During the Environmental Health Symposium this year, one common endocrine disruptor that was covered extensively was Bisphenol A, commonly known as BPA. I was surprised to learn (but also not surprised) that BPA levels are elevated in women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). Fortunately, there are many ways we can limit our exposure to BPA and other endocrine disruptors. As I mentioned in my review of the Symposium itself, you can learn more about endocrine disruptors at https://www.ewg.org/research/dirty-dozen-list-endocrine-disruptors.
There are many ways for us to help our bodies detoxify from tens if not hundreds of chemicals to which we expose ourselves. However, ensuring we have the correct nutrients to support our detoxification pathways is essential. For example, eating cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, cabbage and Brussels sprouts, provide not only a great source of fiber needed for elimination but also a great source of nutrients that support the second phase (Phase II) of our detoxification pathway.
Blood sugar regulation also tends to be an issue with PCOS, and many toxins can affect our body’s ability to use insulin. Checking insulin levels, as well as Hemoglobin A1c levels, is important for patients with PCOS, as these may be increased before the patient actually shows signs of elevated levels. Addressing insulin resistance and toxin exposure before it leads to further complications could help many women dealing with PCOS.