Everything is about balancing and limiting the daily harm that is happening to the body. One switch is instead of eating out daily try to limit it to once a week. In addition, instead of buying bread at the store that is filled with preservatives make it at home or buy it locally. Sourdough is usually my favorite option as it is easier to digest due to naturally fermented gluten. When you go to the grocery store, shop the perimeter as much as possible! While canned vegetables are great be aware that can linings can contain BPA yet another endocrine disruptor. The truth is we can’t 100% eliminate our exposure to these chemicals and there has to be room for life and a fun night out to eat with friends. However, we can take steps to limit our exposure and provide benefits to daily health and hormone balance.

Sadly, there is very little regulation on what is hidden under the term fragrance and usually this is where endocrine disruptors can slip into products without the consumer being aware. According to the FDA fragrance ingredients in cosmetics must meet the same requirement for safety as other cosmetic ingredients (remember from yesterday only 11 are banned). The law does not require FDA approval before they go on the market. In addition, according to the FDA any ingredient that contributes to the smell of the product does not have to be disclosed and can just be labeled as fragrance.

In 1938 the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act was signed which placed minimal restrictions on what could be put into cosmetics. From 1938- 2022 there was very little done to regulate what could be put into cosmetics in the United States . Meanwhile, the European Union has banned over 1300 ingredients and has set concentration limits on over 250 ingredients for their cosmetic regulations. Versus the United States that has just 11 banned ingredients. This means that there are currently 1,289 ingredients allowed to be placed into women’s cosmetics in the U.S. that are banned in Europe. This means that the safety of what you choose to put in your makeup bag and use daily ultimately falls on the consumer.

It seemed that almost everything in our pantry contained ingredients that were disrupting our bodies natural endocrine systems. Then we realized how many other factors were at play : household cleaners, makeup products , toothpaste / deodorant and personal care items, the quality of the air in our home, the type of material making our sheets and clothing, and the list goes on. If you look at this list and feel defeated that’s okay we did too! Then we started compiling a list and making changes and finding small ways to make a big impact toward our health , and to say the time and money has been worth it is an understatement!