Recently, The Journal of Fertility and Sterility published results of a study on the chemical BPA or bis-phenol A and its negative effects of lowering sperm count in men. This is no surprise as the effects of this chemical on reproduction has been studied for years. BPA is found in plastics and the lining of cans. This is just one chemical among many that crashes the “hormonal party” in your body. Read on…
The study (Abstract available at: http://www.fertstert.org/article/S0015-0282(10)02587-2/abstract) came from Kaiser Permanente and they summarized the following about the results:
“The five-year study recruited 514 workers in factories in China and compared workers who had high urine BPA levels with those with low urine BPA. Men with higher urine BPA levels had 2-4 times the risk of having poor semen quality, including low sperm concentration, low sperm vitality and motility.
“This study is the third in a series, published by Dr. De-Kun Li, a reproductive and perinatal epidemiologist at Kaiser Permanente’s Division of Research in Oakland, Calif., and his colleagues, that examine the effect of BPA in humans. The first study, published in November 2009 in the Oxford Journals Human Reproduction, found that exposure to high levels of BPA in the workplace increases the risk of reduced sexual function in men. The second study, published in May 2010 in the Journal of Andrology, found that increasing BPA levels in urine are associated with worsening male sexual function.” (Summary Available: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-10/gi-etb102210.php)
But this chemical is not the only one causing issues with your endocrine system. Here’s an excerpt from the upcoming book “Metabolic Health Transformation”, where I discuss the concept that chemical exposure can negatively affect our hormone secreting endocrine glands as well as contribute to weight gain and obesity:
Eliminating & Avoiding “Endocrine Disruptor Chemicals”
Your endocrine system is extremely sensitive to foreign chemicals, particularly newer manmade chemicals. These chemicals have been linked to a multitude of endocrine disorders such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, thyroid disorders, sex hormone imbalances and gynecological issues, endocrine cancers, and even obesity. The chemicals that are related to obesity have been dubbed “obesogens” are being studied as key endocrine disruptor chemicals that are attributing to the obesity epidemic.
The Top Three Obesogens:
- Bisphenol-a (BPA): found in plastics with recycling codes 3 and 7 and in liners of cans.
- Organotins: biocides found in conventionally grown produce
- Phthalates: found in plastics and personal care products like nail polish, shampoo, lotions, perfumes, etc.
To Avoid Obesogens and other Endocrine Disruptor Chemicals:
- Chose organic foods when possible to avoid pesticides. (See the The Dirty Dozen & The Clean Fifteen below)
- Buy canned foods in BPA-free cans. Vital Choice and Eden Foods produce can liners BPA free.
- Drink spring water in safe BPA-free bottles or filter your water using reverse osmosis and store it in glass containers.
- Store your food in glass containers. NEVER heat your food in plastic containers in the microwave, which leaches pthalates directly into your food.
- Use organic personal care products when possible. Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, Sprouts, and many local healthfood stores have excellent choices.
- Avoid plastics. The “new car smell” indicates phthalates are present.
- Cleanse on a regular basis.
