Chemicals and Menopause

Menopausal symptoms are happening earlier and are becoming more severe.  We are experiencing more profound and longer negative manifestations of the “change of life” than our mothers and grandmothers despite better medical care.  There may be a clear reason – chemicals.

According to a study from Washington University in St. Louis, Mo. there is a definite relationship between earlier onset and longer menopause and the amount of chemicals found in a woman’s body.

Our generation is being touted as the greatest science experiment ever.  Chemicals are on our food, in our water, and on our lawns.   Round-up is so popular for weed removal that even if I don’t use it and/or my neighbours don’t use it, it’s spread onto my yard through ground water.  We routinely pick up dangerous insecticides up on our bare feet as we walk or through our hand as we innocently garden.  Additionally, no matter how we wash or what we buy chemicals are in and on our foods. Is organic really organic?…Nope, because of what already in the soil,  “organic” can be just has chemically dangerous as what isn’t classified as organic.  I drink chemicals, they leech into my water from the plastic bottle,  they come through my tap, and they rain onto my head during those wonderful summer storms. Don’t even get me started on our nail polish, hair color and make-up- have you read the ingredients in those?

The 2009 CDC report on Human Exposure to Environment Chemicals, tracked and found 437 chemicals routinely found in the average American’s urine, blood and spit, in a terrifying 529-page report.  Oh, by the way, CDC just updated that report with another 27 chemicals.  I am a walking, talking 7th-grade science experiment.

Solutions:  There are many, among them:

• Use a filter system for my water and fill my own carry along container.
• The best cleaners are the ones that are homemade.  If you have lemons, baking soda, borax, vinegar, rubbing alcohol, you have everything you need for a clean home without adding to the petri dish that is you.
• To borrow a phrase from the ‘80’s, Just Say No to Perfect Lawns.Don’t kill weeds, eat them.   Most of the plants we try to kill are wonderfully nutritious.  Don’t use insecticides.
• When possible eat organic foods but don’t be lulled into thinking they are safe, they are just safer.  They still require careful washing.
• And while we are saying “NO”, we have to say “no” to foods that have more than five ingredients.  Say no to foods that are filled with chemicals that you can’t pronounce.

If that’s hard to do, remember that autism, learning disorders, hormonal problems and neurological disorders are on the rise and that rise matches the rise of chemicals in our body.  Don’t believe me, believe the CDC.

What can you do to reduce the amount of chemicals in your body down?

 

As always,

Beth