Some chemicals cause health problems by mimicking, blocking or otherwise interfering with your body’s hormones. You’ll find endocrine-disrupting chemicals in many day-to-day products, including food and drink packaging, cosmetics, children’s toys and pesticides. Learning how to avoid EDCs in food can reduce your family’s exposure to these dangerous synthetic and natural substances. 

Why Are EDCs Dangerous?

Your endocrine system is your body’s communication network. It is responsible for signaling molecules, hormones, the glands that produce them and hormone receptors in your body. It’s vital for regulating your metabolism, sleep cycle, stress levels, growth, immune response and reproduction. 

Introducing EDCs into your endocrine system can interfere with these signals to increase or decrease hormone production, resulting in the potential development of some significant health issues. EDCs can affect fertility and development in fetuses, infants and young children. They can cause obesity, diabetes and some cancers in people of all ages — also contributing to cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological and behavioral problems. 

Fortunately, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency knows more about EDCs now than ever, thanks to the more conscientious implementation of the Food Quality Protection Act through a screening process that identifies the endocrine effects of pesticides and other chemicals. This evaluation reduces your risk of dietary EDC exposure. However, you must still pay close attention to what you eat to ensure good health.

How to Avoid EDCs When Eating

The foods you eat, your preparation methods and kitchen cleaning habits can prevent EDCs from entering your meals and, as a result, your body’s endocrine system. Heeding these precautions can lead to a healthier endocrine system free from the harmful effects of EDCs.

1. Choose Your Food Wisely

Make more intelligent choices to reduce your risk of digesting EDCs. Consider the following insights when meal planning. 

Eat Organic Food Where Possible

Many pesticides include EDCs, so exposing yourself and your family to traditionally produced foods increases risks. However, organic meat, dairy and produce can be significantly more expensive. Buy more “complete” items, like a whole chicken, instead of processed breast fillets. Wash fruit and vegetables in clean water to remove pesticide residues — peeling them before eating can further reduce exposure. Ideally, you should choose certified organic products for the least risk of EDCs.   

Reduce Your Meat and Dairy Product Consumption

Animals can bioaccumulate harmful chemicals, which means eating meat can expose you to high EDC levels. You must be aware of this risk unless you are vegetarian or vegan. When you eat meat, choose leaner cuts or trim the fat when preparing — many hazardous EDCs build up in fat cells. Like meat, animal-sourced dairy products like cheese and milk run the risk of containing EDCs, so reducing your dairy consumption will alleviate health risks. 

Avoid Eating Specific Types of Fish 

The otherwise healthy oils of bigger fish species can contain methylmercury and other toxic EDCs. Specifically, methylmercury exposure can affect brain development in unborn infants. Pregnant people and young children should not eat fish higher on the food chain — like swordfish, pike, hake and king mackerel — and stick to light tuna, sardines, anchovies and line fish meals.

Eat Less Processed and Fast Food

Processed and fast foods contain phthalates and bisphenol A EDCs. Phthalates are a chemical family used in the cosmetic industry to retain fragrance scents and in the packaging industry to strengthen or soften plastic. BPA is an industrial chemical used in making polycarbonate plastics for food and beverage containers and epoxy resins, which coat food cans and bottle tops. 

Though you’ll find phthalates and BPA in most foods, healthier choices like fruit, vegetables, nuts and yogurt have lower chemical levels, while processed and packaged items contain more. Studies show that phthalates and BPA could enhance the chances of pulmonary carcinoma, or lung cancer, in non-smoking women due to EDCs. Processed and fast foods are also more susceptible to containing these frightening chemicals due to increased containment in plastic packaging. 

2. Be Cautious When Preparing Meals

Adhering to specific protocols when grocery shopping, storing food and preparing meals can reduce the risk of introducing higher quantities of EDCs into your diet. 

Avoid Cans and Plastic Containers

As mentioned, most plastic food and drink containers have phthalates, while shatterproof plastics and cans contain BPA. Even low doses of these everyday chemicals can be potentially devastating if they enter your body’s endocrine system. While eliminating plastic use is impractical, you can take steps to reduce it. Likewise, cans lined with BPA to reduce corrosion are not essentials on your shopping list.

It is nearly impossible to abstain from cans and plastic containers, but you can swap the original packaging for glass or stainless steel as soon as you get home. Don’t buy large quantities of canned food to store in your pantry. Instead, use it immediately or have alternative storage plans ready. 

Filter Your Water

Try not to buy water in plastic bottles or jugs. Instead, add a correctly installed National Science Foundation-certified water filtration unit to your tap to remove potential EDCs and drink from a glass. Though most U.S. water is safe to drink, pollutants and harmful chemicals can still sneak in, so filter your water for extra safety.  

Wash Your Hands and Wipe the Kitchen Counters

Before preparing food, wipe your counters and cutting boards with clean water and wash your hands. Avoid using fragranced and antibacterial soaps, which could contain EDCs. Remember, EDCs are also airborne and found in many day-to-day products and atop household surfaces. Practice thorough hand-washing techniques and encourage your family to do likewise.

3. Pack Food Appropriately and Clean Thoroughly

If you follow the tips in this article, you’ll already steer clear of multiple EDCs in your food before you finish dinner. If you have leftovers to pack away, do so immediately to limit exposure to EDCs and other airborne toxins. Use glass containers for fridge or freezer storage. When cleaning, wipe surfaces with a non-fragranced disinfectant and wash your dishes and clothes with “free-and-clear” detergents.

Do Your Best to Reduce the Risk of EDCs

Sadly, EDCs have become part of everyday life. You’ll never eliminate these harmful chemicals, but you can limit your exposure and preserve your family’s health by making cautious, informed choices.

Author: Beth Rush