These chemical compounds mimic your own hormones and can even alter your genetics. They can also hjack your metabolism and control the systems your body uses to regulate your weight, how calories are used... and how much fat you store.
And while our super-sized appetites for sugar and junk food are largely to blame for the obesity epidemic, there's no doubt that that these tiny chemicals impact our weight... and ultimately our long term health.
Obesogens promote weight dysregulation in three ways:
- Encourage your body to store fat by re-programming cells to become fat cells
- Promote insulin resistance and cause the pancreas to pump more of this "fat storage hormone"
- Prevent release of the appetite-reducing hormone leptin, shutting off the "I'm full" signal
And because these tiny compounds get stored in your fat cells, they aren't easily eliminated. In fact, they can dribble out their "hormonal instructions" for as long as 20 years!
Dr. Bruce Blumberg, professor of biology at UC Irvine says that, "The role of obesogens in fat accumulation raises questions about the effectiveness of just diet and exercise."
And while animal and test tube studies have demonstrated their potent pound-packing ability, a recent human trial confirms it. In fact, participants in the study lost an average of 15 pounds over two weeks - simply by eliminating obesogens!
This was confirmed by a recent conversation I had…
I was talking with a friend, Chris, who is a personal trainer. He specializes in advanced training for athletes. Chris told me he requires the athletes he trains to look at the ingredients in their face and body products (and eliminate those listed as hormonal mimics by the Environmental Working Group).
He said this step alone proved significant changes in his female athletes, especially those who struggle with cellulite (despite a rigorous workout schedule). These athletes were already “eating clean” – but they were still lathering their skin with hormone-mimicking chemicals.
The skin is your body’s largest organ. And nearly everything you spread on it is absorbed into your bloodstream (bypassing detoxification in the liver).
And if you’re under the impression that “a little won’t hurt you,” I have some startling news…
Hormones are extremely potent, with the ability to exert powerful effects in amounts as small as a trillionth of a gram! So, don’t underestimate the effects of applying chemicals to your body that are scientifically proven to mimic your own hormones…
On a global basis, skincare is a $121 billion industry!
Unfortunately, there's a dirty secret lurking inside most skincare products...
Despite their safety "approval" - many of the chemicals and fragrances found in skincare products are downright toxic. Not to mention when dozens of them are mixed together in one formula!!
I recommend the personal and body care products you use contain 100 percent natural “edible” ingredients. Of course, that doesn’t mean you’re going to eat these products…
But considering that everything which goes on your skin enters your body, the ingredients should not function as chemical versions of your own hormones.
What REALLY matters is not just how well your products work…
But what are the ingredients listed on the back?
The ideal solution is to find products that work as well (or better!) than anything else on the market… with a list of ingredients that are safe and health promoting.
Thankfully, due to consumer awareness and growing demand, more and more of these products are becoming available.
One of my favorites is the Pellu Natural Beauty System, created by Liana Ashenden, PhD. She is a natural skincare expert from New Zealand, who was deeply shocked to learn about the toxic chemicals in most skincare and uncomfortable with the ethics of many brands.
Liana spent the last few years developing a line of effective skincare products, free of potentially hazardous chemicals and full of nourishing ingredients like coconut, aloe vera, berry extracts, cucumber, and papaya.
If you’re interested in a safe and luxurious path to beautiful skin, give it a try (risk free) and tell us what you think…
To Your Health,
Kelley
REFERENCES
Grün F. Obesogens. Curr Opin Endocrinol Diabetes Obes. 2010 Oct;17(5):453-9.
Schnoor JL. Obesogens, the exposome, and ES&T. Environ Sci Technol. 2011 Apr 1;45(7):2517. Epub 2011 Mar 11.
Grün F, Blumberg B. Endocrine disrupters as obesogens. Mol Cell Endocrinol. 2009 May 25;304(1-2):19-29. Epub 2009 Mar 9.
Pamela M. Hurley, Richard N. Hill, and Rick J. Whiting. Mode of Carcinogenic Action of Pesticides Inducing Thyroid Follicular Cell Tumors in Rodents. Environmental Health Perspectives Volume 106, Number 8, August 1998
Lee, D-H, I-K Lee, K Song, M Steffes, W Toscano, BA Baker, and DR Jacobs. 2006. A Strong Dose-Response Relation Between Serum Concentrations of Persistent Organic Pollutants and Diabetes. Results from the National Health and Examination Survey 1999-2002. Diabetes Care 29:1638-1644.
