Let’s face it, in this modern day and age we often find ourselves surrounded by and exposed to a plethora of toxins and chemicals every day.

Some of these toxins and environmental chemicals are more harmful to us than others and could be affecting health more than you think, including your hormones.

These chemicals are known as obesogens and without being properly broken down by our systems or safely excreted, they can have a negative impact on our health and are often stored in the cells, creating further damage.

What are obesogens?

Obesogens are environmental toxins or chemicals that disrupt fat metabolism and cause weight gain, hormonal imbalances, brain fog, fatigue, irritability, headaches and migraines, and inflammatory symptoms like joint pain.

Why are they harmful?

Many of these environmental toxins or chemicals are xenoestrogens, which mimic our body’s natural hormone function and cause irregularities and imbalances.

Exposure to these toxins also put a considerable burden on our liver function, and for many women, their livers are already under great strain and pressure.

Where are they found?

Obesogens are lurking everywhere!

We encounter obesogens in the food we eat, the water we drink, the air we breathe, and even the personal care and household products we buy. They may even be present on our living room rugs and furniture!

Here are just a few examples of everyday products that we consume or use that may contain obesogens:

• Perfume
• Highly processed and preserved foods
• Plastic water bottles and storage containers
• Make-up, hair and skincare products
• Soaps, detergents and other laundry products
• Dry cleaning agents and household cleaners
• Deodorants
• Flame retardants applied to furniture and furnishings including mattresses, carpets, curtains, and fabric blinds.

Perfume is the most unassuming yet harmful product that most women use every day that affects hormones.

Scents are often filled with many different xenoestrogens which impact hormonal balance. This is because perfume is often sprayed on the thyroid area, and as the thyroid is a tissue gland it absorbs many of these toxins.

Ways to eliminate obesogens from your life

Make your home a low-tox environment

Do a chemical cleanout.

There are many inexpensive eco-friendly brands now available with all-natural ingredients easily found at local supermarkets.

Also avoid heating food in plastic containers — opt for beeswax wrap to cover food and use Pyrex bowls instead of plastic.

The Think Dirty app is a great resource for women to use to distinguish what products are best when it comes to toxicity.

Invest in a glass or stainless steel drink bottle

Besides protecting yourself from toxins, you’ll be doing Mother Nature a favour by switching to a stainless steel drink bottle.

Plastic water bottles, especially when left in the car on a hot day, breakdown over time and seep into the water we drink, so do away with them and opt for a safe refillable vessel instead.

Support your detoxification pathways

Enabling detoxification means supporting your skin, liver, kidneys, gut, lungs and bowel.

Here are some things you can do to help:

• Ensure you drink plenty of water daily
• Eat fresh organic or biodynamic fruit and vegetables where possible, including growing your own veggies and choosing grass-fed meats, free-range eggs and poultry along with wild-caught seafood
• Add Happy Healthy You’s Happy Liver to your diet. With breakfast, lunch and dinner, this supplement will assist with overall liver function and provide the body with the support it needs to metabolise and clear these toxins from the body more efficiently
• Exercise 30 minutes a day to improve your lymphatic flow
• Start dry body brushing
• Uses an infrared sauna when possible
• Use essential oils as your perfume instead.

Make a bowel motion every single day

Fibre binds to obesogens and pooping daily ensures they leave your system and don’t recirculate.

For further information or advice, connect with me via the Happy Healthy You Community groups or listen in to the Happy Healthy You Podcast.