Woman Code - Xenoestrogens
The book Woman Code by author Alisa Vitti, has been very influential and helpful in guiding females to living a more hormonally balanced lifestyle. The more aware we are of how the body functions, and what it needs to thrive and survive, the more we can naturally nourish the temple we were all given. It is so important that women have an involved understanding of their bodies, especially when it comes to reproductive and hormonal health. Women’s health information has only been studied and recognized for eighty years, compared to other health-oriented interests.
Women are encouraged to ” connect to their feminine energy” but there’s a big difference between what society thinks of that, and what we really should be doing. People subconsciously continue the generational stigma of creating a mindset that women should always be perceived as “perfect and flawless”. We are expected to maintain a balanced outlook using cosmetics and products, and sadly, be in competition with one another. However, what no one ever talks about is that there are synthetic hormones known as Xenoestrogen hidden in everyday items and products. Even worse, the FDA does not screen cosmetics and hygiene products, and allows hundreds of untested substances and chemicals to be added. Xenoestrogen acts as estrogen, but it causes an imbalance to the endocrine system once entered into the body. The skin is the most absorbent part of the body, yet that is where we put the most harmful chemicals. If society could change their mindset and understand that we are beautiful without having to be exposed to chemicals.
There are a plethora of ways to attain a more healthy mind and body that starts right in your own home. First thing is to go through your cosmetics and hygienic products, and look for on the labels for xenoestrogen chemicals such as:
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)
- Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate (SLES),
- Parabens including methyl, propyl, butyl, and ethyl, and petrolatum.
Throw these items out! These ingredients are used as emulsifiers and agents that make the products malleable. (And most importantly make sure the companies do not test on animals).
Next step is to go through the pantry, cupboards, and refrigerator and look at the nutrition labels and remove ones that are high in sugar, calories, corn syrup, sodium, and other less healthy ingredients. Learning how to control cravings, portions, and exercise the importance of a well balanced diet, will ultimately improve moods and energy levels. A majority of American citizens are “overfed but undernourished”. People are not getting enough nutrients from their diet and water intake, that their bodies cannot operate as efficiently and effectively as we expect it to.
When shopping for food, organic is always a good choice because it is the same as the generic brands, but does not include genetically modified ingredients or added chemicals. You should always buy organic when it comes to fruits and vegetables that you do not have to peel because of the farming pesticides that are sprayed on them. Blueberries, strawberries, melons, peppers, all leafy greens, and all kinds of root veggies like potatoes contain a high number of pesticides on them and need to be thoroughly washed before eating. As well as soaking the veggies and fruits in vinegar helps to get any small bugs or larva eggs out. When it comes to animal meats and proteins, make sure that they are coming from locally grass fed places that do not use growth hormones, and come from owners that treat their livestock with care and dignity.
Lastly, analyze the medications that you take daily, and if possible and is safe to do, slowly wean off of them by turning over to homeopathic remedies and tracking the cycle of your body. Oftentimes doctors and specialists will simply try to cover up symptoms with prescriptions, but not actually pinpoint and get down to the bottom of the exact root imbalance and issue; it’s as if you were to put a bandaid over a cancer cell and call it good. Gynecologists often put young females on birth control to “help” regulate their cycle, yet it can be very harmful to their delicate endocrine system. Birth control can imbalance progesterone and estrogen, and also affect fertility later on in life.
Finding out what methods work for you is going to allow your body to naturally strengthen itself and stay balanced for long periods of time. Being mindful of how we use, and what we put into our bodies will be the fuel for your own self improvement; and it all starts with you. There are so many ways that you can avoid and control health setbacks without the help of a licensed person, you just have to be open minded to all the opportunities out there and do your research. Taking care of yourself and your life will be the biggest achievement you can reach. Learn to love your body and everything it does for you, take care of it, and listen to it.