If you’re over 40, a woman, and have thyroid or autoimmune issues or symptoms like foggy thinking, trouble losing weight, fatigue, hair loss, digestive problems, and pain, you may not be aware that there are about 11 possible causes of your symptoms and health conditions. Last time we talked about genetics and what part it plays. Today we are digging in deeper to toxins.
Toxins can include chemicals in the air, water, and food, environment, skincare and beauty products, cleaning supplies, etc.
These can be in the air and environment – you may think about it more when you breathing in gas fumes when you’re getting gas in your car or even artificial fragrances if you go into a specialty candle or bath store or maybe around someone who doesn’t realize how much perfume they’re wearing.
Let’s talk about the skincare products you use.. Women tend to use 80% more cosmetics, skincare, moisturizers, lotions, perfumes, and hair products than men. And we are getting ready to jump into summer in a few months so most of us use some type of suntan lotion, right?
If that’s you, I suggest you look at your labels. Just like I talk about looking at food labels, reading your skincare or makeup labels or hair products or deodorants, etc. is significant as well. Did you know your skin is like a giant sponge, absorbing everything you put on it.
I don’t know about you, but I get headaches and feel nauseous if I’m near artificial fragrances like in perfumes, cleansers, bath products, and even shampoos with artificial fragrances and chemicals.
Why is this a big deal especially if you’re a woman (although not good for men either)?
These chemicals are endocrine disrupters. They interfere with normal functioning of your endocrine system which controls most of your hormones. So if you use products having these disruptors, then your hormone levels could be increased or decreased – and not in the way you want them to be. (Endocrine disruptors are in a lot of products and foods. We may have to do a deeper dive on that topic at a later date.)
So basically they affect your hormones. And no one no matter your age wants that to happen. And many women I work with are over 40, in perimenopause or menopause. Because some have estrogen dominance or some have low estrogen (which can happen with thyroid or autoimmune issues as well) do you really want something as “simple” as a perfume or your shampoo to affect your hormones, your body and mind even more?
In addition, long-term exposure to hormone disruptors may lead to estrogen dominance, infertility, adrenal imbalances, obesity and metabolic issues, diabetes, and certain types of cancers.
Note – There are clean brands out there that don’t cost an arm and a leg that you can use instead.
So what can you do? Here are 2 ideas:
First, check your current products and see how they rate. There’s a site called the environmental working group you can access at their website ewg.org. You can enter your product and see where it places on the scale of toxins, fragrances, allergies, etc.
Second, gradually start replacing the more toxic products. Pick one item this month to replace which will help make it easier financially and emotionally so you’re not so overwhelmed. Or the easiest step is when you run out of your current product, simply replace it with a healthier one. (You can look at healthier options on the ewg.org site.)
So I hope that helps you see one factor you do have control over. You don’t have control over your genetics like we talked about last week although knowing where you began is so important.
But you do have control over what skincare, beauty products, hair products, etc. you put on your body. So be your own advocate and find healthier options.
I like this simple analogy. Think of your body and mind, your life as a giant bucket. If it’s filled up with more of the good things than the bad things, then your health will be optimal – physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
And that’s what I want for all of you, and I’m sure you want that for yourself as well.
Leah Cheshire is a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach and a speech-language pathologist. She has been in the medical and health field for over 30 years. Due to her own health issues – losing 3 babies to miscarriages, later being diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis (an autoimmune disease), and digestive issues including SIBO, parasites, and IBS, she began a holistic journey to find alternative ways to improve her energy and digestion, optimize her thyroid functioning, and have better overall health. This led her to return to school to become a health and wellness coach with advanced training. She works primarily with women over 40 who have autoimmune, thyroid, and digestive issues using nutrition and lifestyle modifications. If you’d like a FREE 20-minute discovery call to see if you’d be a good fit to work together, click here to schedule that consult.
