Boost Testosterone By Avoiding Testosterone Killing Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals - read sources here Plastics, personal care products, sunscreens, food containers, pesticides, and even many plant-based “health foods” like soy and flax seeds all contain chemicals that act as potent endocrine disruptors in the body, lower testosterone levels and increasing your estrogen levels unnaturally.
The book Estrogeneration does a good job of going into extreme detail about these hazardous chemicals and the effects they have on the human body.
The pervasiveness of endocrine disrupting chemicals is rampant.
a) In one study, the researchers tested 37 widely used pesticides to see if any of them had any anti-androgenic effects in-vitro. Out of the 37 tested chemicals, 30 were shown to be anti-androgenic. 14 of the tested chemicals were previously known for having a hormone disrupting effect, but the researchers were shocked to find out sixteen more that had no known hormonal activity until now.
b) In this large-scale study, it was noted that 91% of the US test subjects had noticeable amounts of the insecticide; chlorpyrifos, in their bodies. In another human study, TCPY (3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol) which is a metabolite of chlorpyrifos, was noted of having a dose-dependent testosterone lowering effect in multiple linear regression models. Several animal studies have also shown that chlorpyrifos has a significant testosterone lowering effect.
c) In this study, it was noted that RoundUp, one of the most used herbicides in the World, has a direct testosterone suppressing effect in testicular leydig cells at very low environmental doses.
d) In this 2007 study, various pesticides (some of which have been already banned) were shown to be anti-androgenic and mess up with the 5-a reductase enzyme, which is responsible for dihydrotestosterone (DHT) synthesis.
e) Atrazine, one of the most widely used herbicides in US, has been shown to decrease testosterone levels in fish, amphibians, and rodents. Also, according to this study increased atrazine concentrations in water can transform male frogs into females (literally to the point where they grow ovaries).
f) Vinclozolin is a common fungicide generously sprayed on fruits and vegetables. According to EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), vinclozolin is a competitive antagonist to androgen receptors, and can activate the receptor similarly to testosterone. However it’s suspected that the chemical doesn’t activate the receptor properly, and hence just “steals” the place from the actual male hormone. Furthermore, two vinclozolin metabolites have been identified as anti-androgens and the chemical is suspected to have feminizing effects in humans. Vinclozolin is also banned in Finland, Sweden, Denmark, and Norway.
g) In this Peruvian study, it was noted that men who work as organoph osphate sprayers experience significantly lower testosterone levels and worse semen parameters than control subjects.
h) In denmark, the farmers of organic produce have significantly higher sperm quality and sex hormone levels, when compared to their conventional produce farming peers. Same researchers have also found out that greenhouse workers in contact with fungicides, experience suppressed testosterone levels and reduced sperm quality.
i) In American men, exposure to PCB’s (polychlorinated biphenyls) is strongly associated with lower serum testosterone levels. PCB’s were heavily used in multiple chlorinated pesticides many years ago, but they’re extremely persistent in the environment, lasting for years or even decades in soil and lake sediments, which is why we still continue to get this stuff into our bodies.
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.
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.
Is it any wonder that our population-wide low testosterone epidemic is only getting worse?
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