What are endocrine disruptors? Guest post by Dawn Parker, integrative Nutrition Health Coach

​Note from Liz: Dawn Parker and I met through our mutual interest in health and wellness and because we both operate our businesses in Zionsville, Indiana (and are part of a networking group for women Zionsville Women in Network- ZWIN). I am grateful to have met Dawn and enjoy hearing how the work she does with her clients is changing lives and empowering people to be deliberate about their health choices. I'm excited for her to share with all of you what endocrine disruptors are, why they matter to your health and fertility, and about an upcoming opportunity to increase your knowledge about this topic and change your own life for the better. 

Many of the chemicals we are exposed to everyday in this country are carcinogens, which are cancer causing, or neurotoxins, which are toxic to the brain. But many are also endocrine disruptors, that can have a profound impact on our health. The endocrine system is a complex network of glands and hormones that regulates many of your body’s functions including metabolism, growth, development and reproduction. 

The endocrine glands include:
                • Pituitary
                • Thyroid
                • Adrenals
                • Thymus
                • Pancreas
                • Ovaries
                • Testes

Endocrine disruptors can affect any of the above glands. They are thought to work in the following ways:
                • Mimic naturally occurring hormones in the body like estrogens (female sex hormones),      androgens (male sex hormones), and thyroid hormones.
                • Bind to a receptor thereby blocking your body’s natural hormone from binding. 
                • Interfere or block the way natural hormones or their receptors are made or controlled, for example, by altering their metabolism in the liver.

They can produce adverse developmental, reproductive, neurological, and immune effects in both humans and wildlife. According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, they can cause:
                • Fertility issues
                • Abnormalities in male reproductive organs
                • Early puberty
                • Breast, ovarian, and prostate cancers
                • Increases in immune and autoimmune diseases
                • Neurodegenerative diseases

So obviously it makes sense to do our best to avoid endocrine disruptors. If you want to learn more about this topic, please join me on a month long journey to learn more about where these chemicals lurk in your life and simple tips to reduce your exposure. Course content will be shared daily in a private Facebook where you can read the posts each day at a time that is convenient for you. There is also the opportunity to comment and ask questions on each day’s topic. Areas covered will be food, toxins in our home’s water and air, cleaning products, personal hygiene products as well as many items around the home like cookware, candles, flooring and more. The program is only $40 and runs for one month starting on January 15th.

This is a great time of year to “clean house” and make healthy changes. For more information see the Facebook event here. And to register, go here. 

About the writer:
Dawn Parker is an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach who helps people look and feel their best through nutrition changes, stress reduction strategies, better sleep, reducing toxins and other lifestyle changes.
 
 Dawn does private coaching both in her office in Zionsville and remotely via Skype. She works with clients wanting to eat healthier and those with chronic health conditions, such as autoimmune disease, digestive disorders, thyroid disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, migraines, joint pain, allergies, asthma, food intolerances and more. She is the author of the cookbook, “The Healthy Chocoholic” full of healthy chocolate recipes, free of gluten and dairy. 

(Above) Dawn Parker