Natural Factors
that Suppress Your Hormone Production - and How to Avoid Them
How can raw broccoli, cleaning fluid, and plastic containers negatively impact
your metabolism, infertility, and Alzheimer's?
You may not know it, but they all have a negative effect on our endocrine
system. Substances in raw broccoli, cleaning supplies and plastics can alter
hormone levels in your body, the same hormones that directly affect your metabolism,
your reproductive system and even your brain.
The pesticides on your food could be altering your body's hormone levels,
affecting your metabolism, immunity and your brain!
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Hormones Are Chemical Messengers
Hormones are the chemical messengers in our bodies, delivering messages from
one cell to another. These messages contain information about your immune
system and your metabolism, prepare your body for a new activity (like fight
or flight), indicate a new phase of life (like puberty or menopause), and
control your reproductive cycles.
Hormones circulate in the blood and control the actions of certain cells
and organs. They also influence our thoughts and behaviors. Healthy hormone
levels are absolutely necessary for proper brain functioning, normal metabolism,
effective immune response and giving birth to healthy babies.
If our hormone levels remain at a youthful level and are balanced we are
happier, healthier and we age slowly. However, there is clear cut evidence
all around us that hormone levels are becoming disrupted in all species of
animals and this phenomenon is happening all over the world
Skewed hormone levels are behind these grave changes in our health and are
ultimately threatening our survival:
- Low sperm count and male infertility. In the past 50 years, men's average
sperm count has been cut in half!
- Infrequent ovulation and female infertility are increasingly common, resulting
in complex and expensive fertilization treatments, often involving hormones.
- Birth defects. 1 in 28 babies is born with a birth defect, caused by genetic
and environmental factors.
Our hormones are not only chemical messengers inside our bodies, but they
are also messengers telling us that something is deeply wrong in our environment.
Changing Hormones in Our Changing World
We live in an increasingly complex world with more processed foods, greater
pollution, and serious toxins. At the same time, we eat fewer whole foods,
live high-stress lives and get less sleep and exercise.
Our environment and our lifestyle poison our bodies and our world, making
each successive generation weaker and more at risk for disease.
Body Ecology is system of health and healing that helps protect ourselves
and our children from the often inescapable toxins in our modern world. Based
on ancient wisdom and modern science, Body Ecology's principles help you create
a vibrant internal ecosystem full of beneficial microflora (good bacteria),
which keep you healthy and strong.
Body Ecology's natural approach encourages homeostasis in your body, including
your hormones. If you are in your child bearing years and plan on becoming
the parent of a baby, the time you take to nourish yourself now will benefit
future generations.
Cruciferous Vegetables and Thyroid Hormones
The thyroid is a small gland at the base of your throat that is crucial for
hormone production. It makes hormones, which regulate metabolism and cell
differentiation, and even affects other hormones like adrenaline.
Raw, cruciferous vegetables are natural thyroid depressants because they
contain isothiocyanates, which naturally interfere with the hormone production
of the thyroid.2
Not long ago we featured an article, Why
You Need to Cook These Vegetables for Maximum Nutrition, that encouraged
readers to cook cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, collards, cabbage and
kale because when eaten raw, these vegetables suppress the thyroid.
If you currently suffer from hypothyroidism (under-active thyroid),
these veggies will suppress your thyroid function and slow down your metabolism
even further. However, if your thyroid is over active (hyperthyroid),
then these raw vegetables could be used as a natural remedy for suppressing
your overactive thyroid creating balance in your body. This is a great example
of how food can be used as medicine. One man's food is another man's poison.
While it may seem odd that certain vegetables can be unhealthy for some people,
keep in mind that everyone is different. This is an example of the Body
Ecology Principle of Uniqueness, where you are encouraged to listen to
your own body's wisdom. Read more about this principle and all
7 Key Healthy Eating Principles.
Common Substances with Dangerous Consequences
Cruciferous vegetables however, are among the least of our worries. These
days, our world exposes us to a host of other hormone-altering substances,
which include:
- Xenoestrogens mimic real hormones and are found in sunscreen, food
preservatives, weed killer, insecticides, adhesives and paint.
- Heavy Metals like mercury, lead, aluminum and nickel accumulate
in your body and come from drinking water, fish, dental fillings and vaccinations.
Mercury is one of the most common indoor air pollutants.
- Teflon, found in non-stick pans, cleaning products, cosmetics and
in stain-resistant carpet and clothing is a harmful pollutant that never
breaks down. PFOA, a component in Teflon, is in 95% of Americans' blood!3
- Bad fats are found in almost every prepared food in your local
supermarket. Look for "partially hydrogenated" or "hydrogenated"
oils on the label to avoid these artery-clogging, liver-stressing, and hormone-suppressing
oils. (Read more about the dangers of processed,
refined oils.
All of these toxic substances: xenoestrogens, heavy metals, pollutants like
Teflon and bad fats- enter your bloodstream where your liver must then struggle
to process them, remove them or store them in your fat cells. The fatter you
have in your body the more places you have to store these dangerous toxins.
Allowed to stay in your body, these substances wreak havoc on your hormones
and your health- setting you (and further generations) up for disease. Your
immune system strains to act against these toxic invaders, but without
proper hormone levels, even your immune system cannot function properly. You
age rapidly, feel depressed, and lose energy.
Your brain, memory, and focus all suffer. Researchers have even linked imbalances
within your reproductive hormones (especially DHEA) to Alzheimer's in both
men and women.4
And of course, we've seen the rampant infertility that is affecting so many
couples trying to have children. Just a few generations ago, fertility problems
were rare. Since the 1950's however, time-saving processed foods and life-saving
pharmaceutical drugs became a bigger part of our daily habits than
our bodies were created to handle. Added to this are increased environmental
toxins -- and higher stress levels, creating emotional toxins that could be
just as harmful.
Without knowing it, Baby Boomers passed these toxins on to their children,
who are facing widespread infertility and it's not just happening in America.
Experts in Europe estimate that infertility, affecting 1 in 7 couples now,
is expected to double in the next decade.5
Researchers in the UK have reported that couples with fertility problems
are three times more likely to have a child with serious conditions like autism.7
While many of us many not realize how toxic we are, it's clear that our children
are in trouble, unless we take action.
I created the Body Ecology program as a natural prescription for our toxic
modern world. My goal in creating and researching this unique system of health
and healing is to reestablish strong immunity so that we and our children
can live happy, productive lives. For more information, read What
Every Girl and Woman Needs to Know NOW if They Ever Want to Have a Baby for
more on how diet and lifestyle can positively impact the health of our next
generation.
Help Your Hormones
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Detox your body and you'll help ensure the health of future generations.
The Body Ecology
system for wellness can help you regain your vitality.
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Here are some easy ways to avoid toxic buildup in your body, regulate your hormone
levels naturally, and enjoy renewed vitality and health:
- Support Your Thyroid
- Avoid raw cruciferous vegetables, unless you first ferment
them. Try our recipe for cultured
vegetables.
- Use Ocean Plant Extract. This unique formula contains Laminaria
Japonica, a sea vegetable with amazing cleansing and healing properties
strong enough to counteract severe radiation and heavy metal toxicity.
Read more about Ocean
Plant Extract and its ingredients.
- Cleanse Out Poisons
- Try Far Infrared Saunas. Far Infrared saunas and other forms
of heat therapy have been shown to detoxify the body. Far Infrared saunas
are best because through ionization, they allow toxins to leave the body
through sweat.8.
- Colon Therapy. Go to I-ACT.org to find a certified colon therapist
in your area. 50 years ago most homes had an enema bag. Today in the US
we've lost the understanding of how important it is to cleanse out the
colon with water and add implants of minerals and herbs.
- Fight xenoestrogens with Body Ecology grains. I advocate eating
millet, amaranth, quinoa and buckwheat over all others because these grains
are actually seed-like and nutrient-dense. Gluten free and high in fiber,
they digest easily and contain phytoestrogens, plant-based hormones that
can protect your body from the damaging effects of xenoestrogens. For more
information on the benefits of these delicious grains, read: The
Risks of Consuming Typical Grains & the Healthy Grains to Choose Instead.
- Follow the Body Ecology diet- the premier program for wellness
that helps you establish a vibrant inner ecosystem of good bacteria to keep
you healthy and strong, help you detoxify, and promote immunity. A cornerstone
of the Body Ecology program our fermented foods and drinks, like cultured
vegetables, Dong
Quai and Young Coconut
Kefir.
Here at Body Ecology, we are devoted to helping you and yours live your best
life. Follow these guidelines and the Body Ecology diet to regulate your hormones
and to improve your health.
You can help others do the same by forwarding this article to them, or if
you'd like to get more involved, consider making a tax-deductible contribution
to BEFORE BIRTH AND BEYOND.
I created Before Birth and Beyond, an educational non-profit foundation
(5013C), in order to reduce the incidence of childhood diseases like autism,
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, learning disabilities and asthma.
Our goal, accomplished through funding in-depth research and educational
programs, is to provide the nutritional guidance for creating healthy, happy
children for our rapidly changing world.
We intend to educate parents-to-be and also their supporting community.
After all, the entire world benefits when a beautiful, healthy, intelligent
and productive human being is born into our "planetary village."
We feel it is important to include the baby's grandparents, aunts and uncles,
the midwives, obstetricians, pediatricians and even the babies' clergyman
who will become an important part of the baby's life as he or she grows. Remember,
"It takes village to raise a child." BEFORE BIRTH AND BEYOND is
working to contribute to a bright future for generations of children to come.
For more information or to make a tax-deductible donation, call 866-4BE-DIET.
Sources:
1Semen Analysis. BabyHopes.com http://www.babyhopes.com/articles/semenanalysis.html
2Sisk, Jennifer, Thyroid Disease in Women, ForTheRecord.com,
4 July 2005.http://www.fortherecordmag.com/archives/ftr_070405p34.shtml
3 Smith, Dr. Leonard, Toxins and How to Avoid Them.
4Shumaker, et al., Hormone Replacement Therapy May Double the
Risk, Journal of the American Medical Association, May 28, 2003
5 Johnson, Mona, Hormones, Alzheimer's and the Fountain of Youth,
TheTangledNeuron.info, http://www.tangledneuron.info/the_tangled_neuron/2006/07/hormones_alzhei.html
6Roberts, Michelle, 'Infertility time bomb' warning, BBC News
Online, June 20, 2005. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4112450.stm
7 Infertility link to autism risk, BBC News Online. October 26,
2006. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6086824.stm
8 Wright, Dr. Jonathan V., Infrared Sauna Health Benefits, Physiotherm.net.
http://www.physiotherm.net/medicalStudies/47/wright_INFRARED.html
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