Our endocrine system is made up of all of the organs and glands that produce, manage, and release hormones. It includes the brain, thyroid, adrenals, pancreas, and more.

Endocrine disruptors are things that interfere with the endocrine system and the normal function of our hormones.

And unfortunately, endocrine (or hormone) distruports are found pretty regularly in a lot of common household products and goods.

So, let’s go through some of the most common hormone disruptors that you should get rid of.

Soy

Soy has a major impact on our hormones, especially how estrogen functions within the body. This is why soy is on my no-eat list for anyone managing hypothyroidism! 

And while it can be pretty obvious that this means not eating tofu or soy sauce, soy is a sneaky ingredient that shows up in a lot of processed and prepared foods. Always make sure to check the nutrition labels for any soy products.

Gluten

Largely because gluten is so inflammatory, it really impacts our hormones, especially our thyroid hormones. This is another sneaky ingredient that shows up in a lot of prepared and processed and foods.

The best way to avoid gluten is to prepare home-cooked meals that use whole vegetables, organic proteins, and good fats. But, if you do want to grab some ready-made items, here’s a list of some great gluten-free snacks. 

Sugar

Similar to gluten, sugar is really inflammatory, and this inflammation can mess up or altogether block our hormones. 

Plastic food containers

Yep, that’s right! It’s not just the food you eat, but how you store and eat it that matters.

A lot of plastic containers have something called BPA that is a known hormone disruptor, that especially bogs down the thyroid. 

Instead of plastic, I recommend investing in some glass storage containers. They last longer, freeze and microwave well, and they’re way better for you.

Pro tip: If you can’t afford to buy new glass containers, go to your local thrift store as they always seem to have a ton of them floating around! 

Check out my FREE Thyroid-Friendly Toxin-Free Guide for more information on removing toxins and hormone disruptors from your household items.

Hormonal birth control

This one is tough because there are so many reasons why a woman might need or want to be on hormonal birth control.

But at the end of the day, their entire purpose is to disrupt our hormones. For example, the pill is made up of synthetic estrogen and progesterone whose job is to stop you from ovulating. 

If you’re trying to get your hormones under control, I really recommend talking to your doctor about other options, whether its for actual birth control or to manage another health concern.

Unfiltered tap water 

Tap water has a lot of inclusions and chemicals that are not great for our endocrine system. I always recommend filtering it before drinking it! You could get a jug with the filter or the one that attaches to the sink, either are great options. 

So, those are 6 common endocrine disruptors that you should get rid of.

If that seems like too much to change at once, just start small! Start with the foods you’re eating and refocus your diet. Then, start making the lifestyle changes that will help even more.

If you have questions about any of this or want to start working on a personalized approach to getting your hormones back on track, please reach out to me.