hormones Archives - Page 8 of 11

Blind Faith, No Longer Blinded: Tales of Thyroid Illness

Published on July 22, 2012

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At 11-years-old, you hardly understand the complexities of life and the implication of any diagnosis. My doctor told me I had Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, and that it was insignificant… a pill, every day, and blood tests, every 6 months. Simple. My mother, a pediatric nurse, brought me to the best pediatric endocrinologist in the NYC area. With blind faith, I went about life veiled by ignorance about thyroid disease.

I professed my Hashimoto’s at every medical visit. Yet, it was never considered in any treatments. I was told I was depressed and prescribed anti-depressants. I had irregular periods and was prescribed birth control pills. I had dry hair and told it was from processing and products. My skin was like that of a crocodile. Must be genetics, as I shared so many similar behavioral, mood and medical similarities to my father. I accepted my genetic fate, but never once made the connection to our shared diagnosis of Hashimoto’s. That is, until the Hashimoto’s emerged and demanded recognition.

My doctors called it postpartum depression. I could not seem to manage my moods and anxiety, but I was not depressed. This was my third child and the baby weight was not coming off. Something was wrong, I could feel it in my soul. I was driven to research my disease. Soon, I realized all of my idiosyncrasies were symptoms of my “insignificant” disease and my hormone imbalance was distorting my reality.

In the 24 years since my diagnosis, the field of Endocrinology has improved the treatments of Hashimoto’s and other thyroid conditions, yet my treatment remained the same. I encountered countless others who also had their lives forever shifted due to these “insignificant” disorders, but I also discovered treatment options that alleviated those symptoms. My blind faith that my physician knew best dissolved. My doctor transformed into a human with flawed knowledge of a rapidly changing field, and from the once naive patient emerged a woman who refused to accept this was acceptable.

This shared experience with innumerable thyroid dysfunction patients also suffering from symptoms of a disease, yet labeled with minimizing terms such as depressed, mentally unstable and hypochondriacs. This motivated me to action. If we demonstrate and express our experience, if we grab the ear of our physicians who dedicate their lives to healing us – then I have faith we can change our future and heal the next generation. This new found faith inspired me to write, “Endocrinologists: Patients with Thyroid Dysfunction Demand Better Treatment.”

This international petition amassed over 3600 signatures from over 65 countries. It inspired, Denise Rodriguez, an amazing woman with a different, yet similar, thyroid journey, to shape and mold my raw petition into the amazing movement it is today (a little less than 3 months later). We just launched ThyroidChange™, a web-based initiative, to unite the voice of thyroid patients worldwide.

Hormones matter! I have faith that our voices, when strengthened with worldwide support, can change the future of thyroid care. Please join us on our journey.

BPA in Plastic Bottles: What’s the Big Deal About ‘Little Beards’?

by Amy Roost

Published on July 18, 2012

4881 views

“The only thing that I heard is if you take plastic and put it in the microwave and heat it up, it gives off a chemical similar to estrogen. And so, I mean, in the worst case, some women might have little beards”

~Paul LePage, Governor of Maine

Long ago, I cut a deal with my best friend: if one of us is on our death bed unable to care for ourselves, the other will tweeze her friend’s “man hairs.” It may sound vain to some, but there is dignity even in death. When my mom lay dying in her hospice bed, I plucked the dark hair from her chin and upper lip, trimmed her nails, and brushed her hair, because I knew she wouldn’t want to “be seen like that”. It was the least I could do after all those years she spent caring for and grooming me.

So I took great offense when Maine Governor Paul LePage–exhibiting astounding ignorance (even for a politician) of the delicate balance of human chemistry–made his remark about “women might have little beards.” As if a woman having a little beard was no big deal, right?

Now before you go accusing me of over-reacting to media and environmentalist hype about the side effects of BPA–or bisphenol A- a compound added to plastic bottles and other packaging materials to increase flexibility, transparency, durability–first consider what a “big deal” it is in the scientific community.Two recent studies in Italy and Germany show that suboptimal storage conditions—such as prolonged exposure to sunlight and high temperatures—can cause leaching of BPA in plastic bottles into fluid contents resulting in high levels of estrogenic activity in plastic-bottled water. In other words, plastic bottles can leach chemicals that disrupt the endocrine system.

The endocrine system is responsible for making our hormones. Hormones are substances that help to control activities in your body. Different types of hormones control reproduction, metabolism (food burning and waste elimination), growth and development, and yes, even facial hair. Hormones also control the way you respond to your surroundings, and they help to provide the proper amount of energy and nutrition your body needs to function.While too few studies have been conducted to know with certitude about potential human health effects of drinking plastic−bottled beverages, as Lisbeth Prifogle of Hormones Matter reported previously, investigators have found that BPAs combined with the xenoestrogens in our environment cause male fish to grow eggs in their testes, female deer mice to pick males who weren’t exposed to BPA in a controlled environment, hyperactive rats (some scientist speculate that endocrine disruptors could be linked to the rise in ADHD amongst school children) and many other strange behaviors in the animal kingdom.

The National Toxicology Program’s Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction, suggests, in response to the European studies, that people move away from polycarbon−ate plastics [due BPA concerns].

In women with PCOS or other hormone problems, BPA can be especially problematic. Researchers from Athens report:

“Blood levels of BPA were nearly 60 percent higher in lean women with PCOS and more than 30 percent higher in obese women with the syndrome when compared to controls. Additionally, as BPA levels increased, so did concentrations of the male sex hormone testosterone and androstenedione, a steroid hormone that converts to testosterone.”

So Governor LePage, if you’re reading this, let me see if I can help you understand what the “big deal” is. Suppose you were exposed to an everyday chemical that made your breasts “a little” larger or your testes produce eggs. Or what if BPA led to sexual dysfunction in men? No big deal, Right? What’s a little Viagra between friends.Sources:

International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, March 2009

Environmental Science and Pollution Research, March 2009

Environmental Health Perspectives, “Estrogens in a Bottle?”, June 2009

This image (or other media file) is in the public domain, per US public domain laws, because its copyright has expired. For more information see the file at wikimedia commons.

Why Hormones Matter to Me

by Lisbeth Prifogle, MFA

Published on July 16, 2012

5062 views

The Problem

A few days ago, I received a text from my older sister, Megan. “Becca [our younger sister] is in the hospital. She started bleeding so heavy she couldn’t leave the bathroom and has cramps so bad she was puking. She was at band and they called an ambulance! I’ll keep you posted.”

My first thought was, oh my god, how embarrassing. My second thought, oh my god, not Becca too. As I’ve written about before, my periods are less than normal. Oh how I envy those women who menstruate like clockwork. Those who can plan weddings, vacations, military exercises, etc. around their cycle without worrying that their bodies will evoke a surprise visit from that miserable old hag, Aunt Flow. As I have also written, I cannot take birth control to regulate my hormones. The various times I have tried, like Becca, I ended up in the ER from extreme heavy flow.

The Consistent Answer – Birth Control

Becca is eighteen years old and not sexually active and has never had a need to be on birth control. Between our mother, who had the same reactions that I did years ago, and my horror stories, I doubt she will ever be tempted to try. Still, I said to Megan and Mom prior to her doctors appointment, “They are going to try to force her to take birth control.” I know because that is the ONLY option I have ever been given. More than once I have had medical professionals glare at me and respond, “Well if you don’t want to take birth control there is nothing I can do for you.”

Becca went to her first gynecologist appointment today (congrats Becca you are a woman now!). Sure enough, Megan called me furious saying, “All they are willing to do is give her more pain killers and prescribe her birth control.”

I responded, “Not that I want to say I told you so, but I told you so. I knew that’s all they would do without any other tests ruling anything more serious out. Ugh, I freaking knew it!”

Side note: We are Irish, German, Scottish (and my Dad swears we’re of Viking descent on his side) and on top of that our hormonal imbalances; needless to say, anger management is not one the Prifogle Women’s strong points.

Becca explained my experiences with birth control to the doctor and expressed that she didn’t want to do that, but the doctor told her and Mom that it was her only option. They scheduled an ultrasound to rule out ovarian cysts, but in all likelihood it will just be something poor Becca has to live with as well.

A multivitamin that has maca root, chaste tree berry and red raspberry leaf tea, as well as acupuncture, have help me, but we’ll see what Becca and Mom decide to do.

Why Hormones Matter and Why I Write

When I started writing for Lucine’s online magazine, Hormone’s Matter, Chandler Marrs told me the statistic that <30% of clinical practice guidelines in OB/Gyn are evidence based. I was in shock, but then I thought of all my horrible experiences with my periods and doctors lack of willingness to do anything about it outside of synthetic hormones (and for some women this is great – I just don’t happen to be in that category of women). As busy and exhausted as I am (and aren’t we all) I continue to research, write and help build this online community because that statistic is ridiculous. Hormonal birth control cannot be the band-aid, cure-all for women’s health any longer! We have to start figuring out what the problem is and dealing with the cause, not the symptoms? It could be as simple as eliminating endocrine disruptors and hormones from our diet/lifestyle or adding exercise, or it might be something more complicated and un- or misdiagnosed. For Becca’s sake, I hope it’s something as simple as a diet change.This isn’t just a female problem either. As John-Brandon Pierre wrote in Why Men Should Care About Women’s Health:

“It is our duty as men to help care for and help provide security for our women. To help strengthen them so that they can live out their lives in the most meaningful way they choose. To support them and help them find answers to the problems that plagues them. In doing so we enrich our future and we do our part to better understand what we cherish the most – our women.”

Thank you for your support and please continue to spread the word about Lucine Biotech and that HORMONES MATTER!

I’m Sexy and I Know It, Sometimes – Sexual Attraction Chemistry

by Chrisalbeth Guillermo, MPH, OMS-II

Published on June 26, 2012

6288 views

sexual attraction and oral contraceptives

Have you, or possibly your partner, ever wondered if there really was a link between your menstrual cycle and sexual attraction? Perhaps you have noticed that during certain times of the month something is not quite right and whatever it is, it seems to affect your ability to concentrate. Scientists have as well.

Evolution, the Menstrual Cycle, and Sexual Attraction

Since the dawn of humankind, women have been programmed to think and act in such a way that helps us find the perfect mate with the best genes to make the best babies; survival of the fittest. However, the conditions and interactions are not as clear-cut today as they were during caveman times. Women are educated and have careers. We work hard and we play harder. In other words, we might be too busy to think of finding a man and having children, at least on a conscious level.

Researchers have found that reproductive hormones are still at play when it comes to how we feel about certain situations, view the world, and interact with others. During the week before ovulation, women have improved memory, perhaps to signify the right time to find “The One,” but also to help you make better decisions and navigate your environment. Near ovulation, women may have a heightened sense of smell, possibly to sniff out potential toxins. Additionally, several studies have shown that women who are in the fertile window tend to dress and feel more attractive as compared to other times in their cycles. A major drawback to this process is that some women may be highly sensitive to to the cyclic rise and fall of their hormones and experience negative mood symptoms, increased food cravings, and susceptibility to stress, particularly during the premenstrual phase.

Oral Contraceptives and Sexual Attraction

What about the pill? Oral contraceptives (OCs) contain synthetic hormones that may also affect women’s social behavior and psychological functioning. In my own research, I have found that women who are on the pill show greater attraction toward current and potential mates across all phases of the cycle. Naturally, this could be due to the simple fact that women using OCs expect to have more sex than those who are not. However, we also found that an increase in androgens, a side effect of the pill, was significantly related to this increase in attraction.

Because of our genetic make-up, women must go through regular shifts in their cognitive abilities, moods, and behavior. In other words, we think, feel, and react differently based on what our hormones are doing. This may translate to women’s approach to relationships, sexual arousal, and motivation to seek out mates. But also, it affects how we work, talk to friends, and deal with our problems.

Does this mean women should plan their activities accordingly? That may be a tad extreme, but maybe it will help both men and women understand why sometimes we are just not in the mood.

Endocrine Disruptors Impact Women’s Health

by Elena Perez

Published on May 7, 2012

9501 views

What Are Endocrine Disruptors?

The hormones in our bodies are regulated by the endocrine system and they impact a number of bodily functions, including metabolism, growth, and development. An endocrine disruptor is a chemical that disturbs the way the endocrine system normally functions, thereby interfering with the way hormones and the body functions, as well.

How Do Endocrine Disruptors Impact Women’s Health?

Scientists have found links between endocrine disruptors and a number of health problems in women. Since most studies have only tested animal responses, scientists cannot conclude that these compounds have the same impacts on humans, but most believe that they do.

The following are only some of the health issues that have been linked to endocrine disrupting chemicals:

Precocious Puberty Possibly Due to Endocrine Disruptors

The early onset of puberty may be due to endocrine disrupting chemicals that are pervasive in the environment. The Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics has found environmental toxins to be a possible explanation for precocious puberty.

While scientists are unsure if the early onset of puberty is due to endocrine disruptors or childhood obesity, it is important to note that endocrine disruptors also seem to cause insulin resistance, which can lead to weight gain.

Vaginal Cancer from Endocrine Disruptors

Unfortunately, there have been human cases that have shown a direct link between endocrine disruptors and the development of vaginal cancer.

Women took diethylstilbestrol (DES) to prevent miscarriages and morning sickness, only to find that this chemical caused their daughters to develop cancer, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Scientists are still not exactly sure why DES caused vaginal cancer.

Endocrine Disruptors Tied to Breast Cancer

The EPA also acknowledges correlations between endocrine disruptors and certain cancers, such as breast cancer. A study published in Environmental Health Perspectives found environmental toxins increase breast cancer by affecting the regular development of breasts and mammary glands.

The Yale University School of Medicine bolsters this research, showing that endocrine disruptors increase a woman’s risk of breast cancer, particularly if she is exposed to such chemicals during embryonic development.

Endocrine Disruptors Impact Ovaries

The McLaughlin Center for Population Health Risk Assessment in Canada cited the increased risk of ovarian cancer from exposure to environmental toxins, such as pesticides and herbicides, noting that hormone levels seem to impact such outcomes.

The journal, Endocrine Reviews, reported that women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) have higher levels of endocrine disruptors (specifically BPA) in their systems. PCOS is a disorder in which women, during their reproductive age, develop small cysts on their ovaries (in most cases). PCOS may impact a woman’s menstrual period, resulting in less frequent periods or none at all, and can make it difficult for a woman to become pregnant.

Uterine Disorders and Endocrine Disruptors

Endocrine disruptors have been found to reprogram genes in the uterus to grow uterine leiomyoma, or uterine tumors. Although these tumors are benign, they may cause heavy menstrual bleeding and/or lead to infertility.

The American Journal of Epidemiology has found links between the use of hair relaxers and uterine leiomyomata, suggesting that hair relaxers, used by many women, have endocrine disrupting chemicals.

The Society of Toxicology reported findings that mice exposed to high levels of genistein, a phytoestrogen found in soy products, developed uterine cancer later in life.

This same organization has shown connections between endometriosis, or the development of endometrial cells outside of the uterus, and endocrine disruptors, notably TCDD, a dioxin. The study found that endometrial cells do not properly respond to progesterone hormones when disrupted by TCDD, which can lead to endometriosis and sometimes infertility.

The Yale School of Medicine has found that endocrine disruptors block gene expression in the uterus, thereby disrupting the proper development of the uterus, which can lead to cancers, endometriosis, and infertility.

Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals Can Cause Infertility

Concentrated levels of hormone-mimicking chemicals can stop ovulation, just as contraceptive pills do, according to The Oxford Journals.

Polybrominated diphenylethers, chemicals used in fire retardants, are linked to cases of infertility. The Society of Toxicology has shown this chemical also reduces thyroid-stimulating hormones (THS) in pregnant women, which can negatively impact fetal brain development.

When Do Endocrine Disruptors Impact a Woman?

Most scientific findings emphasize that exposure to endocrine disruptors during rapid developmental periods, such as gestation, is more detrimental to a woman’s health than exposure at other times. In fact, the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology reported that endocrine disruptors often target the genes responsible for the development of an organism, interfering with the proper development of that organism.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that endocrine disruptors stop affecting us once we’re grown. The very chemicals that cause breast cancer have also been found to lessen the effectiveness of cancer fighting drugs. This is because most of the drugs used to treat breast cancer are made to reduce endogenous estrogens – which usually stimulate the cancer. While endocrine disruptors are just as effective as endogenous estrogens in stimulating the cancer, endocrine disruptors are not hindered by these drugs.

How Do We Limit Our Exposure to Endocrine Disruptors?

Endocrine Disruptors impact us every day, but we can limit the amount of toxic chemicals we absorb into our bodies by being aware of what these chemicals are and where they can be found. A good rule of thumb is to start cutting back on the processed goods in your life. If you have difficulty reducing the consumption of processed goods, just start with a few items and continue from there.

Not only do we ingest endocrine disruptors when we swallow pthalates in medication coatings, but we also wear them on our faces in the form of toxic cosmetics and contaminate our water sources with chemical toxins in widely used herbicides. Determine what are safe substitutes, like kitchen cosmetics or safe pesticide alternatives. Start small, choose wisely, and stay abreast of known endocrine disruptors.

Further Reading on Lucine:

Endocrine Disruptors in Personal Products:
Toxic Cosmetics
Kitchen Cosmetics
Is Your Deodorant Linked to Breast Cancer?
Phthalates in Medication Coatings
Endocrine Disrupters in the Environment:
Milk, it Does a Body Good?
Early Onset of Puberty
Could This be a Contributor to Weight Gain?
Chemical Toxins in Commonly Used Herbicides

Milk it does a Body Good?

by Lisbeth Prifogle, MFA

Published on April 16, 2012

6923 views

Recently, I bought a lunch-box sized container of Horizon organic milk. I don’t use milk regularly, but do use other dairy products like cheese, sour cream, and butter often. I was a bit disturbed when I noticed something on the label that I had not seen on other dairy products: “Our farms produced this milk without the use of antibiotics, added hormones, pesticides or cloning.” I’d heard of the dangers of growth hormones in milk, but decided to do some research into what’s really in our milk, if they use cloned cows or if that’s just another advertising scam and if current regulations really protect the consumer.

Pesticides, Antibiotics and Hormones in Milk

If you are a woman and you have ever been prescribed an antibiotic or medication of any type, your doctor or pharmacist most likely asked you if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Why? Because the medications come through the mother’s milk. Why would this be any different in animals? It’s not.

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, commercial dairy farmers feed cattle corn silage, alfalfa or grass silage, alfalfa hay, ground or high-moisture shelled corn, soybean meal, fuzzy whole cottonseed, and perhaps commodity feeds (corn gluten, distillers grains, soybean hulls, citrus pulp, etc.), instead of grazing on grass in a sunny field. It might be cheaper up front, but the feed is likely genetically modified (GM) to withstand dangerous pesticides that the animals then digest and process into milk. The feed is a very unnatural food for the cows, wreaking havoc on their poor digestive systems. This makes them susceptible to various pathogens, such as E. coli, mastitis and other diseases contracted through their diet and poor living conditions. Farmers give cattle antibiotics throughout their life, when all they need to do is let them graze on grass to balance the pH level of their stomach and give them better living conditions in general. These antibiotics are found in milk we consume.

In order to increase the production of milk the cows are injected with the bovine growth hormone rGBH. While labels state, “No significant difference has been shown between milk derived from rGBH-treated and non-rGBH-treated cows,” the truth is out there. Investigative journalists, Jane Akre and Steve Wilson, tell their story on PR Watch about how Monsanto, former manufacturer of rGBH, lawyered-up and hid their revealing report on the dangers of rBGH in milk. According to the Canadian Journal of Veterinary Research (2003), there are at least 16 different harmful medical conditions for dairy cattle treated with rGBH, including:

40 percent increase in infertility
55 percent increased risk for lameness
Shortened lifespan
Hoof disorders
Visibly abnormal milk

It also increases the levels of Insulin Growth Factor -1 (IGF-1) in the cows as well as their milk. In this important report on the link between breast cancer and milk from cows treated with rGBH, Dr. Mercola explains that “IGF-1 is a potent hormone that acts on your pituitary gland to induce powerful metabolic and endocrine effects, including cell growth and replication. Elevated IGF-1 levels are associated with breast and other cancers. When cows are injected with rBGH, their levels of IGF-1 increase up to 20-fold, and this IGF-1 is excreted in the milk.”

In addition to the added hormones, we have to deal with the natural hormones in milk. Cows are now milked 300 days of the year, including entire pregnancies. According to Ganmaa Davaasambuu, who holds a Ph.D. in environmental health and is a current fellow at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, “Milk from a cow in the late stage of pregnancy contains up to 33 times as much of a signature estrogen compound (estrone sulfate) than milk from a non-pregnant cow.” What does this mean to the consumer? Studies are not revealing that the increase in sex hormones are linked to cancers including prostate, breast and endometrial. According to Dr. Davaasambuu’s research, “One study compared diet and cancer rates in 42 countries. It showed that milk and cheese consumption are strongly correlated to the incidence of testicular cancer among men ages 20 to 39. Rates were highest in places like Switzerland and Denmark, where cheese is a national food, and lowest in Algeria and other countries where dairy is not so widely consumed. Butter, meat, eggs, milk, and cheese are implicated in higher rates of hormone-dependent cancers in general. Breast cancer has been linked particularly to consumption of milk and cheese.”

Cloning

Companies use different claims to appear more desirable to the health-conscious consumer. I have seen products labeled as non-GMO when the ingredients have not been genetically modified in general, yet. So, are cows really cloned, or is this a marketing ploy as well? The truth is stranger than fiction, I’m afraid. In 2008, the FDA approved the use of cloned animals for both meat and milk. Similar to genetically modified food, there are no regulations that cloned animal products have to be labeled and are thought to be safe. Personally, I’d rather not be the guinea pig to find out the safety of these products.

Regulations

Does the USDA and FDA protect the consumer? Well, I’m not so sure I’d consider rGBH or cloned animals safe. The FDA seems to be going out of their way to limit the sales of raw milk lately. However, consumers have been fighting for their right to buy and consume raw, organic milk so much that states have been forced to change their laws and allow the sale of it (Click here to see if raw milk is legal in your state). Meanwhile, the FDA continues to send SWAT teams out to arrest Amish farmers and the USDA allows the largest “organic” dairy companies to sell questionably organic products. The Cornucopia Institute is filing a formal legal complaint in an attempt to immediately halt the USDA from allowing factory farms producing “organic” milk from bringing conventional dairy cattle onto their farms. Cornucopia claims the practice, which places family-scale farmers at a competitive disadvantage, is explicitly prohibited in the federal regulations governing the organic industry.

Toxins in Cosmetics – Contaminants in Your Personal Care Products

by Lisbeth Prifogle, MFA

Published on April 10, 2012

8905 views

In the US alone, women spend 50 billion dollars on cosmetic products annually. Each day women smear anti-aging, anti-blemish, cover-up, foundation, powder and more on our faces and bodies in the name of beauty. The FDA does not monitor toxins in cosmetic and personal products because we don’t ingest it; however, our skin is the largest organ in our body and absorbs chemicals directly into the bloodstream faster than if it were digested. The digestive system has a natural process to filter toxins, whereas the epidermis acts more like a sponge. This will be the first in a three part series.

We are what we eat AND what we wear.

What are these nasty chemicals lurking in our beauty and bath products, how do we avoid them and most importantly how do we make changes in legislation to protect us?

There are over 10,500 ingredients in personal care products, but the most common and most dangerous are:

Please click on the chemical name for more information.

Cosmetic Toxin – Triclosan – used as an antimicrobial in soaps and hand sanitizers. Triclosan is a known hormone disrupter and provides a suitable environment for the emergence of antimicrobial drug-resistant bacteria.
Cosmetic Toxin – Synthetic Musks – used to create scents. Did you honestly think, ‘Midnight Jasmine Hummingbird Orchestra Love Song’ was bottled in a lovely, toxin-free field? The chemicals galaxolide and tonalide are used to make synthetic scents, but also bind to and stimulate human estrogen receptors and have been shown to affect androgen and progesterone receptors. Tonalide increases the proliferation of estrogen-responsive human breast cancer cells and has been identified as a photosensitizer, a chemical that becomes more toxic when exposed to sunlight on the skin. It has also been linked to liver toxicity.
Cosmetic Toxin – Formaldehyde/Formaldehyde-Releasing Preservative (FRP) – A preservative found in nail polish, eyelash glues, hair gels, hair-smoothing products like Brazilian keratin treatments. FRPs do not have to be listed as an ingredient and can be found in personal care products including baby shampoos, soap and body washes. Formaldehyde is recognized as a known human carcinogen by the United States Department of Health and Human Services and the International Agency for Research on Cancer and has been linked to leukemia. Common ingredients likely to be contaminated with formaldehyde or FRPs include: quaternium-15, DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, diazolidinyl urea.
Cosmetic Toxin – 1,4-dioxane – Commonly seen as, “sodium laureth sulfate” on shampoo and soaps is used as a foaming agent. It is listed by the California Environmental Protection Agency as a suspected kidney toxicant, neurotoxicant and respiratory toxicant. Other ingredients likely to be contaminated: PEG-100 stearate, polyethylene, ceteareth-20.
Cosmetic Toxin – Hydroguinone – Used as a skin lightener and considered one of the most dangerous toxins in cosmetics. Hydroguinone is also found as an impurity in ingredients in facial and skin cleansers, facial moisturizers and hair conditioners. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) found the ingredient tocopheral acetate, and any ingredient with “toco” in the root, is at risk for contamination. Hydroguinone decreases the production of melanin pigments in the skin and simultaneously increases exposure to UVA and UVB rays, thus increasing skin cancer risks.
Cosmetic Toxin – Phthalates – Used to hold color and scents and aren’t usually listed except for in nail polish. A loophole in regulations allows phtalates to be added to fragrances (and therefore almost every cosmetic and personal care product) without being added to the label. Extensive research suggests that phthalates disrupt hormonal systems by reducing the level of sex hormones. Exposure in pregnant women has been linked to shortened distance between the anus and genitals of male babies indicating feminization occurred during genital development. Exposure in adult human males is associated with poor sperm quality and infertility. In women, phthalates have been shown to cause an increase of breast tumor cells and reduces the effectiveness of anti-estrogen treatments against tumors.
Cosmetic Toxin – Parabens – Used in products to prevent growth of microbes. “Parabens,” actually describes several chemicals with similar molecular structure, but the most common to cosmetic products are: ethylparaben, butylparaben, methylparaben and propylparaben. Parabens have been linked to cancer, endocrine disruption, reproductive toxicity, immunotoxicity, neurotoxicity, and skin irritation.
Cosmetic Toxin – Lead and other heavy metals – Metals including arsenic, mercury, aluminum, zinc, chromium, and iron have been found in lipstick, foundation, whitening toothpaste, eyeliner and more; both as intentional ingredients and as contaminants. Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are often used in sunscreens (I will get into the dangers of sunscreen in a separate post), foundation, concealer, and diaper rash ointments. Iron oxides, aluminum, and chromium are used as a colorant in make-up. Color additives like D&C Red 6, may contain contaminants including arsenic, lead, and mercury. Zinc is used in moisturizers, shampoos and foundations. Heavy metal poisoning in the body can have a variety of adverse health concerns including neurotoxicity, endocrine disruption, birth defects, cancer, and more.
Cosmetic Toxin – Nitrosamines – An impurity and, therefore, not a labeled ingredient. Nitrosamines is a known impurity in 53 ingredients and virtually every cosmetic and personal care product including baby products, sunless tanning lotion and pain relief salves. They are actually created in products when nitrates and various amino acids are combined. Specifically, when diethanolamine (DEA) or triethanolamine (TEA), used to adjust the pH of products, are used in products with preservatives that break down into nitrates. Numerous studies have linked nitrosamines to cancer. They are listed by the EPA, International Agency for Research on Cancer, the US National Toxicology Report on Carcinogens and the California Prop 65 as chemicals known to cause cancer or birth defects. And if that wasn’t severe enough, nitrosamines are linked to endocrine disruption, developmental or reproductive toxicity, immunotoxicity, neurotoxicity and systemic toxicity.

So, you buy organic and natural products to protect yourself and your family, right? Well, more bad news: In the world of cosmetics the words natural, herbal, and even organic have no legal definition. Unfortunately, companies slap an organic sticker on products and then raise the price for unsuspecting consumers more often than not. The only way to truly protect your family is to make your own personal care products or research the products you buy. The good news is the EWG has created an electronic database analyzing 70,547 products and 2,912 brands of these dangerous products. The EWG’s Skin Deep database is an amazing tool to protect both your health and your wallet.

Furthermore, we can take action. First, stop buying products containing these chemicals. Second, spread the word. Not only are you saving someone’s health and potentially life, but you are taking away more customers, eventually forcing these companies to change their ingredients. Third, join or start a campaign to force legislation and regulations to protect the consumer. Organizations like the Environmental Working Group and The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics are dedicated to awareness and change, and have tools for consumers to lobby for change.

Photo by ehensley, Creative Commons

Sugar and our Hormones

by Lisbeth Prifogle, MFA

Published on April 2, 2012

6562 views

It’s Easter season, which outside of religious practices, means candy, candy and more candy for a lot of Americans. Peeps, Cadbury Eggs, jelly beans are just a few of the hallmarks of this spring holiday. But, along with our growing waistline, scientists and Americans are both scrutinizing our diet and a common culprit seems to repeatedly point back to the white stuff. Even CBS News, 60 Minutes is looking at the toxicity of sugar. Is candy and sugar in our diet really the cause of America’s obesity and health problems? It’s now estimated that the average American consumes up to 180 lbs of added sugar per year. Here’s another statistic that demonstrates the increase of sugar in our diets over the years:

In 1700, the average person consumed about 4 pounds of sugar per year.
In 1800, the average person consumed about 18 pounds of sugar per year.
In 1900, individual consumption had risen to 90 pounds of sugar per year.
In 2009, more than 50 percent of all Americans consume one-half pound of sugar per person
DAY—translating to a whopping 180 pounds of sugar per year!

“Walk away from the Peeps, Ma’am!” might be what you’re telling yourself, but this sugar epidemic is out of control thanks to the highly processed foods and soft drinks where sugar hides under a variety of names. Here are some fancier names for sugar:

Sucrose, high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), corn syrup, maltodextrin, maltose, syrup, mannitol, molasses, ethyl maltol, fruit juice, fruit juice concentrate, diatase, cane sugar, caramel, carob syrup, barley malt, beet sugar, C12H22O11,

But, that’s not all. There are as many names for sugar as Eskimos have for snow. As the public becomes more aware of the many dangers of sugar, the food industry has to try to hide it under different names.

Is it ironic or coincidental that this heavenly, legal substance that give us so much pleasure looks identical to illegal drugs such as cocaine, meth, heroine? In my opinion the only difference is that sugar is a legal drug. Am I exaggerating? No, actually I’m not. In a recent study where rats were given the choice between water, sugar and cocaine the rats choose … SUGAR! This is vital information for you and your family’s health because when you start cutting sugar out of your diet you will likely go through withdrawal symptoms as you would with any addictive substance. As an adult you can cope with the headaches, irritability and fatigue; but if you are cutting sugar out of a child’s diet they won’t understand what is happening to their body. Something to be aware of as a parent when you start cutting processed foods and sugary treats out of your children’s diet.

I’m sure some of you are reading this thinking, I’m not diabetic, this doesn’t apply to me. What if I told you that your high cholesterol and muffin top is more likely linked to the sugar than bacon? Interested now? To break it down barney-style, sugar (whether it be white rice, processed bread, soda, lemonade, plain ol’ sugar in your coffee) turns into glucose in your body. Your body releases insulin, a hormone, to cleanse the blood. What your body can’t use immediately as energy is stored in the liver and fat tissue of the body for later use. When you overload your system with sugar, your whole body has to work overtime to clean it out of your system and this means putting its everyday tasks aside to deal with this toxic overload. So, instead of processing healthy fats, proteins, good carbs, etc., your system is processing junk. Then, it has to do its normal jobs after that. No wonder you’re so tired and lethargic all the time – you’re forcing your whole body to work double shifts everytime you reach for that candy bar or soda!

SUGAR = FAT = HEART DISEASE/CANCER/DIABETES/OBESITY/LIVER DAMAGE/INFERTILITY/ACNE/AND MORE.

Can it get worst? Actually, yes. In 2007, Child and Family Resource Institute released findings that sugar disrupts the sex hormones as well.

“Glucose and fructose are metabolized in the liver. When there’s too much sugar in the diet, the liver converts it to lipid. Using a mouse model and human liver cell cultures, the scientists discovered that the increased production of lipid shut down a gene called SHBG (sex hormone binding globulin), reducing the amount of SHBG protein in the blood. SHBG protein plays a key role in controlling the amount of testosterone and estrogen that’s available throughout the body. If there’s less SHBG protein, then more testosterone and estrogen will be released throughout the body, which is associated with an increased risk of acne, infertility, polycystic ovaries, and uterine cancer in overweight women. Abnormal amounts of SHBG also disturb the delicate balance between estrogen and testosterone, which is associated with the development of cardiovascular disease, especially in women.”

So, what can you do? How do you beat the cravings? The first step is to remove table sugar and processed foods out of your house. If it’s not there, you can’t be tempted. The second step is educating yourself on the hidden ingredients that are actually sugar. (Here’s a scary tip – did you know that juice is depleted of all nutrients, flavor and color, stored for a year, and then artificially flavored and colored?!) Thirdly, check out my post, Sweet Alternatives, for some healthy alternatives that will help you and your family beat that sweet tooth for good.

Photos Jdurham, jasoncangialosi Creative Common 2.0

Hormones Matter

Where health, hormones, and a whole bunch of other stuff, make sense.

hormones - Page 8

Blind Faith, No Longer Blinded: Tales of Thyroid Illness

BPA in Plastic Bottles: What’s the Big Deal About ‘Little Beards’?

Why Hormones Matter to Me

The Problem

The Consistent Answer – Birth Control

Why Hormones Matter and Why I Write

I’m Sexy and I Know It, Sometimes – Sexual Attraction Chemistry

Evolution, the Menstrual Cycle, and Sexual Attraction