The Real Disease Burden of Plastics…

YIKES!! ➡️ Here’s a study I wish weren’t true…

The study found that the annual healthcare costs resulting from exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) were almost $250 billion in the US alone.

☠️ EDCs are chemicals in plastics and also hide in:
Flame retardants
Food packaging
Can linings
Non-stick cookware

When these chemicals get into the human body, they disrupt our hormone systems and increase the risk for cancer, diabetes, infertility, preterm birth, and more.

The good news is that 💥we have the power💥 to make choices every day that minimize our exposure to EDCs.

We also have ways to support our body’s natural detoxification systems.

These are just some of the things we consider when working with our patients to optimize their health. If you want a root-cause approach to health that actually looks at the whole picture...

📅Schedule an initial visit today!

💻www.elementsnatmed.com

PMID: 38213907

Reference

Trasande L, Krithivasan R, Park K, Obsekov V, Belliveau M. Chemicals Used in Plastic Materials: An Estimate of the Attributable Disease Burden and Costs in the United States. J Endocr Soc. 2024;8(2). Published 2024 Jan 11. [link]

Testosterone & Toxins: What’s the Deal?

Why are testosterone levels tanking?

Low testosterone levels in men correlate with:

▪️Low energy

▪️Weight gain

▪️Low libido

▪️Moodiness

▪️And more.

We know that testosterone levels decline with age, but there’s also evidence that testosterone levels have declined over the years—meaning that a 60-year old man today is likely to have lower testosterone levels than a 60-year old man did 20 years ago. 

Levels have even declined in teens and young adult men 😬

Why?

Nobody knows for sure, but hormone-disrupting chemicals could be to blame ☠️

Many chemicals that men are exposed to every day are “xenoestrogens,” meaning they mimic estrogen and disrupt hormonal balance. For example: 

🔹 BPA in plastics 🔹 parabens in lotions 🔹 phthalates in shampoos

If men only focus on testosterone, they could miss the most important piece of the puzzle for lifelong health. 

Here are some ways to minimize exposure to hormone-disrupting chemicals:

✔️ Store food in glass instead of plastic 

✔️ Drink out of glass or stainless steel instead of plastic

✔️ Cook in stainless steel rather than non-stick pans

✔️ Avoid air fresheners and artificial fragrances

✔️ Read ingredients on personal care products to avoid anything that resembles “-paraben,” or “-phthalate,” or “fragrance”

We take all of these variables into account when working with men to achieve hormonal balance, weight loss, healthy aging, and energy, and well-being. 

Want to feel better? 

References

Cariati F, D'Uonno N, Borrillo F, Iervolino S, Galdiero G, Tomaiuolo R. "Bisphenol a: an emerging threat to male fertility". Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2019;17(1):6. [link]

Lokeshwar SD, Patel P, Fantus RJ, et al. Decline in Serum Testosterone Levels Among Adolescent and Young Adult Men in the USA. Eur Urol Focus. 2021;7(4):886-889. [link]

Travison TG, Araujo AB, O'Donnell AB, Kupelian V, McKinlay JB. A population-level decline in serum testosterone levels in American men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2007;92(1):196-202. [link]

Woodward MJ, Obsekov V, Jacobson MH, Kahn LG, Trasande L. Phthalates and Sex Steroid Hormones Among Men From NHANES, 2013-2016. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2020;105(4):e1225-e1234. [link]