Are Endocrine Disruptors Disrupting Your Life?

By Amy Campbell I've been seeing a lot of references to "endocrine disruptors" lately, and not in scientific journals, but rather in magazines and online newsletters. If you're scratching your head and wondering what the heck an endocrine disruptor is, well, you're not alone. The term may not be a topic of dinnertime conversation yet, but it's something to get familiar with. What are endocrine disruptors? According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, or NIEHS (part of the National Institutes of Health), "endocrine disruptors are chemicals that may interfere with the body's endocrine system and produce adverse developmental, reproductive, neurological, and immune effects in both humans and wildlife." And in case you need a refresher on what the endocrine system is, it's the system of glands that produce hormones that regulate growth, metabolism, and reproduction. The pancreas is an endocrine gland, as it secretes insulin, glucagon, and amylin — hormones that play a key role in blood glucose management. Where are endocrine disruptors found? Endocrine disruptors are found both in synthetic or man-made substances and their by-products, such as plastics, pesticides, and PCBs, as well as in natural substances, including phytoestrogens, which are hormone-like substances found in some plant foods. How do endocrine disruptors affect health? More and more evidence is pointing to the harmful effects of endocrine disruptors. The Endocrine Society even publi...
Source: Diabetes Self-Management - Category: Diabetes Authors: Source Type: blogs