Many of us know all about estrogen, testosterone, cortisol, and other hormones in the body; and yet if you asked 50 people on the street what the endocrine system is, we’re willing to bet most folks would be stumped.
The endocrine system is a system of glands, organs, and tissues distributed throughout the body, which are in charge of creating and releasing hormones (like the ones mentioned above) to maintain countless bodily functions, including metabolism, blood pressure, electrolyte balance, sexual function, reproduction, sleep, and mood.1 So, basically everything.
When certain chemicals, so called “endocrine disruptors,” enter the system, they can interfere with the body’s hormones, and so disrupt these important bodily functions.2 While encountering some level of these endocrine disruptors is pretty much unavoidable, there are ways you can reduce your exposure, as well as give your endocrine system a little boost with nutrition, supplements, and lifestyle changes.
Before we get into what you can do to help your endocrine system, let’s learn a little more about it.
Meet Your Endocrine System
If you haven’t read our detailed endocrine system explainer, we’ll break it down for you here. The endocrine system is made up of glands, organs, and tissues. Here’s how it breaks down:
The Organs in the Endocrine System:
- Hypothalamus: This little guy is located deep in the brain and links the endocrine system and nervous system. It makes oxytocin and vasopressin, as well as dopamine and somatostatin.
- Pancreas: The pancreas is both an organ and a gland located in the back of your belly. It releases insulin and glucagon, essential for maintaining healthy blood sugar levels.
- Adipose tissue: A.K.A., body fat. Fun fact: Body fat is important and releases many different hormones including leptin, angiotensin, and adiponectin. (Give them a Google.)
- Ovaries: These little oval-shaped glands produce the sex hormones that control a female’s menstrual cycle and pregnancy.
- Testicles: Testicles are responsible for producing sperm and sex hormones in males, particularly testosterone.
The Glands in the Endocrine System:
- The pineal gland: Located in the brain, this gland is responsible for producing melatonin, the “sleep hormone.” (Also, fun fact, the pineal gland is what many yogis refer to as the “third eye” or “mind’s eye.”3)
- Pituitary gland: This gland is located at the base of the brain and is responsible for releasing eight “B-List,” but still very important, hormones.
- Thyroid: The thyroid is a little butterfly-shaped gland at the front of the neck, which produces the hormones that control your metabolism.
- Parathyroid glands: These four pea-sized glands are located behind the thyroid and release a hormone which controls the amount of calcium in your blood.
- Adrenal glands: The adrenals sit on top of your kidneys and release several hormones that have to do with metabolism, blood pressure, and perhaps most famously, stress response.
The Tissues in the Endocrine System:
- Digestive tract: The stomach and small intestine are also part of the endocrine system; they make and release several hormones involved in metabolism.
- Kidneys: The kidneys are responsible for filtering blood. We mostly think of the kidneys as involved in the urinary system, but they also produce hormones.
- Liver: Even the liver produces hormones.
- Heart: Even the heart produces hormones called A-type and B-type natriuretic peptides.
- Placenta: If you get pregnant, your endocrine system will gain a temporary organ (wild right?) called the placenta. This produces hormones that are vital for maintaining a healthy pregnancy and prepping the body for your baby.
What Disrupts My Endocrine System?
Now that we’ve discovered that the endocrine system includes just about everything and seems to play a role in every bodily function, let’s take a look at the things that can disrupt these important functions.
Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are both human-made and natural. These chemicals block or interfere with the body’s hormones, and can ultimately lead to health issues. You’ll find these chemicals in so many things it’s alarming: cosmetic products, foods and beverages, toys, carpets, pesticides, and flame retardants. Unfortunately, even if you avoid all of these things, you’ll still encounter these chemicals in the air, water, through your skin, or even in the plants or meats you eat.
Endocrine Disruptor Examples
We’re not going to list all possible endocrine disruptors here, but we’ll give you a handful of the most common and well-studied.4
(Please note, any and all of these would make great punk band names.)
Brominated flame retardants (BFRs): These human-made chemicals are used in clothing, electronics, and in furniture and mattresses to reduce flammability. We can become exposed to these as they can essentially leak out of their products over time into the air we breathe or onto the food we eat.
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs): These are also non-flammable chemicals. They have been banned by the EPA since the late 70s, however, they’re still present in insulation, electrical equipment, caulking, oil-based paint, and more. They have been known to cause neurological disorders.
Phthalates: These chemicals are found in foods and beverage containers and plastic wraps, among other things, which means they can contaminate your food. Phthalates interfere with hormone production, most notably testosterone. Phthalates are usually identified on the product label, so look out for (and avoid) products with these initials: BBP, DBP, DEHP, DEP, DiDP, DiNP, DnHP, and DnOP.
Bisphenol A (BPA): This chemical can be found in water bottles and other plastic containers, contaminating water or other foods. It has been known to reduce egg quality and fertility.
Lead: Lead is a neurological toxicant and has been linked to female reproductive issues. It has been banned since the late 70s in the U.S., however products that are older or manufactured in other countries may still contain lead.
Cadmium: This natural element is used in batteries, pigments, plastics, and coatings. It’s also known as a carcinogen, pollutant, and EDC, negatively impacting the reproductive system.
Pesticides and herbicides: Pesticides and herbicides like Chlorpyrifos, DDT, and Atrazine are known endocrine disruptors, and have been linked to the development of ADHD, reproductive issues, certain cancers, obesity, and cognitive disorders.
PFA chemicals: PFAs are chemicals used to repel oil or water on things like cookware, carpets, or textiles.
Why Are Endocrine Disruptors So Dangerous?
Anything that disrupts your body’s ability to produce hormones has the ability to wreak havoc on almost everything you do, from sleep to sex. We have over 50 hormones, each of which is vital, and these chemicals can throw them out of whack, leading to cognitive disorders, immune system issues, metabolic disorders, preterm birth, and all sorts of reproductive issues.2
Ways To Support Your Endocrine System
This all seems pretty bleak, so let’s go ahead and get to the good news. The good news is: there are ways you can support your endocrine system.
First, you can support this system from the inside out. According to Cleveland Clinic, the best ways to keep your endocrine system healthy include: regular exercise, eating healthy, nutritious foods; getting good quality sleep, avoiding alcohol and smoking, and maintaining a healthy weight.1
Supplements like vitamin C, iodine, and folic acid (a type of B vitamin) have also been shown to help give the endocrine system a boost.6
We recommend FLO Endocrine Superfood Powder, specifically formulated to help your endocrine system’s health. It includes iodine, a powerful B complex, as well as Rhodiola, L-Theanine, Artichoke Leaf Extract, and DIM to help support stress response, menstrual cycle health, weight management, and energy.
How To Avoid Endocrine Disruptors
You can also support your endocrine system by avoiding EDCs whenever possible.- Don’t eat or drink from a can
- Avoid plastic containers or bottles
- Limit fast foods and processed foods
- Eat organic, fresh produce whenever you possibly can
- Use a water filter that is certified to remove certain chemicals
- Look out for labels when choosing home (or face) products that indicate it’s EDC-free
So yes, endocrine disruptors may be unavoidable as long as you’re eating, drinking, and you know, breathing. But you can limit your exposure to the worst of them by being aware of the products you buy and the foods and beverages you consume.
A note on sex and gender: Sex and gender exists on spectrums, and this article uses terms like “male” or “female” to refer to sex assigned at birth. Learn more.
References:
- Endocrine System: What It Is, Function, Organs & Diseases
- Endocrine Disruptors
- The Third Eye and Pineal Gland Connection
- Common EDCs and Where They Are Found | Endocrine Society
- Hormones: What They Are, Function & Types
- Dietary changes can reduce exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals, FIGO study shows | Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment
