I'm sure you've heard of environmental toxins, but are you aware of what they are and how they can affect your health?
What comes to mind when you think of environmental toxins? Initially for me, the first thing that I pictured was air pollution, either from factories or traffic. The scary reality is that it's much more than that and found in every day products.
According to precisionnutrition.com, "Environmental toxins are cancer-causing chemicals and endocrine disruptors, both human-made and naturally occurring, that can harm our health by disrupting sensitive biological systems."
So, what exactly are they and where can they be found?
As previously mentioned, they can be naturally occurring compounds, such as lead, mercury, formaldehyde, benzene, and cadmium. But they can also be man-made chemicals, like BPA, phthalates, and pesticides.
Environmental toxins can show up everywhere; from the air we breathe, to the food we eat, from the products we clean our homes with, and the personal hygiene products that we use.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, there are nearly 800 chemicals linked to being hormone disruptors. Why is this a problem?
In addition to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC) most likely playing a role to ovarian, prostate, and breast cancer, they may also contribute to early onset of menopause, diminished sperm quality, fertility difficulties, and early onset of puberty.
Furthermore, there is also evidence that EDCs are linked to diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and can be a danger to our digestion.
Pretty crazy, right?
Though it's nearly impossible to avoid all environmental toxins, there are things that we can do to decrease our exposure.
When choosing products, look for ones that are paraben-free, phthalate-free, and BPA-free.
The Cleveland Clinic also suggest the following:
- Drink tap water rather than bottled water (tests show bottled water often contains harmful chemicals and bacteria.) *I would recommend filtering your tap water.
- Avoid pesticides by choosing organic foods when possible and always wash your fruits and vegetables.
- Choose natural cleaning products for your home.
The Environmental Working Group is a wonderful site (and they have a handy app!) to provide guidance on products that are best to use, and those that you should avoid.
Here are some helpful tips from Precision Nutrition to reduce your exposure to environmental toxins.
To reduce your exposure to BPA, consider the following:
- Minimize your use of plastics with the #7 or #3 marked on the bottom. It's best to use glass or stainless steel whenever possible.
- Don't microwave plastic containers or wash them in the dishwasher with harsh detergents. Again, try to use glass or stainless steel whenever possible.
- Reduce the use of canned foods and try to eat fresh or frozen foods as much as possible.
- Use baby bottles that are BPA free (or use glass bottles) and look for toys that are BPA free.
To reduce phthalate exposure, try the following:
- Like with BPA, reduce your use of plastics, especially those marked as #3 for recycling.
- Use PVC-free containers. Choose plastic wrap and bags made from polyethylene, or again, use glass containers. Remember, if you must use plastic containers, do not heat food in the microwave.
- Choose phthalate-free toys. Look for toys made from polypropylene or polyethylene.
- Purchase phthalate-free beauty products. Avoid nail polish, perfumes, colognes, and other scented products that list phthalates as an ingredient. Many scented products simply list "fragrance" as an ingredient, which often incorporates a number of different chemicals including phthalates.
Remember, it is nearly impossible to avoid environmental toxins completely, but there are simple ways to reduce exposure. To summarize, the following are best practices to limit your vulnerability:
- Decrease the use of plastic, opting for glass, stainless steel, and porcelain containers, glasses, and mugs.
- Wash all produce and refer to EWG's Dirty Dozen list, choosing organic when possible.
- Use fewer products with the term "fragrance."
- Get your home air and water tested for radon.
- Don't smoke.
- Keep plenty of plants in the home, as they work as natural air filters.
Did you learn something today about environmental toxins? Is there something that you're going to swap out or add in? Let me know your action plan in the comments below!