Today is about how xenoestrogens are impacting fibroids. So you may be wondering what they are.
Let me explain by breaking the word down into two:
1. Xeno – Foreign.
2. Estrogen – A female hormone.
Putting it together, they are foreign chemicals that are plant-derived or synthetically created that act as estrogen in the body by mimicking it or interfering with it. This means they can behave like estrogen in your body.
This is how they operate:
đź“Ś By binding to estrogen receptors:
Let me explain what receptors are so you can get a clearer picture. They are proteins on or inside cells that bind to specific molecules, such as hormones (e.g., estrogen), neurotransmitters, or drugs. When they bind, they trigger a response in the cell.
đź“Ś Increasing total estrogenic activity (there is now an excess in the body to feed fibroid cells).
đź“Ś Disrupting normal hormone signaling or operations. This then leads to:
Increasing estrogen signalling or messaging in the body by activating estrogen receptors in the uterine tissue. This just means more estrogen activity in the body and available to feed fibroids.
đź“Ś Stimulating fibroid cell growth.
This is because Fibroid cells often have more estrogen receptors than normal uterine cells. Remember what receptors are and do. More estrogen is clinging to receptors to feed them.
đź“Ś Disrupting hormone balance.
There should be a balance between estrogen and progesterone in normal circumstances. They can alter estrogen metabolism, favouring more potent and harmful forms.
The truth is that there’s “good and bad estrogen” – It’s the bad ones that lead to fibroids. 2-Hydroxyestrone and 16α-hydroxyestrone are the major metabolites that are considered harmful in layman’s terms. The 2-OH being the good one and 16OHE1 being the culprit in fibroids, Breast cancer, endometriosis, etc. There must be a higher ratio, meaning less of the bad 16OHE1.
Many xenoestrogens result in:
Promoting 16α-hydroxylation the bad one (16OHE1) while suppressing 2-hydroxylation, the good one.
This results in:
Lower 2/16 ratio, which leads to more biologically active estrogen lingering in tissue and feeding fibroid. This is why, as women, we must reduce our exposure to xenoestrogens. Flee from overuse of plastic e.g., putting hot food or drinks in plastic, heating food or drinks in the microwave in plastic. Stop spraying fragrances in your body, use chemical free or natural health & beauty products. This becomes even more important if there’s a history of fibroids or cancer in the family.
‼️The scary part is that even weak estrogen-like signals can matter when exposure is constant. Think of compounding or the long-term effect.
About 20 years ago, thanks to a Pap smear, pre-cancerous cells were discovered in my cervix and removed. Thank God that He warned me about my diet, as I am not sure where I’d be if I had continued my careless eating. So I got the knowledge to eat foods that balance estrogen, promote the healthy one, keep the cervix healthy, and ensure that the metabolism of estrogen goes in the right pathway for 2-OH. I also take and still take supplements for a healthy cervix.
đź“Ś Promoting inflammation.
Inflammation is the root cause of almost all diseases! Inflammation supports fibroid growth and blood supply! You must eat a powerful anti-inflammatory diet, which entails staying away from refined foods and eating whole foods. I think I’ll share the anti-inflammatory diet next time. You want to age well, eat that diet.
Now let’s take a look at sources of xenoestrogens that you should watch out for, because, unknown to you, you are being exposed daily:
1. Plastics and Chemicals:
📍 BPA, which can be found in plastic bottles and food containers. The BPA in these plastic leach into the liquids or foods in them. This happens when the content in the containers is hot or acidic, or the containers are compromised. You know those orange or red colours you see that are permanent stains, well, that’s due to compromised containers.
đź“Ť Phthalates are found in cosmetics, fragrances, and soft plastics.
📍 PFAS, e.g., non-stick Teflon cookware, and food wrappers. I don’t cook with Teflon non-stick pots . There are healthier ones that are not Teflon, but are more expensive.
đź“Ť Personal care products (health & beauty).
Parabens, e.g., lotions, petroleum jelly, bath gels, shampoos.
đź“Ť Synthetic fragrances or perfumes. Be careful how you dab perfumes and fragrances on your body.
‼️ Stop applying talcum powders to your down below or body. Don’t apply to your baby’s bum, etc., especially females. Talc is implicated in OVARIAN CANCER. That’s why many women sued Johnson’s and Johnson’s.
2. Food and Environment.
Food can be medicine or poison. Sadly, most produce is grown with these horrible pesticides.
đź“Ť Pesticides and herbicides.
That’s why it’s much safer to buy organic produce when you can get it. If not, thoroughly clean them by soaking them in vinegar water or aluminium-free baking soda.
đź“Ť Industrial pollutants.
đź“Ť Some preservatives are in food and non-food products.
So what’s the problem with them?
These compounds are lipophilic (fat-loving), so they:
đź“Ť Accumulate in body fat.
đź“Ť Persist long-term.
đź“Ť Continuously stimulate estrogen receptors.
It’s time we become very proactive about protecting our hormones !!!
Let me add that being overweight makes us more vulnerable to estrogen dominance.
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