endocrine disruptors | Health Topics | NutritionFacts.org

28 videos

Topic summary contributed by volunteer(s): Randy

Endocrine disruptors are compounds that can interfere with the body’s hormone system. Endocrine disrupting chemical pollutants can be found in meat and fish (even organic), and may be linked to early onset puberty, increased obesity risk, and lowered testosterone levels.

Specific types of endocrine disrupting chemicals include: fire retardants, which may be carcinogenic and impair neurobehavioral development, xenoestrogens which can build up in animal fat and may reduce male fertility, and endocrine-disrupting alkylphenols (mostly found in fish), which may be linked to a rise in allergic diseases.

Sex steroids naturally found in all animal products (but may be particularly high in pregnant cow’s milk) may increase cancer risk.

These pollutants are pervasive. The CDC found that the majority of women in the U.S. are contaminated with endocrine disruptors, heavy metals, toxic solvents, fire retardant chemicals, PCBs, and pesticides, and a survey of California children exceeded cancer benchmark levels for four endocrine-disrupting pollutants.

The information on this page has been compiled from the research presented in the videos listed. Sources for each video can be found by going to the video’s page and clicking on the Sources Cited tab.

All Videos for Endocrine Disruptors

The Effects of Hormones in Milk on Infertility in Women

The Effects of Hormones in Milk on Infertility in Women

Dairy consumption is associated with years of advanced ovarian aging, thought to be due to the steroid hormones or endocrine-disrupting chemicals in cow milk.

How Much Microplastic Is Found in Fish Fillets?

How Much Microplastic Is Found in Fish Fillets?

How many plastic particles per serving have been found in the fish muscle itself?

Are Microplastics in Seafood a Cancer Risk?

Are Microplastics in Seafood a Cancer Risk?

Plastic particles may exacerbate the pollutant contamination of fish.

Microplastic Contamination and Seafood Safety

Microplastic Contamination and Seafood Safety

Can ingested plastic particles from fish get into our bloodstream?

Is Organic Meat Less Carcinogenic?

Is Organic Meat Less Carcinogenic?

Researchers tested 76 samples of different kinds of organic and conventional meats for 33 different carcinogens.

various grilled meats

Carcinogens in Meat

What are the eight preparation methods to reduce exposure to carcinogens in cooked meat?

Viagra and Cancer

Viagra and Cancer

What is the role of erectile dysfunction drugs like Cialis and Levitra in the promotion and progression of prostate cancer and melanoma?

The Best Diet for Fibroids

The Best Diet for Fibroids

The same diet that helps regulate hormones in women may also reduce exposure to endocrine-disrupting pollutants.

Are the BPA-Free Alternatives Safe?

Are the BPA-Free Alternatives Safe?

Do BPA-free plastics, such as Tritan, have human hormone-disrupting effects? And what about BPS and BPF?

BPA on Receipts Getting Under Our Skin

BPA on Receipts: Getting Under Our Skin

Using skin lotion or hand sanitizer before touching thermal paper, such as cash register receipts and printed tickets, can facilitate the absorption of BPA into the body.

Why BPA Hasn’t Been Banned?

Why BPA Hasn’t Been Banned

If the synthetic estrogen BPA is linked to billions of dollars’ worth of medical problems a year, why is it still allowed in the food supply?

Zeranol Use in Meat and Breast Cancer

Zeranol Use in Meat and Breast Cancer

Anabolic growth-promoting drugs in meat production are by far the most potent hormones found in the food supply.

Avoiding Adult Exposure to Phthalates

Avoiding Adult Exposure to Phthalates

Eating a plant-based diet and avoiding scented personal care products and certain children’s and adult toys can reduce exposure to hormone-disrupting chemicals.

Flame Retardant Pollutants and Child Development

Flame-Retardant Pollutants and Child Development

PBDE fire-retardant chemicals in the food supply may contribute to attention and cognitive deficits in children.

Dietary Pollutants May Affect Testosterone Levels

Dietary Pollutants May Affect Testosterone Levels

Endocrine-disrupting industrial toxins in the aquatic food chain may affect genital development of boys and sexual function in men.

raw meats, eggs, and milk on a table

Estrogen in Meat, Dairy, and Eggs

The sex steroids found naturally in animal products likely exceed the hormonal impacts of endocrine-disrupting chemical pollutants.

Prevent Cancer from Going on TOR

Suppressing the engine-of-aging enzyme TOR (Target of Rapamycin) by reducing intake of leucine–rich animal products, such as milk, may reduce cancer risk.

inhaler and medications

Preventing Asthma with Fruits and Vegetables

A study involving more than a million kids suggests the striking worldwide variation in childhood rates of allergies, asthma, and eczema is related to diet.

California Children Are Contaminated

California Children Are Contaminated

The levels of arsenic, banned pesticides, and dioxins exceeded cancer benchmarks in each of the 364 children tested. Which foods were the primary sources of toxic pollutants for preschoolers and their parents?

Dietary Sources of Alkylphenol Endocrine Disruptors

Dietary Sources of Alkylphenol Endocrine Disruptors

Foods of animal origin (especially fish) appear to be the most important source of human exposure to industrial pollutants such as alkylphenol xenoestrogens.

Alkylphenol Endocrine Disruptors and Allergies

Alkylphenol Endocrine Disruptors and Allergies

The dramatic rise of allergic diseases such as eczema and seasonal allergies may be related to dietary exposure to endocrine-disruptor xenoestrogens, such as alkylphenol industrial pollutants.

More than an Apple a Day: Preventing the Most Common Diseases

Dr. Greger has scoured the world’s scholarly literature on clinical nutrition, and developed this brand-new live presentation on the latest in cutting-edge research on how a healthy diet can affect some of our most common medical conditions.

Male Fertility & Diet

Dioxins, endocrine disrupting pollutants, heavy metals, saturated fat, and steroids in the meat supply may be affecting sperm counts, semen quality, and the ability of men to conceive.

Lavender for Generalized Anxiety Disorder

In a double-blind study, lavender oil worked as well as the valium-like drug lorazepam (Ativan) for relief of persistent anxiety, though there are concerns about estrogenic effects.

Protein, Puberty, and Pollutants

The early onset of puberty in girls associated with animal protein consumption may be due to endocrine-disrupting chemical pollutants in the meat supply.

scientists gathering samples outside

CDC Report on Environmental Chemical Exposure

The latest national survey on the levels of chemical pollutants (such as heavy metals, toxic solvents, endocrine-disrupters, flame-retardant chemicals, PCBs), and pesticides (such as DDT) in the bodies of pregnant and non-pregnant Americans.

Uprooting the Leading Causes of Death

Uprooting the Leading Causes of Death

Death in America is largely a foodborne illness. Focusing on studies published just over the last year in peer-reviewed scientific medical journals, Dr. Greger offers practical advice on how best to feed ourselves and our families to prevent, treat, and even reverse many of the top 15 killers in the United States.

The Problem with Organic Salmon

The Problem with Organic Salmon

Much of our fish supply is so polluted that algae-derived sources of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids may be safest option.

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