At What Cost: Everyday Health Choices
By Arielle Shipe
May 21, 2020
Abstract
Sometimes it is hard to discern what products we should buy and why. Is organic produce really worth the extra cost? Does it matter what kind of deodorant you use? Is eating out of plastic really bad for you? While there are always many factors to weigh in decision making, something important to consider is endocrine disrupting chemicals and their impact on your long-term health. Perhaps the questions we should all be asking ourselves instead are: In choosing this product am I making an investment in my long-term health? And if not, at what cost?
At What Cost: Everyday Health Choices
Have you ever found yourself wondering if organic produce is really worth the extra money? Is your hippie cousin Sally actually crazy for trying to get you to switch your deodorant from the store brand to one from the natural food store? Is eating/drinking out of plastic containers really as bad as they say it is? These, among many other similar questions, are totally valid given that most of us seek to live long, healthy lives and making these changes would require you to give up not only some convenience/familiarity but, in many cases, they affect your sacred pocketbook. While each person’s individual answer will be subjective, there is info you may find really helpful in making your decision; the keyword for this conversation is “Endocrine Disrupters.”
Before we break down each individual question, it’s important to understand what endocrine disrupters are. Endocrine disrupters are chemicals (natural and man-made) that “mimic or interfere with the body’s hormones” and they “are linked with developmental, reproductive, brain, immune, and other problems” (Endocrine Disruptors, n.d.). While the FDA has set approved levels for these chemicals in these everyday products, there is limited scientific information about the effects of these chemicals on humans, especially when we take into account the multiple exposures we are all subjecting ourselves to on a daily basis (Endocrine Disruptors, n.d.). It’s important to understand that your endocrine system is extremely sensitive and that even small changes “can cause significant developmental and biological effects. This observation leads scientists to think that endocrine-disrupting chemical exposures, even at low amounts, can alter the body’s sensitive systems and lead to health problems” (Endocrine Disruptors, n.d.).
So, is organic produce worth the extra money? “In four separate clinic trails, people who switched from conventional to organic foods saw a rapid and dramatic reduction their urinary pesticide concentrations, a marker of pesticide exposure” (EWG Science Team, 2020). Many pesticides fall into the category of endocrine disrupters and there is research that connects pesticide exposure in adolescence with a host of issues including pediatric cancers, decreased cognitive function, and behavioral problems (EWG Science Team, 2020). If it’s not financially viable with your current finances to completely switch to organic you may find the “Clean 15” and “Dirty Dozen” lists (found here: https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/summary.php) to be a helpful resource in reducing your pesticide exposure. Either way, according to the research, the “investment” in organic produce can also be a big investment in your long-term health.
Next, let’s talk deodorant and why it might be worth the switch. Our skin is our largest organ and we absorb everything that we put on it. Most deodorant options (or all skincare products for that matter) you see stocked at your regular supermarket are made from endocrine disrupting chemicals. When it comes to deodorant the three main culprits are: parabens, triclosan, and phthalates (Blossom, 2016). Parabens and Triclosan are known to mimic estrogen and there are links from higher estrogen counts to breast cancer which gives us good reason to have caution (Blossom, 2016). Luckily, there are many more natural options popping up every day and are becoming so mainstream you may not even have to venture into a health food store to find them. Just check the labels for these main disruptors. Since natural products are “in” these days make sure you check the labels of all brands, including those with “natural” on the label. You may be surprised what you find in products marketed as natural!
Lastly, we have plastics. With the environmental impacts of single-use plastics aside, there is good reason that the health impacts of eating or drinking out of plastic containers has started to come up more and more in common conversations. Most people know that BPA (Bisophenol A), a common chemical used to create plastic, is an endocrine disruptor. In fact, “in response to consumer fears about BPA, plastic makers are already marketing a wide variety of BPA-free products” (Hamilton, 2018). While that might sound like a step in the right direction, the chemicals being used as an alternate may not be any more promising. According to a new University of Guelph study “BPA's counterpart replacement BPS can hinder heart function within minutes of a single exposure” (University of Guelph, 2020). In fact, according to biomedical sciences professor Glen Pyle, "This replacement chemical seems to be more potent"(University of Guelph, 2020). While it may not always be an option, switching to glass containers can safeguard you from the potential risks associated with plastics, BPA-free or not.
When it comes to making choices around the produce we buy and products we use, the endocrine disrupting chemicals definitely give us a bit more to consider than just convenience and cost. Instead of all the questions addressed in this blog post, perhaps the questions we should all be asking ourselves are: In choosing this product am I making an investment in my long-term health? And if not, at what cost?
References
Blossom, S. (2016, October 23). Top 3 Endocrine Disruptors Found in Your Deodorant. Retrieved from https://www.ekcdeodorant.com/blog/top-3-endocrine-disruptors-found-in-your-deodorant/
Endocrine Disruptors. (n.d.). Retrieved May 19, 2020, from https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/endocrine/index.cfm
EWG Science Team. (2020, March 25). EWG's 2020 Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce™. Retrieved from https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/summary.php
Hamilton, J. (2018, February 23). Plastic Additive BPA Not Much Of A Threat, Government Study Finds. Retrieved from https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/02/23/588356360/plastic-additive-bpa-not-much-of-a-threat-government-study-finds
University of Guelph. (2020, January 9). BPA replacement, BPS, hinders heart function, study reveals. ScienceDaily. Retrieved May 19, 2020 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/01/200109130211.htm