UAE | Health

Hormone-filled food on rise

A trip to the supermarket requires paying attention to packaging and labels.

  • By Kimberley Reader, Staff Reporter
  • Published: 00:00 October 9, 2010
  • Gulf News

Health risks of estrogen dominance
  • Image Credit: Gulf News
  • Health risks of estrogen dominance

Dubai: Trying to lose weight or get healthy? Don't worry about the calories, worry about the hormones.

Food products today are packed with extra hormones. Cows are injected with Bovine Somatotropin (rBST), a growth hormone that forces their udders to overproduce milk. Chickens are pumped full of estrogen to increase their egg production and make those chicken fillets you eat that little bit juicier. Most food contains soy, one of the most estrogenic foodstuffs (Yes, soy is unhealthy).

Everything's packaged in plastic. Plastic contains Bisphenol A (BPA), every year its use is raised as a concern by cancer research groups and food and drug administration groups worldwide.

Key fits the lock

Researchers have shown that when consumed these hormones mimic estrogen and cause an imbalance known as estrogen dominance. While most studies focus mainly on the impact of estrogen dominance on women, this imbalance can also affect men and children.

Gulf News spoke to Anisa Abeytia, an Integrative Health Specialist in Dubai who runs the Women's Healing Circle and has published many relevant articles. "When you put estrogenic hormones into your body they are immediately accepted by your estrogen receptors. The key fits the lock so it will go in. But when the key turns, it will break…. Disturb one thing, disturb it all," she says.

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Create imbalance

She explains that this excess estrogen, rather than being digested and identified as waste, will be absorbed into the blood and create an imbalance, "All that excess estrogen, as well as all other toxins ingested, just get absorbed straight back into your blood and continue to build up over time, affecting your entire bodily system."

While this may sound very dramatic, Anisa explains that it is easy to fix. "The main way to tackle estrogen dominance is by tackling the liver. This can be done by adding coconut oil to your diet. Cook your food in it rather than vegetable oil. Two tablespoons a day will start to help your liver get rid of those estrogenic hormones. Another way to help your liver is to start eating more fibre. Fibre is nature's brush"

The list of all the products that contain estrogenic hormones is overwhelming. However, there are a couple that stand out from the rest as the most dangerous, one of these being plastics.

Packaging risk

"The thinner the plastic, the more likely it will leech into your food. Check the packaging date to make sure you are getting the food that was packaged the shortest time ago and make sure you do not chose the ones that have been exposed to direct light," Anisa says.

She also advises that "When you get home it is best to take any foods wrapped in plastics out of the plastic and wrap them in wax paper or parchment."

Another highly estrogenic product is soy. "Soy is in everything nowadays and it is one foodstuff that contains the highest levels of estrogenic hormones. It is not healthy. This is because it is so overly processed," she says.

"Soy formula is so bad for kids and can imbalance their hormones straight away". She explains that high estrogen levels can, not only, make everyone more prone to obesity and diabetes, but in children has also been linked to behavioural disorders, such as ADD and Autism.

No definite link

It is necessary to point out that there is no evidence yet to prove that there is a definite link between the consumption of estrogenic compounds and estrogen dominance. This is a point Bobby Krishna Thulasi, a senior in the Food Control Department of Dubai Municipality, seems adamant to make.

"Several research works have been done in Europe and the US to assess the safety of BPA used in plastics that come in contact with the food, but no studies have been conclusive," Thulasi said.

Are you concerned about the harmful effects of mass-produced food items? What do you do to make sure the food you eat is completely healthy and safe?

Comments (5)

  1. Added 12:20 October 9, 2010

    Everyone now know that Cows are injected with Bovine Somatotropin (rBST), a growth hormone that forces their udders to overproduce milk. Chickens are pumped full of estrogen to increase their egg production but what next why authorties not take any action .Its not possible for every one to make farm house.

    Anonymous, dubai, United Arab Emirates

  2. Added 11:05 October 9, 2010

    Thanks for the article- Kimberley! Its so important to raise this alarm. Just as Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign is on in full swing, the Food safety campaign should gather momentum. I have directly suffered from hormone imbalance. My daughter was also diagnosed with PCOS in her early teen years. I attribute it total lack and awareness on my part as a mother. We need to spread the word about: 1) All food that is being packed for ' take-Aways' should be in reusable stainless or glass boxes. i know this is expensive. But why subject to plastics/ aluminium/ wax caoted paper products? best way is to bring your own steel 'tiffin' carriers like we do in India. 2) Avoid non-vegetarian food 3) Stick to organic vegetables 4) start a capmaign against fast food outlets-they lure kids and adults. i have seem Mums succumb to these temptations and allow kids to eat dangerously unhealthy stuff all day 5) watch what and how you pack in lunch boxes 6) all endocrinologists/ gynaecologists/ health specialists need to raise an alarm and make some noise 7) The municipality needs to take this up URGENTLY 8) The Ministry of health has to create an awareness campaign. if breast cancer is growing, one has to go to the root cause-not just treat it superficially. Keep going and Good Luck! At the end of the

    Anonymous, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  3. Added 08:13 October 9, 2010

    This is an eye opener for me, if not most of us. It seems almost all our consumables are subject to this chemical invasion. I will look forward to suggestions on alternatives of the involved goods.

    Hassan Mahmood, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  4. Added 06:39 October 9, 2010

    The FDA cited BPA as a chemical of concern in March this year, and is currently reassessing its decision not to ban BPA. The fact that studies have not been conclusive is due to their narrowness. A study by the National health and Nutrition Survey published in the Journal of the American Medical Association on September 16. showed a positive correlation between BPA levels and the presence of both cardiovascular disease and diabetes. BPA is known to be an endocrine disrupter and levels among people with diabetes is consistent with mechanistic studies in animals showing that BPA exposure increases insulin, glucose levels, and insulin insensitivity. In view of the rampant levels of diabetes worldwide and locally it would seem only logical to avoid exposure to BPA. There needs to be more information available to provide us with the choice of consuming this known toxin. For example there should be better labeling particularly of plastics, such as the cling film used on fresh food products in supermarkets, we have no idea what type of plastic film is being used. Canned food is also traditionally lined with an epoxy resin containing BPA. Unless the can is marked as BPA free its probably contains it, parents especially may want the choice before serving canned meals to their childen. BPA is present in so many items- among them water bottles, CD's, lipsticks, dental fillings and even paper till receipts. In fact a study to measure BPA in cashiers showed high levels of BPA in their urine. In some cases, the amount of BPA on a given receipt was 1,000 times the levels found in a can of food. The toxin can be absorbed through the skin or can easily be ingested from the hands, it is therefore advisable to wash hands as soon as possible after touching receipts from tills and ATM's. This is important particularly for pregnant woman.

    Anonymous, Williams, United Kingdom

  5. Added 00:02 October 9, 2010

    Healthy eating is not about strict nutrition philosophies, staying unrealistically thin, or depriving yourself of the foods you love. Rather, it's about feeling great, having more energy, and keeping yourself as healthy as possible all of which can be achieved by learning some nutrition basics and using them in a way that works for you. Healthy eating begins with learning how to eat smart it's not just what you eat, but how you eat. Your food choices can reduce your risk of illnesses such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, as well as defend against depression. Additionally, learning the habits of healthy eating can improve your health by boosting your energy, sharpening your memory and stabilizing your mood. Expanding your range of healthy food choices and learning how to plan ahead to create and maintain a satisfying, healthy diet.

    Mathew Litty, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

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