(NaturalHealth365) Experts estimate that there are literally tens of thousands of unregulated chemicals in use today.  And, while this reality may be hard to believe, there is no doubt that many of these toxic substances become endocrine-disrupting chemicals, or EDCs.

EDCs can interfere with the body’s endocrine system and are found in a long list of common, everyday products.  This is a serious problem, when you consider that the endocrine system includes the thyroid and adrenal glands.  These glands are directly linked to your overall energy levels, immune system function and emotional wellbeing.

In fact, odds are, you or someone you love, have these dangerous chemicals in the home – right now!

Balancing your hormone levels can be difficult in the presence of EDCs

Most of us are exposed to EDCs both indoors and out, making them hard to avoid. They’re lurking in household cleaners, cosmetics, personal care products like lotions as well as processed foods – which accumulate them when they’re leached out of materials used in processing and manufacturing – that’s just to name a few.

EDCs can be in household dust containing lead, PCBs from furniture and flame retardants, and in your lawn and garden when pesticides like glyphosate or DDT are used.  Bisphenol A (BPA) can be in food and beverage containers, including water bottles, and even items designed for small children and infants if they were purchased before July 2011.

While the FDA may regulate the foods you buy for consumption, it doesn’t regulate or limit the use of chemicals in household or personal care products. In fact, it doesn’t even require that all ingredients be listed on the label.

So, what’s the concern?

The link between EDCs and serious health problems

This is just a short list of health issues scientific research has linked EDCs to:

Harm to developing fetuses and infants. Endocrine disrupting BPA is especially harmful to the endocrine systems of developing fetuses and infants as the University of California at San Francisco reports. The endocrine system influences heartbeat, growth of tissues and bone, and it plays a key role in whether someone develops a host of hormone-related disorders.

While BPA has been banned in baby products, it can still be found in items that were made before 2011, including sippy cups and baby bottles.

Maternal and childhood exposure to EDCs has also been linked to cognitive damage, impaired mental and motor skills, and neurotoxicity as well as conditions like undescended testicles and urethra defects in men, and fibroids and endometriosis in women.

EDCs also raise the risk of some cancers including breast, ovarian and uterine cancer in women, and prostate cancer in men.

Exposure to EDCs can provoke precursors to diabetes and even the full blown disease as they’ve been found to raise serum glucose, worsen glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity.

Obesity and metabolic issues. Worldwide obesity has more than doubled over the last four decades. Experts believe that it’s not just diet and activity levels to blame, but EDCs, as they affect the way the way the body consumes food and stores energy.

Reducing exposure to EDCs

While it may be impossible to eliminate EDC exposure there are many ways to reduce it, including:

• Eating organic foods whenever possible
• Avoiding bug sprays and other pesticides
• Using homemade cleaners such as baking soda and vinegar
• Minimizing your use of plastics
• Using cosmetics and personal care products like soaps and shampoos made of natural ingredients
• Keeping rooms clean, vacuuming and dusting regularly to remove any chemicals that may be indoors

Making more informed choices about what you eat, drink and bring into your home, is an important part of maintaining health and wellness.

Sources for this article include:

NIH.gov