Natural Personal Care Items to Lower Xenoestrogens
By Ali Kuoppala | Last reviewed Tue 25 September 2018
Medical Review by Dr. Stefano Pizzo, MD
This might be a weird topic, but it’s a fact that you will likely increase your testosterone levels, while slashing estrogen, by changing your everyday personal care items (toothpaste, shampoos, soaps, deodorants, etc) to chemical-free and natural alternatives. This effect is largely due to lower exposure to endocrine disruptors.
That’s right, there can be an absolutely ridiculous amount of estrogen mimics and anti-androgenic endocrine system disrupting chemicals in your everyday convenience-store bought personal care items.
these include (but are not limited to);
- Parabens (methyl-, butyl-, ethyl-, propyl-, heptyl-, etc) which are preservatives used in nearly all kinds of cosmetics, such as; sun lotions, moisturizers, personal-lubricants, shampoos, shaving gels, toothpaste, and even as food additives. They’re classified as xenoestrogens, and can have a weak affinity to estrogen receptors in the body.
- Phthalates which are commonly used to make plastics more flexible, but they are also used as stabilizers and emulsifying agents in many personal care items, recently they’ve been found in high amounts from people who eat a lot of junk-foods. Increased urinary phthalate traces have been strongly correlated with decreased testosterone in men, women, and children.
- Benzophenones (BP-1, BP-2, BP-3…) which are permeability enhancing UV-stabilizers are used in a wide range of personal care items, but most commonly in sunscreens. Concerns have been raised of their effect in reducing the activity of enzymes needed in testosterone production. This has been studied for BP-1, BP-2, and BP-3.
- Triclosan and Triclocarban, both of which are antibacterial agents found in many antibacterial soaps, lotions, hand sanitizers, etc. Not only are they highly ineffective at reducing bacteria, but they also have a direct mechanism in lowering testicular testosterone production.
Those and many more man-made chemicals that can act as hormone disruptors are generously used in the manufacturing process and as ingredients of many personal care items.
Not good thing considering that you’re constantly in touch with them on a daily basis, and your skin is very permeable to most of the chemicals applied. Since many of the endocrine disrupting chemicals are completely unnecessary for the consumer, it’s really easy to just change the brand and buy something that does not contain them.
Below are some brands & products that I recommend and use:
- Duke Cannon Big American Brick of Soap.
- Acure Organics Natural Shampoo.
- Himalaya Herbal Healthcare Toothpaste.
- North Coast Organic All Natural Deodorant.
- Lather & Wood’s Luxurious Mens Moisturizer.
- Pacific Shaving Company All Natural Shaving Cream.
That’s it, there’s no need to stretch this article any longer when it’s as simple as…
1. Get rid of the endocrine disruptor laden products
2.Replace them with natural T-safe alternatives
3. Enjoy less xenoestrogen & antiandrogen exposure, enjoy higher T-levels on a daily basis.
Ali Kuoppala
