Decreasing Plastics = Balanced Hormones=Healthy Environment

Many of our modern day diseases and illnesses are significantly influenced by the choices we make (and corporations we support!). Typically, when we make sub-par health decisions, they tend to simultaneously be harmful choices for our environment. One of the single best ways to improve our health and the health of our environment is to avoid or significantly decrease our use of plastics.

Our endocrine systems, specifically the female and male reproductive systems, are often vulnerable areas that environmental toxins attack. This is due to the ever-growing man-made chemical constituents that are being released into our landscape, many of which act as pseudo-estrogens in the body. Pseudo-estrogens mimic the effects of estrogen and can result in estrogen linked illnesses.  Specifically, plastics such as BPA (bisphenol A) and PET (polyethylene terephthalate) have dramatic effects on our bodies, specifically our endocrine/hormonal systems. Both of these chemicals are found in plastic water bottles and a slew of other plastic goods as well such as baby bottles. If you look on a plastic water bottle, such as Dasani, Aquafina or any other water brand, you will see the letters PET or sometimes PETE next to the  recycling symbol/code on the bottle. PET is a clear liquid made from refining crude oil! 80% of PET in the United States ends up in Nestle, Coke, or Pepsi beverage containers, which manifests a whole new bag of issues...

The first thing you can do to improve your health and the health of the environment is to stop buying bottled water and beverages in plastic bottles! This includes the larger 5 gallon jugs and harder plastics made of BPA. And as quoted by a scientist in the documentary "Tapped", "[BPA] leaches into water and is one of the most toxic chemicals known to man".

Generally, we seem to think that small doses of potentially harmful substances is safe. However, BPA, in very small doses, significantly compromises our body's health. I will try and save the "drinking water from a bottle is better for you" scandal for an upcoming post. However, it is crucial to be aware of its effects on one's health. Here are some of the health effects that plastics, especially in water bottles, water bottles that have been sitting in the sun or heated up, baby bottles and/or items microwaved in plastics etc may have:

• Increase in birth defects
• Decreased fertility
• Male and female reproductive adversities
• Cancer, specifically breast cancer, ovarian/uterine cancer, prostate cancer
• Compromised Thyroid function
• Obesity
• ADD/ADHD
• Diabetes
• Decreased sperm count

Here's how to balance hormones (and the environment) ethically, morally and healthily:

• Consume 1 tsp Nordic Natural's Cod Liver oil daily
• Eat cold pressed, ground flaxseeds
• Consume cold pressed flax oil (keep refrigerated, use within one month of opening)
• Take Evening Primrose oil, Black current oil or Borage oil 
• Eat organic hemp seeds
• Eat organic, grass fed and/or free range meats
• Supplement with Spirulina powder
• Avoid hydrogenated fats and oils (read labels!)
• Avoid fried and fatty foods
• Buy a water filter and/or drink tap water. Bring a glass jar to fill up water from a municipal source when you are away from home. Most natural grocers have filtered tap water available for free and tap water actually has much higher standards and regulations than bottled water companies (which don't really have any!). A reputable water filter brand is "New Wave Enviro Premium 10 Stage Water Filter System"

*Some of the information provided in this blog was gathered from the documentary "Tapped", I encourage everyone to watch it. You can "watch instantly" on Netflix.

* I am not responsible for your health. Please consult a physician and/or health care professional before starting any new lifestyle modification or change.