High-Estrogen Foods and Xeno Estrogens to Avoid

High-Estrogen Foods to Avoid

1. Wheat & Other Grains

2. Soy

Some soy facts to consider:

• The United Kingdom, Australian and New Zealand advise against the indiscriminate use of soy infant formula; other countries require a prescription.
• Most soy grown in the U.S. is genetically engineered to endure herbicide applications that would normally kill the plant.
• Norwegian researchers found “extreme” levels of glyphosate in U.S. soy.
• Glyphosate is also commonly used on nonorganic corn, canola and cotton. Farmers also use it to “burn down” wheat prior to harvest, meaning it remains in the finished food product.

3. Food Additives

IPropyl gallate is a common preservative that acts like estrogen. It’s often used to keep fats and oils from going rancid.

Propyl gallate is on the Center for Science in the Public Interest’s “Do Not Eat” list. It most commonly hides on in the following places:

• Vegetable oil
• Meat products
• Potato sticks
• Chicken soup base
• Chewing gum

4. Conventional Meat & Dairy

Hormones and antibiotics used in the meat and dairy industry are well publicized, but what about naturally occurring steroid hormones that act like estrogen?

5. Alcohol

We know that alcohol changes the metabolization of estrogen in the female body. Alcohol triggers estrogen levels to increase. Higher estrogen levels can fuel breast cancer risk.

6. Tap & Bottled Water

While it may be tempting to reach for bottled water, just know what’s inside may be actually worse than tap water. Bottled water risks include exposure to estrogenic compounds.

Other Estrogenic Exposures

1. BPA

BPA hiding spots:

• Cash register receipts
• Canned foods and drinks
• Keg liners
• Polycarbonate water bottles

And don’t trust “BPA-free” labels, either. Many contain estrogenic cousins of BPA, like BPS.

2. Phthalates

These plasticizing chemicals also lurk in:

• Synthetic scents, including candles and personal care products
• Makeup (to keep lotions and makeup to stick to your face longer)
• Vinyl shower curtains, flooring and other products
• Laundry products
• Nail polish
• #3 plastic cling wrap

3. Oil & Gas Chemicals

4. Birth Control Pills

Birth control pills contain high levels of estrogen. And while that works to prevent pregnancy, ethinyl estradiol winds up in wastewater after women flush the toilet. The results are worrisome, as estrogen-like compounds wind up in surface water.

5. Certain Essential Oils

Not all essential oils are appropriate for everyone. Some essential oils with estrogenic effects include:

• Jasmine oil
• Clary sage oil
• Geranium oil
• Lavender oil
• Tea tree oil

This is why, when seeking to buy essential oils, you look for Certified Organic, 100 percent “pure”.

How to Avoid Xenoestrogens

The good news is there are powerful ways to drastically reduce the amount of estrogen-like compounds you eat and absorb. To start to balance hormones naturally, here are some of my most important tips to reduce xenoestrogen exposure:

• DIM improves healthy estrogen metabolism and is present in Brassica or cruciferous vegetables like cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, mustard greens and Brussels sprouts. Calcium D-Glucarate reduces total estrogen levels and is found in brassica veggies, citrus fruits and cucurbitacease vegetables that like cucumbers, pumpkins, cantaloupe and squashes.
• Milk thistle and dandelion supplements are great to support your body in the detox from estrogen.
• Exercise and avoid processed foods and sugars to lower your body fat to a healthy level. Excess visceral fat manufactures more estrogen in your body.
• Choose filtered water over bottled water. Kagen Water is amazing.
• Avoid plastic use as much as possible. Particularly estrogenic plastics are #3, #6 and some #7s.
• Choose a food-grade stainless or glass water bottle.
• Avoid nonstick cookware
• Avoid heating reusable plastics that come into contact with food in the dishwasher or microwave.
• Avoid vinyl whenever possible. Choose hemp or natural material shower curtains and avoid vinyl flooring.
• Choose fresh or frozen foods versus canned foods and drinks.
• Say no to trivial cash register receipts. Choose email receipts whenever possible. And don’t store receipts in the bottom of your purse or bag.
• Opt for organic or non-GMO foods as often as possible, especially when it comes to corn- and soy-containing foods.
• Instead of scented laundry products, use a quarter cup of white vinegar in the rinse cycle for natural fabric softening.
• Use coconut, olive or avocado oil instead of vegetable oil. Vegetable oils often contain high-estrogen food additives.
• Choose fatty fish like Pacific sardines or wild-caught Alaskan tuna instead of shellfish.
• Avoid dairy or use organic, grass-fed, cultured dairy. I prefer goat milk.
• Consider using a combination of natural birth control methods.