Toxins In Our Home Pt.1
How Our Bodies Are Affected
“Toxic” has been a buzzword in the health community lately. It seems like everything we use has something in it that causes cancer. From our laundry detergent to cleaning sprays, candles, and even personal care products. Most of us have no clue what is in these daily household and beauty products and we also don’t want to know. I won’t sugar coat it - most of the products you use everyday, multiple times a day are damaging your health even if you don’t realize it. Whether you decide you want to switch to cleaner, non-toxic items or hang tight to your trusty chemicals, you should at least know what it means when we say they’re “causing harm to our health.”
The Endocrine System
When it comes to “toxic” products, you will often hear that they harbor endocrine disruptors. The endocrine system regulates all of the biological processes within our bodies, from conception until death. The endocrine disruption happens when the chemicals coming from the products we use interfere with or alter the functions of this system and cause adverse health problems.
Glands
In the brain:
Hypothalamus - controls our nervous system and dictator of hormones - tells the pituitary gland to start & stop producing hormones.
Pituitary Gland - Hormone chef. On the Menu? Growth hormones, Prolactin (helps breastfeeding moms produce milk), Antidiuretic (controls blood pressure), Luteinizing Hormone (manages estrogen in women & testosterone in men), plus more.
Pineal Gland - Makes the good good melatonin.
In the neck:
Thyroid - Makes thyroid hormone - responsible for growth & metabolism.
Parathyroid - Controls bone health and calcium levels.
In between the lungs:
Thymus - Makes white blood cells - crucial for fighting infection, especially in children as they develop an immune system.
On the kidneys:
Adrenals - Creates adrenaline (fight or flight). Affects your metabolism, heart rate, oxygen intake, blood flow, and sexual function.
Organs
Pancreas - Also part of the digestive system - makes digestive enzymes that break down food. Also makes insulin - ensures you have the right amount of sugar in your bloodstream and cells.
Ovaries - Makes estrogen and progesterone in women. Helps develop breasts (I guess mine malfunctioned at puberty), regulates the menstrual cycle, and of course, plays a big role in pregnancy.
Testes - Makes testosterone. Helps regulate libido, sperm production, and assists in muscle mass and fat distribution.
Takeaways
This whole networks purpose is to create the hormones that allow our cells to talk to each other and send messages. It is responsible for nearly every process in the body. When we use products made with harmful ingredients on a regular basis, these chemicals prevent this network from working properly.
Interested in switching out some of your products? Tune in to next weeks newsletter where I discuss some specific products and non-toxic alternatives.
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-Jennell
