“When Conner lead me through the process of coming off artificial fragrances, the following month I had the easiest period I could remember. I had no noticeable symptoms or mood changes. I now have fewer migraines and I’m sleeping through the night. I’m blown away by how these chemicals were effecting me and how quickly my body changed.”
– Rebecca, Asheville
We are becoming plastic.
Utensils, food and drinking containers, and cosmetic products that contain plastic have become a normal part of everyday life.
Your body has a hard time telling the difference between certain plastic compounds and its own natural hormones. This means that the more of these chemicals you are exposed to, the more plastic you actually become. The two most notable of these compounds are phthalates and bisphenols, which are plasticisers – meaning they are added to plastic to make it both more durable and more flexible. The bisphenol that has gained the most attention is bisphenol A or BPA. However, buying something that is “BPA Free” often means it has higher amounts of other bisphenols, like BPB, and may not be safer after all.
Compounds like phthalates and bisphenols are referred to as EDC’s in the literature (endocrine disrupting compounds). Their affects on fertility, reproduction, development, and oxidative stress have been studied and are undeniable [1, 2, 3, 4]. These compounds disrupt thyroid function [1, 2, 4], mitochondrial function [2], cholesterol metabolism [2], growth hormone production [1], sperm quality [3], and increase oxidation of fatty acids and therefore increases oxidative stress that leads to inflammation and aging. [2]
Hmmm, where
do most people spray cologne or perfumes? Where is your thyroid located?
Many people are concerned about the estrogenic effects of soy products. However,
phthalates, bisphenols, and other plastics bind to hormone receptors so
strongly that they are causing estrogen dominance, thyroid disorders, and other
hormonal dysfunction around the world.
One way to make an impact on a man is to tell him: “You are shrinking your testicles by wearing that cologne.” …or to a woman: “Your perfume is making your periods worse.”
So where are these plastics found? Just about everywhere.
So how do we get away from all these plastics? Where are they found? Unfortunately, they are everywhere.
Air fresheners
Plastic mesh teabags
Perfumes, colognes, bodysprays
Shampoos, conditioners, lotions
Soaps, household cleaners
Hairgels, hairspray
Makeup
Low-quality essential oils
Plastic water bottles
Receipts
Sea salt (use Redmond’s salt instead)
Plastic bags
Breast implants [5, 6]
Lining of cans
Plastic containers
(don’t heat your food in these!)
PVC pipes, water tubing
Other cosmetics and packaging
and most importantly
– anything containing “fragrance” as an ingredient
Once you eliminate artificial fragrances and EDC exposure from your life you will notice profound changes. When you do, you will become more and more sensitive to the consequences of these chemicals and feel inspired to tell those you know (or even those you don’t know). Unfortunately, we can’t keep others from spraying whatever they want on themselves.
This is bound to be an unpopular opinion but the prevalence and strength of the fragrances that people use is a public health hazard. By simply smelling another person’s fragrances, your natural hormones are being disrupted and your body is forced to deal with the oxidative stress. Imagine what it must be doing when we spray it on our own skin?
We recommend all our patients stop using artificial fragrances but this is especially important for those seeking help with weight management or with endocrine disorders, gynecological issues, etc. Estrogen tells the body to store fat, where it is also stored. That means this is where your body will store plastics as well.
One of the simplest and most powerful steps you can take in cleansing plastics from your body is to drink (organic) green or white tea daily. When tea from the leaves of camelia sinensis are consumed regularly, your urine contains more plastics (as well as more heavy metals). This means they are being excreted.
One of the other best ways to detoxify plastics from the body is to sweat. Hmm, I’m thinking of the giant infrared sauna in the sky or perhaps your very own in-home far-infrared therapy device.
My objective is not to encourage my readers to wear tin foils hats (although really, by all means, I won’t stop you). However I think the more we extricate ourselves from the toxicity of the world we live in, the more our bodies and our families and our future selves will be happy and healthy.
Thank us later.