All You Need to Know About Xenoestrogens: Risks, Sources and Tips

Xenoestrogens are the technical name for a class of man-made chemicals that mimic the effects of estrogen. When absorbed by the body, xenoestrogens are highly cancer-causing and hormone disruptive, as they are estrogen dominant.

Xenoestrogens increase the risk of:

Breast cancer (1, 2, 6)
Uterine cancer (3)
Fibrocystic breast disease
Ovarian cysts
Prostate and testicular cancer (4, 5)
Male and female fertility problems (4)
Heavy periods

Sources of xenoestrogens:

Pesticides (used on animals, farms, produce, lawns, golf courses)
Beef (cattle in Canada and US are given zeranol or estradiol, which are estrogenic and convert to estrogen)
Dairy products; strong association between cheese consumption and testicular cancer (5)
Cosmetics that use phthalates and parabens (6)
Plastics mainly use BPA and phthalates, that leach into water and food
Cleaning chemicals
Fabric softeners containing benzyl acetate, ethanol, camphor, linalool, pentane
Bleach when used to whiten tampons, pads and toilet paper
Pharmaceuticals that contain synthetic estrogen, which is toxic estrogen and gets stored in fat cells

Tips to minimize xenoestrogen exposure:

Buy local produce and get informed on your local farmers’ practices
Buy organic pending pesticide levels and GMO factors on certain produce (click here for more info.)
Avoid all dairy products. Choose alternatives like almond milk and nut cheese
Avoid meat products. Choose a plant based diet for optimal health
Avoid plastic (use a reusable glass bottle for your water, glass containers for food)
Use natural cleaning products (like vinegar, baking soda, lemon essential oil)
Buy cotton tampon or pads
Avoid synthetic hormones
Increase your daily fiber intake at least by 35 grams