How Functional Medicine Can Help You Navigate a World Full of EDCs
Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are natural or human-made chemicals that may mimic, block, or interfere with the body’s hormones, which are part of the endocrine system. These chemicals are associated with a wide array of health issues. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are natural or human-made substances that can interfere with the normal functioning of the endocrine system in humans and animals. They do this by mimicking, blocking, or interfering with the body’s hormones, which are part of the endocrine system. The endocrine system plays a crucial role in regulating various physiological processes, influencing growth, development, metabolism, and other bodily functions.
EDCs may interfere with the production, release, transport, metabolism, binding, or elimination of natural hormones in the body. Common sources of exposure to EDCs include certain chemicals found in plastics, pesticides, industrial pollutants, and consumer products.
EDCs can include a wide range of chemicals, such as phthalates, bisphenol A (BPA), certain pesticides, flame retardants, and industrial chemicals like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). People can be exposed to EDCs through various routes, including ingestion of contaminated food and water, inhalation of polluted air, and absorption through the skin. Consumer products like plastics, personal care products, and household items may also contribute to exposure.
Exposure to EDCs has been associated with a variety of health effects, including disruptions in reproductive health, developmental abnormalities, immune system changes, and an increased risk of certain diseases such as certain cancers, diabetes, and neurodevelopmental disorders. Certain groups, such as pregnant women, infants, and children, may be more vulnerable to the effects of EDCs due to critical periods of development. Fetuses and young children are particularly sensitive to disruptions in hormonal signaling.
You may be asking yourself how Tendwell’s functional medicine providers can help address the effects of EDCs. Take a representative Tendwell member: She is a 40-year-old woman with stress from family and a professional career who is reasonably healthy, but feeling many potential symptoms of hormonal imbalances, possibly brought on by EDC exposure. Adopting a functional medicine approach like we do at Tendwell involves addressing the root causes of hormonal imbalances, including lifestyle factors, nutrition, and exposure to environmental toxins like EDCs. We may recommend specific water filtration systems to reduce EDC exposure on a daily basis, supplementation to boost nutrients that support hormonal health, or even direct hormone support through medication. We may even recommend looking directly at toxic exposures with specialty functional medicine labs. But one thing is sure: in functional medicine, we take a holistic, root-cause approach and develop personalized medical plans tailored to your unique situation. All of this means that taking an integrative, functional approach works better than traditional medicine. Make an appointment today to learn more about Tendwell’s membership program.
