In our previous
clinical insights article on the cellular causes of prostate cancer, I discussed why normal prostate cells become cancerous and pointed toward environmental contributors as one of the culprits. There are a group of environmental toxins referred to as endocrine disruptors linked to prostate cancer development and progression. Today, I'd like to discuss where endocrine disruptors are most prevalent, how to reduce exposure, and how to eliminate them from your body when exposure is inevitable.
What are Endocrine Disruptors?
Endocrine disruptors are exogenous substances that interfere with the normal functioning of your body's natural hormones, acting as xenoestrogens (synthetic estrogen) or antiandrogens. Essentially, we are exposed to very low concentrations of multiple endocrine disruptors. The most known are pesticides, insecticides, plastic bottles (polycarbonate, bisphenol), lubricants (which may contain Nonylphenol), plastics, and food packaging.
Bisphenol A
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a common endocrine disruptor and a key ingredient in modern plastics found in the inner lining of canned foods. It may act as a xenoestrogen mimicking estrogen and attach to estrogen receptors by fooling the body into thinking it is endogenous. This process interferes with the normal functioning of hormones and may lead to prostate cancer in men. One study in prostate cancer cells showed that even a low amount of BPA initiated the proliferation of cancer cells (
Wetherill et al. 2002). BPA is found in plastics and canned goods. So, while tomato sauce contains lycopene which is good for fighting prostate cancer, if it comes from a canned source with BPA, the BPA in the sauce may offset its benefits. Also, when plastic bottles, like plastic water bottles, are washed or exposed to heat, BPA chemicals leach into the water, making their way into the body from the contaminated water.
How can you minimize BPA exposure?
Decrease exposure. For example, plastic bottles have a recycling code at the bottom of the bottle that looks like a triangular arrow around a number. Avoid these numbers: 3, 6, and 7. Plastics with these numbers contain BPA.
Here are other tips to minimize Bisphenol A exposure.
- Avoid canned foods. They often lack nutritional value and can have BPA leach into the food. Instead, use a glass container to store food. Note: glass containers do not contain BPA chemicals, but tops used to close glass containers do.
- Avoid purchasing canned salmon or canned sardines in vinyl-lined cans containing BPA. Instead, we recommend contacting the manufacturers of these products to find out which ones use BPA-free cans. If you cannot find BPA-free cans, you may consider purchasing the fish in another (non-canned) form.
- Don't microwave food or drinks in plastic containers—even if they claim to be "microwave safe." Heat can break down plastics and release chemical additives into food and beverages. In addition, microwaves heat unevenly, creating hot spots where the plastic is more likely to break down.
- Don't use plastic containers for hot liquids—only cool liquids, if at all.
- Don’t leave water in plastic bottles in your car on hot summer days.
- Bring your own mug for coffee to the office and your coffee shop and use that instead.
- Bring drinking water from home in glass water bottles instead of buying bottled water.
- Store foods in the freezer in glass mason jars, not plastic bags.
- Use stainless steel or high-heat-resistant nylon for utensils in lieu of plastics.
My Closing Thoughts
Environmental toxins, like BPA, are unavoidable. They are in the food we eat, the water we drink, the air we breathe, and many household items we use daily. Largely invisible, most go undetected and are harmless if exposure is limited. However, we can reduce exposure if you can detect where they are hidden. Lastly, nutritional and herbal support like Milk Thistle, glutathione, and broccoli extract helps the liver to rid the body of environmental toxins you are exposed to. Toxins that the liver (and kidneys) cannot properly filter out of your body can sometimes be expelled through sweating from rigorous physical exercise or saunas. At XY Wellness, we understand the importance of detoxification from environmental exposure, which is why
physical exercise is one of the pillars of our program.