Health & Beauty Tips
From Dr. Julie Reil
Health & beauty advice that Dr. Reil Avoids, Minimizes & Embraces
Avoiding Toxins
I do my best to avoid toxins in food, water, air, cleaning products, yard chemicals, health & beauty products. Most toxins disrupt hormone balance and can lead to weight gain, lack of energy, adrenal fatigue, belly fat, cancer and more.
According to Dr Joseph Pizzorno Jr. ND, author of the book The Toxic Solution: How Hidden Poisons In The Air, Water, Food and Products We Use Are Destroying Our Health - AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO FIX IT the primary sources of toxins found in the human body are found in: Food (60%), Water (15%), Air (10%), Health & Beauty Products (10%) and House & Yard Chemicals (5%).
It is important for our health to learn how to shop intentionally to avoid toxins. Remember what you eat, breathe and put on your skin exposes you to toxins....so be discriminating in what food, drinks, cleaning products and beauty products you choose. EWG - Environmental Working Group-- is one online resource where you can assess the foods, drinks and products you currently use. Safer alternatives can be found on ewg.org
Toxins In Foods
Avoid unhealthy food choices like farm raised fish (PBC contaminated), soy products like tofu (cadmium contaminated), sugar, soda pop, white flour and hydrogenated fats. Also avoid cooking with vegetable oils which are unstable at high temperatures and become toxic. Minimize hormone saboteurs also known as endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Minimize starches and sugar: ie. breads, white flour products (ie pastas), white sugar
Minimize goitrogens which are compounds that interfere with the normal function of the thyroid gland. Put simply, they make it more difficult for the thyroid to produce the hormones your body needs for normal metabolic function. Minimize raw vegetables - cook them instead (cooking vegetables improves nutrient absorption and minimizes goitrogenic factors which interfere with thyroid levels). Minimize your duration of exposure to electromagnetic frequencies from cell phones and computers.
Plastics
Remember plastic is unique, it is a petroleum product that is biologically ACTIVE, not inert. Therefore, it is impossible for anything (even water) to be stored in plastic without chemicals being leached into the substance stored inside the plastic container. If you heat plastic, the rate of chemical leaching goes up exponentially. Heating or storing food in plastic containers or plastic wrap infuses toxic chemicals into food. Cooking or frying food in Teflon or coated cookware leads to chemically contaminated food. Replace your non-stick pots and pans with glass or ceramic or stainless-steel cookware. Don't buy Styrofoam, NEVER reheat food in Styrofoam and never heat food inside of plastic containers in the microwave or oven. Any substance stored in plastic or even making contact with plastic will have chemical toxins leached into that substance: whether it is food, water, sunscreen, body lotion or makeup - there is no exception.
Glass is the ONLY totally inert substance on the earth. It is inert when heated or cooled. Store your food and drinks in glass containers and don't let the plastic locking lids contact the food or drink. Personally, for years I have used glass in my kitchen and I drink only filtered water from glass containers.
Dieting
Statistically, dieting does not work. Nearly 100% of dieters regain weight and often end up gaining even more weight. Instead of restrictive dieting, make excellent food choices and eat just enough to feel satisfied. Mark Harmon's book Eat Fat, Stay Thin is an excellent example of how the healthy fats in your diet can help satisfy hunger and lead to better metabolism and weight loss. With episodic dieting or 'yo-yo' dieting, one tragic effect of sudden weight loss can be loss of primary fat in the face. Once this pretty fat of the face is lost, you may not gain it back.
Chemicals In Health Products
AVOID triclosan in popular toothpaste brands, cleaning products, shampoo, conditioner, body wash and soaps. AVOID EDCs such as parabens, propylene glycol, phalates, TPHP, and oxybenzones.(*these EDCs are in makeup and moisturizers with oxybenzone as sunscreen)
Chemicals In Health Products
Minimize Stress Levels. Stress is literally a killer. It can kill your energy, mood and hormone balance, it can affect your fertility and weight, and it can be a trigger for cancer. Learn to set boundaries and say NO when you find yourself over-extended. Destress by walking in nature, laugh with friends, or do what makes you happy. Get optimal sleep and get the sources of your stress out of your life.
What Are Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs)?
EDCs are chemical substances that are not naturally produced and are considered foreign to the body and the environment. EDCs are estrogen imposters/saboteurs, meaning their molecular shape is similar enough to human estrogens to fit into the same cell receptor sites, the parking spots that the body’s naturally produced hormones would use. These estrogen imposters fool the body into using them the same way as endogenous natural hormones – but they are different. EDCs are pervasive in the environment, food and consumer products making exposure to these
toxins common and widespread.
Human exposure to numerous known EDCs has been documented worldwide, as have trends for increased rates of endocrine-related diseases. These toxicants can disrupt hormone balance, energy metabolism, glucose and lipid metabolism. Thyroid hormone is involved in every stage of brain development and metabolism and thyroid hormone signalling is very vulnerable to interference by EDCs. There is ever-increasing evidence that EDCs are particularly detrimental to hormone-sensitive organs, such as the uterus, prostate, testes, ovaries, and breast, as well as our immune and neurological systems.
Literally thousands of chemicals found in the environment resemble the human hormone estrogen. They have been implicated in many conditions because they can increase the total amount of estrogen, resulting in a condition known as “estrogen dominance”. Common conditions associated with estrogen dominance include breast and prostate cancer, premenstrual syndrome, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, miscarriages, early onset of puberty and early menopause.
Remember that individual toxins are studied for safety based on the effects of certain levels of toxic exposure of just ONE toxin. What is not taken into account is the total number of toxins humans are exposed to every single day and the effect on health – the total body load principal. One toxin over the recommended limit may not cause harm, but what about cumulative toxin exposure? It becomes like a chemical soup exposure.
It is clear that human health is affected by dietary and environmental exposure to EDCs. The skin is one of the largest organs in the body, and its main function is protection from toxic substances. EDCs not only upset the hormone system, they are also carcinogenic, cause inflammatory and allergic skin diseases, breast cancer, skin cancer, increased pigmentation, and skin aging and more.
A Spotlight on Parabens & Breast Cancer
Parabens are widely used as a preservative and to prevent bacteria, yeast, and mold growth in cosmetics and body care products. They are absorbed through the skin. About 75–90% of cosmetics contain parabens. They are also used as fragrance ingredients; however, since fragrances are considered trade secrets, manufactures are not required to disclose the chemicals used in them.
Although parabens are known to mimic the growth effects of estrogens on breast cancer cells, some consider their effect too weak to cause harm. They fail to take into account that parabens could interact with other types of signaling molecules in the cells to increase breast cancer risk.
Beauty – but at What Price?
A new study has found that parabens can promote the growth of estrogen-sensitive breast tumours even in tiny amounts – around 5–10 ng. These findings demonstrate that parabens may be more potent at lower doses than previous studies have suggested. They also raise questions about current safety testing methods that may not predict the true potency of parabens and many other chemicals and their effects on human health. It is interesting to note that women are exposed to about 50 mg daily of parabens from cosmetics.
Some estrogen metabolites from environmental toxins are associated with increased breast cancer risk. EstroSense natural supplement that contains Indole-3-carbinol and green-tea catechins, which may favourably affect estrogen profiles. A recent randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study found that EstroSense, natural supplement containing Indole-3-carbinol and green-tea catechins, led to markedly higher urinary 2-OHE1:16α-OHE1, (a biomarker associated with lower risk of breast cancer) than the placebo. Dr. Reil is one of the authors of the above study published Oct 2022.
Green T, See J, Schauch M, Reil J, Glover M, Brix J, Gerry A, Li K, Newman M, Gahler RJ, Wood S. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial to evaluate the effect of EstroSense ® on 2-hydroxyestrone:16α-hydroxyestrone ratio in premenopausal women. J Complement Integr Med. 2022 Oct 6. doi: 10.1515/jcim-2022-
0301. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 36201753.
Embrace Healthy Choices
You may feel overwhelmed at the rather daunting information on the extent of environmental chemicals we are exposed to on a daily basis. But there are things you can do to minimize exposure. The first step to reducing the load of toxic build-up in your body is awareness and avoidance wherever possible.
- Buy organic and non-GMO foods as much as possible. Purchase organic meat products that have been grass finished.
- Foods with low pesticide profiles; wash all fruits and vegetables first –refer to Dirty Dozen; Clean 15 ewg.org.
- Do not microwave, or store food or drink in plastic.
- Avoid farmed fish – especially shrimp and tilapia.
- Avoid using tinned foods. Most canned foods sold in the United States have an epoxy liner that leaches BPA into the food. The highest concentrations are found in canned meats, pasta, and soups.
- Nutrient-Rich Meat, Dairy, and Eggs: beef - grass fed meat, pork - farm raised, butter - grass fed, eggs - always with yolks. Yolks are the most nutritious part of the egg. The egg yolk has all 4 fat soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K), omega-3 fats, choline, some B12, and protein.
- Fats- butter, bacon, pork fat (excellent high smoke point) - Fry with heat stable oils such as bacon grease or pork fat.
- MOVE YOUR BODY EVERY DAY! – Stay Active.
- Daily Nutritional Foundation: Vit D3, Omega-3, Multivitamin, and Multimineral supplements are highly recommended. Dr Reil takes these 3 foundational nutrient each and every day!
- Estro-Sense 3 capsules daily to prevent estrogen dominance
- Filter your water: drink, cook, make coffee, even shower in filtered water (*KANGEN WATER is my choice daily!
- Store food and water in glass. Glass is the ONLY totally inert substance on the earth. It is inert when heated or cooled. Store your food and drinks in glass containers and don't let the plastic locking lids contact the food. I drink only filtered water from glass containers. Refrain from buying bottled water in plastic and all drinks stored in plastic.
- Stay away from fragrances. Instead, use toxic free products that are scented with only essential oils without synthetic fragrance. A study published in the American Journal of Public Health investigated the skin absorption rates of chemicals found in drinking water. It showed the skin absorbed an average of 64% of total contaminants. The skin absorbs chemicals and they are introduced directly into the bloodstream without any filtering. Paraben- and phthalate-free personal care products. (See EWG’s Skin Deep database at http:// www.ewg.org/skindeep).
- Toxin free cleaning products such as Seventh Generation. Avoid fabric softeners and dryer sheets.
- Do not use glyphosate or other chemicals on your lawn or garden.
- Avoid plastic food containers and plastic wrap made from PVC.