(Fake) Estrogen, Estrogen, Everywhere!

Your body naturally produces the good form of estrogen called 2-hydroxy estrogen. But it might surprise you to know that in 2003, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) added estrogen to its list of known cancer-causing agents. The group said there’s strong evidence linking the hormone to breast, endometrial, prostate, and uterine cancers. Now please be clear: It’s not the natural hormone by itself that causes problems…

In study findings published in the April 1, 2003 Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, lead study author Dr. Hari Bhat found that estrogen had to experience oxidation in order to become carcinogenic. Oxidation is caused by dangerous free radicals that can roam your body and damage otherwise healthy cells. But a type of fake estrogen called xenohormones can cause even more cell damage than the oxidation of your body’s natural estrogen.

Xenohormones are NOT the natural hormones your body makes. They’ve manufactured forms of estrogen that are just about everywhere in the environment. Strictly speaking, these industrial products are not true estrogen, they just mimic the hormone.

We are exposed to them every day and absorb them when we come in contact with industrial products such as:

• Car exhaust
• Carpeting, rugs
• Furniture
• Perfume
• Plastics
• Room deodorizers
• Soaps
• Skincare products

Chemical pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides often contain xenohormones. There’s an almost endless list of sources of these fake hormones or “hormone impersonators.” In America, nearly all livestock (unless organic) are fed estrogenic drugs to fatten them. When you eat the meat, you’re eating the hormones as well.

So what can we do? 

Well, nature comes to the rescue again! A number of studies support the idea that DIM (short for di-indolyl methane) may be one of the most effective nutrients for the prevention and treatment of breast, prostate, colon and pancreatic cancers. DIM increases your excretion of harmful estrogen! 

According to the National Cancer Institute, this nutrient is abundant in a variety of vegetables including:

• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Brussel sprouts
• Cabbage
• Collard, mustard, and kale greens
• Watercress

DIM has a unique ability to choke and starve cancer cells by cutting off their feeding tube.

How so? Well, in order for cancer cells to grow and thrive, they need a continuous blood supply. In fact, cancers use a process called angiogenesis to create their own blood supply. Preventing angiogenesis is a major aim of cancer treatment and DIM can help. A study published in the May, 2008 Biochemical Pharmacology Journal showed that DIM actually stops tumors from completing this process that will create a tumor’s blood supply.

Researchers also found that using DIM increased the oxygen level of tumor cells. As you might know, cancer cells HATE oxygen! Cancer thrives best in cells that have oxygen deficiencies.

So, let’s all get in 3-5 servings per week of these powerful Cruciferous vegetables! Except for kale and watercress (which are wonderful in salads) it’s best to eat these lightly steamed. Enjoy nature’s cancer answer and buy Organic! 

Your Environment

Since so many of these xenoestrogens come from our environment, it’s wise to start to clean up the space you live in. This may take time, so take baby steps. If you have carpet, replace it with non-toxic flooring like tile, replace your skin products with non-toxic products (check out www.ewg.org “Skin Deep” recommendations), use an air filter in your bedroom, use a water filter and do not use plastic water bottles, and throw out room deodorizers. 

Lowering your body’s “total toxic load” and then supporting your body with foods and supplements that help it detoxify, can greatly enhance your excretion of bad estrogens!