the kidneys and large intestine safely.  Calcium, potassium, Sodium, Magnesium, Iron and Silica are minerals that can all help you stay more alkaline.  If the body doesn’t have the minerals needed to help alkalize from our foods, it will take the calcium and phosphorus from our bones to help buffer the effects of acid.

Today, the minerals are missing in our soils, which in turn leave our foods lacking in minerals also. Our modern diet of breads, sweets, and convenience foods also contribute greatly to our acidic body state. One good way to keep your body balanced is to take trace minerals daily. Combining this with eating organic foods and many raw foods can help to keep the body in symmetry. Find ways to ward off stress as this can create acid also.

Everything we eat or take for our health has a pH ranking on the scale.  Making choices before your put food in your mouth is one of the easier ways of prevention against acidosis.  The effort to stay proactive with your pH is always worth it, because no one I know has the time to feel sick.  Increasing alkalinity can bring you benefits like sleeping better and more soundly along with increased energy.

There is an article on our website that also talks about how acid zaps your energy.  Click here if you would like to read more: http://www.vitalearthminerals.com/v/articles/Acidity_The_Energy_Zapper.html

Please share with us your tips for keeping a good pH balance and join us on Twitter, Face book or Google Plus.

To learn more about our mineral products and quality liquid supplements please visit our website at: Vital Earth Minerals

By Kathleen Threet, Staff Writer at Vital Earth Minerals

Please note that any advertisements that you see on this blog are placed here by WordPress.com. The Administrators of this blog have no connection to or financial interest in any of the promoted products and/or services and gain no income from any advertising displayed on this blog. Please do not click on any promotions that you do not wish to support.

 

Is An Easy Meal Worth Years Off Of Your Life?

 

A lot of people are still unaware of the devastating effects that MSG creates.   MSG (Monosodium Glutamate) has been linked to strokes, epilepsy, learning disabilities, schizophrenia, and degenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s and much more.  Did you know that MSG could be the sole culprit of our the current gross obesity epidemic in America?

Of course most of us know about the little annoying side effects like headaches, upset stomach, lethargy after eating and dull thinking processes.  But you have to remember that these minor symptoms are simply precursors to the more serious diseases listed above.  Those are pretty serious conditions to bring on yourself by eating processed, convenience and fast foods.

MSG tricks your taste buds into thinking the food you are eating is high in protein. By fooling the body and brain into thinking the food is nutritious, it encourages you to eat much larger quantities.  Manufacturers love it because they can use less actual food in a product, add fillers and water and the consumer never knows the difference.  It’s very good for the bottom line, because the cost of MSG is a fraction of the cost of an ingredient like chicken, or beef.

When labs need obese rats, they simply inject them with MSG.   It increases their appetite by as much as 40%.   When you eat food loaded with MSG, the less satisfied you feel and the hungrier you become, which drives you to eat more food . The cycle goes around and around until you become morbidly obese.

The MSG industry has produced a lot of misleading hype about the safety of MSG, falsely linking it to the beneficial amino acid glutamate.  Their central lie is that the manufactured glutamic acid in processed food is identical to the beneficial and essential glutamic acid created by the body and found in natural foods and supplements.  They are NOT metabolized the same, they are NOT the same.  We all need a moderate amount of natural glutamate.  That’s why nature put it in our produce.

To complicate our lives even more. MSG has about 300 different names, including the innocent sounding name  “Natural Flavoring”, which has recently been approved by the FDA.  That means a label can claim “no MSG” and still be loaded with it because the manufacturer simply used one of the other 300 names.  Have you ever noticed names on the label like Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Plant Protein Extract, Yeast Extract, Textured Protein,  or Hydrolyzed Oat Flour? They sound pretty healthy, but they all hide MSG within the clever titles.

An excessive intake of glutamate is well-known by neuroscientists to be a problem in many disease states.  That statement refers to the large amount of artificial manufactured MSG found in processed foods, as well as the excessively high doses body builders consume to produce large muscle mass.

This health problem should be called the American Restaurant Syndrome.  Go to the web site, http://www.msgtruth.org/whywe.htm for a list of the worst American Restaurant offenders and to find out why today, Chinese restaurants may be the healthiest places to eat.

If you want to enjoy good natural energy, clear brain function, maintain a healthy weight and remain disease free the first step is to avoid  MSG in any form.

Please share with us your recipes and ideas for quick healthy meals or why you avoid MSG by joining us on Twitter, Face book or Google Plus.

To learn more about our mineral products that help to naturally detox your body or to download a copy of our Grocery Watch list please visit our website at: Vital Earth Minerals

By Kathleen Threet, Staff Writer at Vital Earth Minerals