If you can’t get pregnant and you want to get pregnant, then you must become aware of this insidious and widespread substance which can not only make you infertile but has been shown to contribute to breast cancer.
Stay Clear From Parabens
Parabens are a group of chemicals (methylparaben E218, ethylparaben E214, propylparaben E216, butylparaben- no number) with widespread use from cosmetic and personal hygiene industries to food and pharmaceutical manufacturers.
Parabens are antimicrobial and antifungal which makes them an ideal preservative in so many products.
Shampoos, conditioners, body lotions, tooth paste, mouth wash, deodorant, antiperspirant, moisturizers, shaving gels, lubricants, spray tanning solutions, sunscreens, medical ointments and tablets, processed foods, face powders, foundations to name a few.
Parabens are estrogen mimickers. What this means is they can dock onto a cell receptor reserved for estrogen and cause the cell to behave as if real estrogen has docked. All hormones in the body are released at specific times and in specific order under the guidance of the endocrine system.
When this immaculate orchestration becomes disrupted by estrogen mimickers from outside sources (food, air, water, cosmetics, personal hygiene items etc…) hormonal chaos ensues; cells start sending feedback to the endocrine system that they received estrogen when none was sent to them, the endocrine system responds with hormones which are not intended at this time and before you know it irregular periods, too much estrogen, not enough progesterone, not enough testosterone and host of other hormonal imbalances begin. To give you an analogy, this would be like someone turning on the sun in the middle of the night when nature is set to sleep and rest.
Parabens have been linked to breast cancer, breast tumors (parabens have been found inside breast tumors when the tumor was autopsied), weight gain, abnormal fetal development, male reproductive abnormalities, depression and infertility.
When your body’s hormones are out of balance, your ability to produce healthy eggs and sperm as well as your ability to ovulate and prepare the uterine lining (endometrium) to conceive and get pregnant becomes difficult and impaired.
Parabens can be easily absorbed through the skin, the gastric mucosa (digestive system) and via the blood. Once inside the body they tend to bio-accumulate in the fatty tissue and breast tissue (which is mostly fat). Because our body stores parabens, over time, so many have been stored that their effect on the body becomes overwhelming resulting in hormonal imbalance and disease.
Below is a table from the Breast Cancer Fund (www.breastcancerfund.org), showing the link between breast cancer and chemicals found in everyday products.
Become vigilant about parabens. Screen every product you buy for methylparaben E218, ethylparaben E214, propylparaben E216, butylparaben (no number) and any other chemical name ending in ‘paraben’. Refuse to buy products from companies which have not stopped using parabens.
The negative health effects of parabens have been well studied and documented. And while some companies are banning parabens from their production there are still many which prefer to use this cheap preservative rather than switching to more expensive natural preservatives. There are natural preservatives such as grape seed, which can be found in many natural organic personal hygiene products, cosmetics and organic food.
Spread the word and share this information with your family and friends and especially those who can’t get pregnant. No one wants to see a loved one die from breast cancer or prostate cancer and so many men and women simply are unaware of the link between their tooth paste, deodorant, body lotion or foundation and infertility or breast/prostate cancer.
What are your thoughts? Are you trying to get pregnant? Are you already using all natural and organic cosmetics and personal care products?
Bonus: Click here to download a handy PDF version of this article
How To Restore Your Fertility & Get Pregnant Naturally
Report reveals simple steps you and your partner can take to improve your fertility without drugs and procedures. These are things all couples need to know before trying to conceive.
Iva Keene is co-founder and director of Natural Fertility Prescription.com. She has been a qualified, accredited Naturopathic Physician for over 13 years, holds a Bachelor's degree in Health Science and a Masters degree in Reproductive Medicine. Since founding NFP in 2008, Iva's articles, videos, guides and reports have reached over 1.3 million people. Iva has dedicated her professional life to supporting couples on their path to parenthood with scientifically grounded information, protocols and coaching around preconception care, natural infertility treatments and integrative reproductive health.
