PDF Summary:Estrogeneration, by Anthony G. Jay

In Estrogeneration, Dr. Anthony G. Jay argues that chemicals called estrogenics are causing a rise in health problems such as obesity, infertility, and cancer in the US. Estrogenics mimic our body’s natural hormone estrogen and disrupt our hormone system. According to Jay, we’re exposed to them every day through the food we eat, the water we drink, and the products we use. But there’s hope: You can minimize their effects on your health by following Jay’s practical tips on how to avoid estrogenics and how to detoxify your body and fortify your health with simple lifestyle changes.

In this guide, we’ll explain what estrogenics are, the common ways we encounter them, and the health risks they pose to humans and the environment. We’ll also provide some practical prevention tips to minimize your exposure. In commentary, we’ll provide scientific evidence that supports or contradicts the author’s arguments, and we’ll present additional tips for avoiding these chemicals.

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(Shortform note: These red dyes can be found in many commonly used products: Red No. 3 is commonly used in candy, popsicles, and cake-decorating gels while Red No. 40 is used in candy, sports drinks, condiments, and cereals. While Jay only cautions against consuming red food dyes, other food dyes—notably, FD&C Green No. 3 and Yellow No. 6—are also considered potential EDCs.)

Personal Care Estrogenics

Estrogenics are also commonly found in personal care products, such as sunscreen and skincare products. Jay points out three that are most prevalent:

1. Parabens—estrogenics used in fragrance products and cosmetics. While some researchers consider parabens to have less impact on your body than other estrogenics, Jay writes that there are many types of parabens with varying levels of estrogenic effects.

(Shortform note: Although the FDA doesn’t regulate parabens, states, major retailers, and brands are taking action. In 2020, California became the first state to ban propylparaben (a type of paraben) from cosmetic products, along with three other harmful chemicals. Numerous retailers and brand manufacturers have also already eliminated or plan to eliminate parabens from their products.)

2. Triclosan and Alkylphenols (APEs)—estrogenics found in soaps, toothpastes, and detergents. APEs are primarily used to create suds in soaps. They’re left out of ingredient labels, so we’re often unaware that they’re in the products we use. Fortunately, while APEs are still used in the US, triclosan—a widely used antibacterial agent—is on its way out: The US declared it “not generally recognized as safe” and began removing it from germ-killing products.

(Shortform note: APEs are found in higher levels in dust but can also be present in air, water, and food. While used mainly in soaps and cleaners, APEs are also used in paints, agricultural chemicals, and oilfields. Similarly, while triclosan is mainly used for cleaning and personal care products, it’s also used in pesticides, furniture, kitchenware, and textiles like clothing and carpeting. Although the FDA banned the use of triclosan in consumer soap products in 2016, it doesn’t regulate its use in these other products, so experts advise checking the labels of other products for triclosan.)

3. Benzophenone (BP) and 4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor (4-MBC)—estrogenics commonly found in sunscreens and other personal care products. When exposed to UV light from the sun, these estrogenics can fuse to estrogen receptors and stay active much longer than usual.

(Shortform note: BP and 4-MBC are known as UV filters. In 2021, the FDA classified zinc oxide and titanium dioxide as the only safe and effective sunscreen ingredients, while 12 other components—including oxybenzone (a type of BP)—were labeled as potentially unsafe due to insufficient data. One study by the FDA found that six active ingredients in sunscreens (including oxybenzone) were absorbed into the body’s bloodstream after a single use. Once absorbed, they remain in the body for extended periods, with oxybenzone remaining in the bloodstream for 21 days. While 4-MBC isn’t approved as an active ingredient in the US, it is an inactive ingredient in some products.)

Plastic Estrogenics

Jay writes that there are also two types of estrogenics commonly found in plastic products:

1. Phthalates—estrogenics used primarily for making plastics clear, flexible and durable. Phthalates are found in a variety of everyday products from food products and plastic containers to personal care products like perfumes (although their use is restricted in children’s toy plastics). When foods and liquids come into contact with plastics, phthalates leach out into them and enter our bodies when we ingest them.

2. BPA and BPS (Bisphenol A & S)—estrogenics most widely used as an ingredient in plastic products. BPA has gained attention for its potential health risks, leading to BPA restrictions in certain products by the FDA and certain states. However, companies have simply pivoted to using BPS, which Jay argues has practically the same estrogenic effects. Thus, “BPA-free” alternatives often aren’t much healthier because they harbor similar estrogenic properties.

Identify Plastic Ingredients Using Recycling Codes

The recycling symbol found on plastics can be helpful for identifying estrogenic substances. Each recycling symbol contains a number ranging from one to seven that identifies it as one of seven types of plastics. Experts recommend you avoid plastics labeled with a three or a seven:

Plastics labeled with a three are known as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and they contain phthalates. They’re commonly used in clear food packaging, shower curtains, and vinyl flooring.

Plastics labeled with a seven represent “other” plastics that don’t fit in the other categories. These likely contain BPA and/or BPS, and they’re often found in various products including gallon water bottles, sunglasses, iPod and computer cases, and food containers.

If you can’t afford to forgo plastics entirely, experts consider plastics with recycling codes two, four, and five safer to use.

Other Estrogenics

Jay writes that herbicides and birth control pills are the sources of two other estrogenics we commonly encounter:

1. Atrazine—a common agricultural herbicide. The European Union banned atrazine in 2004, but the herbicide remains the second most used in the US.

(Shortform note: In Silent Spring, Rachel Carson explains that herbicides are specifically used to control the spread of plants—for example, to replace sagebrush lands with grasslands for livestock or to remove weeds. In particular, atrazine is mainly used to prevent grasses and broadleaf weeds from growing in crops such as corn, sorghum, sugarcane, wheat, macadamia nuts, and guava. In 2022, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed new rules to reduce atrazine runoff, including restricting how much can be used annually and banning its use when the soil is too wet, during rain or before a storm, and through aerial spraying.)

2. 17a-Ethinylestradiol (EE2)—an estrogenic widely used in oral contraceptive pills. According to Jay, EE2 likely has the longest-lasting effects of all the major estrogenics because it’s specially designed to mimic estrogen. It often enters water bodies through wastewater treatment plants, which aren’t designed to filter out such hormones.

(Shortform note: Seth Siegel, author of Troubled Water, estimates that oral contraceptive pills add over 10 million doses of synthetic estrogen to America’s wastewater. While the majority of EE2 in the environment comes from human waste, EE2 is also used for livestock farming and aquaculture activities. Some research suggests that EE2 contamination may actually come more from livestock wastewater than human wastewater.)

Part 3: How Estrogenics Affect Our Health and the Environment

Now that we’ve discussed what estrogenics are and where they can commonly be found, let’s take a look at the specific ways in which these chemicals harm human and environmental health. According to Jay, estrogenics contribute to obesity, depression, hormone imbalance, immune system dysfunction, cancer, and infertility. Let’s explore each of these in more detail.

Obesity

Jay argues that increasing rates of obesity in the US can be linked to an upswing in estrogenics in our environment. He explains why: Estrogenics are lipophilic (fat-loving) and hydrophobic (water-repelling), which makes them attracted to fat cells. Once they’ve been absorbed into fat cells, they stimulate fat growth by activating a protein called PPARγ, which controls the formation and growth of fat cells. They can cause an excessive activation of this protein, leading to greater fat accumulation. Research has shown that estrogenics can also induce insulin resistance, which can cause obesity.

Estrogenics’ attraction to fat has another ramification as well: Upon reaching these cells, estrogenics tend to remain there, contributing to long-term effects on our health.

How PPARγ and Insulin Resistance Affect Your Body

Other experts elaborate on the role of PPARγ in our bodies: It not only affects the growth and functioning of fat cells, but also of different immune system cells, and even some other tissues, like those found in the colon and bladder.

In The Obesity Code, Jason Fung explains that insulin resistance—commonly caused by poor diets and eating habits—is when your body needs more insulin to deliver glucose for energy. Insulin resistance causes obesity because your body has a “set weight”—a default body weight that it tries to maintain by storing or burning fat. Chronically high insulin levels can increase this set weight, causing the body to accumulate more fat than it needs, leading to obesity.

Depression

Jay writes that research also suggests potential links between estrogenics and depression. While definitive research linking the two is elusive due to the complex nature of depression, multiple studies hint at the depressive impact of estrogenics.

(Shortform note: Psychologists argue that depression is a challenging condition to measure due to its deeply personal and individual nature. Currently, there are dozens of methods for assessing depression that mainly use a checklist-based system, scoring various symptoms such as trouble sleeping, weight loss, or an overall depressed mood. Psychologists argue that these existing tools fail to capture the complexity of depression, which manifests differently across diverse populations. For instance, racial and ethnic minorities often experience symptoms not traditionally included in assessments.)

Jay mentions several studies indicating a causal link between estrogenics and depression. One study found that women who consume oral contraceptives appear to have a higher incidence of suicide. Another study found a significant increase in suicide rates among Indian farmers who were likely using atrazine on their crops. Other estrogenics like BPA and phthalates have also been linked to depression, with research showing that BPA can activate a biomarker for depression.

(Shortform note: Research suggests that teenagers may be more at risk than adults for developing depressive symptoms from being exposed to estrogenics. A 2023 study found that teenagers taking oral contraceptives have a 130% higher incidence of depression symptoms compared to 92% in adults. Similarly, another study found that adolescents living in agricultural communities who are exposed to higher levels of pesticides have greater depression symptoms—especially in younger, female adolescents.)

Hormone Imbalance

Jay also discusses another health issue associated with estrogenics: the declining rates of testosterone among men and women across the world. While testosterone levels have been declining naturally over thousands of years, there’s been a steep drop in recent history.

(Shortform note: Research shows that the average men’s testosterone levels are dropping about 1% every year. Many experts acknowledge endocrine-disrupting chemicals like estrogenics as contributing to declining testosterone rates, but they note that other factors also contribute to this trend—including weight gain, lack of physical activity, poor diet, excessive alcohol consumption, and disrupted sleep.)

Testosterone plays a critical role in the development and maintenance of your physical and mental health, influencing your sex drive, muscle mass and strength, bone density, mood, energy levels, and general well-being. Testosterone and estrogen (along with estrogenic compounds) also affect the brain’s neuroplasticity—its ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections.

Jay writes that estrogenics reduce the amount of usable testosterone in your body. To understand how, let’s first discuss how testosterone travels within your body and what usable testosterone is: Testosterone and estrogen are hydrophobic, so they need the help of a non-hydrophobic protein to travel through your bloodstream (which is mostly water). As a result, the majority of testosterone in your body binds to this protein—known as sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG)—and isn’t readily usable by the body. However, a small percentage of testosterone remains unbound in your bloodstream as free testosterone, which is the most usable form for your body.

Jay explains that estrogenics lower your free testosterone levels in three ways: They increase the amount of SHBG in your blood, reduce the number of testosterone receptors in your body, and block testosterone from binding to receptors. This leads to two major problems:

1. Precocious puberty. The onset of puberty is occurring earlier than ever before (especially for girls), which can lead to psychological and physical health problems.

(Shortform note: The average age for a girl's first period has moved from about 16 a century ago to approximately 13 today. Other experts explain that early puberty influences children’s self-perception and social relationships, resulting in a higher risk for mental health problems, substance use, and early sexual behavior, particularly for girls.)

2. The “feminization of males.” Hormonal disruptions reduce motivation specifically in men. Jay writes that this may explain the reason that participation in boy’s sports is falling nationwide and that more women are enrolling in universities than men.

(Shortform note: While other experts also note these trends, they propose alternative reasons. When it comes to youth sports, some argue that cost is the biggest factor: Sports participation is only declining among children from lower- and middle-income families while participation from children from wealthier families is rising. Others argue that fewer men enroll in colleges because of changes to the economy and sociocultural norms, which have disrupted traditional pathways for men—for example, economic changes have made it harder to secure middle-class wages with only a high school diploma, impacting men who had relied on manual labor jobs.)

How to Rebalance Your Hormones

Other experts agree on the importance of keeping your hormones balanced. Having a healthy level of testosterone builds lean muscle mass, strengthens your bones, and improves your heart health, libido, mood, and thinking skills such as verbal and spatial memory and mathematical reasoning.

To assess your testosterone levels, you can take several different tests:

• Total testosterone test: measures both free and SHBG-bound testosterone.

• Free testosterone test: measures only “active” testosterone unbound to SHBG.

• Bioavailable testosterone test: measures free testosterone and testosterone bound to another protein called albumin.

• SHBG blood test: measures the amount of SHBG in your blood.

Natural methods to increase testosterone levels include exercise (weightlifting and high-intensity interval training, in particular), consuming a balanced, nutritious diet, reducing stress, taking more vitamin D, improving sleep quality, reducing alcohol intake, and taking supplements. Testosterone therapy is also an option for people with low testosterone levels.

Immune System Dysfunction

Jay writes that estrogenics can cause immune system dysfunction by confusing our immune cells, causing them to attack healthy body parts while also preventing them from combating harmful agents like bacteria and viruses. This leads to allergies, skin disorders, autoimmune diseases, and even cancers.

(Shortform note: Your immune system’s main purpose is to defend your body. There are three ways your immune system may not function properly: It may be weak, overactive, or it may turn against you. Having an overactive immune system means it reacts to harmless substances, resulting in conditions like asthma, eczema, and allergic rhinitis. Autoimmune diseases are when your immune system attacks your body’s healthy tissues, resulting in conditions like Type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus.)

Jay adds that estrogenics can also cause cancer because they attach to receptors that then directly bind to DNA, potentially causing damage. He explains that cancers occur when damage to DNA results in one or more mutations on genes that affect cell growth and development.

(Shortform note: In The Cancer Code, Jason Fung writes that cancer is almost always the result of carcinogens, which are environmental factors that damage or destroy cells. Thus, estrogenics can be considered as carcinogens alongside widely recognized carcinogenic substances like tobacco, asbestos, and radiation.)

Infertility

Jay also suggests that estrogenics can potentially cause infertility in men and women. He points to two ways this happens. First, estrogenics directly damage sexual organs and interfere with their normal functions. Second, estrogenics can cause harm to embryos, leading to developmental issues or even death.

A large-scale study across a range of animals, including different types of fish, rodents, and mammals, showed worrying signs of falling fertility rates linked to exposure to these chemicals. For instance, researchers found that ZEA triggers severe abnormalities in the reproductive systems of female pigs, leading to a host of issues in their unborn offspring.

While human-specific research linking estrogenics to infertility is limited, Jay advises avoidance of these chemicals. He explains that researching the direct impact of these chemicals on human fertility is difficult due to the lengthy nature of fertility studies and the challenge of establishing a pure control group, as many people already have high levels of these estrogenic substances in their bodies.

What is Infertility and How Is it Treated?

Infertility is defined by the inability to achieve a pregnancy after at least one year of unprotected sex. In addition to estrogenics (and other environmental toxins), infertility can be linked to various other factors. In men, risk factors include obesity, excessive alcohol or drug use, and genetic disorders. In women, risk factors include smoking, alcohol use, extreme weight gain or loss, and physical or emotional stress.

While 1 in 6 people are affected by infertility across the globe, data doesn’t suggest that a build-up of estrogenics is worsening this problem. In fact, research shows that infertility rates have remained largely the same in the US for about two decades.

Steering clear of estrogenics may be a wise precaution. But for those already struggling with infertility, there are various fertility treatment options available. In roughly 90% of cases, infertility can be treated.

Part 4: Tackling the Estrogenic Problem

Now that we’ve discussed the harmful nature of estrogenics and their effects on your health, let’s examine what you can do to protect yourself against them. According to Jay, you can reduce your risk for estrogenic-caused health problems by making conscious decisions about the products you purchase and use in your everyday life. Managing your exposure to estrogenics might seem daunting given their pervasiveness, but Jay outlines some tips for changes you can make to your lifestyle to vastly reduce your risk.

Tip 1: Improve your gut health. Research shows that having a healthy gut full of good bacteria can reduce the effects of estrogenics on your body.

(Shortform note: In The Plant Paradox, Steven Gundry writes that you have a symbiotic relationship with about five pounds worth of microbes in, on, and around your body. These microbes (including bacteria, protozoa, fungi, molds, viruses, and worms) live and feed on you, and in return, they work to keep you in good health. Gundry says if you want to replenish the good bacteria in your gut, you must first conduct a cleanse to rid your gut of bad bacteria.)

Tip 2: Increase your omega-3 intake. Having a healthy omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acid ratio can also reduce the impact of estrogenics. Jay recommends you use fish oil or krill oil pills, and eat more seafood.

(Shortform note: In How Not to Die, Michael Greger echoes Jay’s recommendation to take omega-3 supplements, but he recommends using algae oil or yeast products instead of fish oil. He argues that fish oil can contain contaminants like PCBs, mercury, and other pollutants.)

Tip 3: Eat whole, unprocessed foods like fruits, nuts, vegetables, cheeses, and grass-fed meats. Jay explains that highly processed foods typically contain a higher content of phytoestrogens. Opt for naturally sourced and grass-fed foods when possible to avoid ingesting estrogenic chemicals that may have accumulated in the processing of farmed foods. You should also avoid phytoestrogens like soy, as well as foods packed in plastic packaging and cans (which are often lined with plastic inside), particularly with oils and fats.

(Shortform note: In In Defense of Food, Michael Pollan recommends you conduct the “great-grandma test” to ensure you’re eating whole, unprocessed foods: If your great-grandma wouldn’t call it real food, you should avoid it. There are various convenient, cost-effective ways to avoid chemicals in packaging and get more whole, unprocessed foods in your diet—including joining a community garden or subscribing to organic produce delivery boxes.)

Tip 4: Avoid mold exposure. Avoid eating grains, cheap coffee, and cheap chocolates, as these are common sources of ZEA contamination. Keep your living space as free from mold as possible.

(Shortform note: If you discover mold has grown on your food, the entire product doesn’t necessarily have to go to waste. For fermented vegetables, hard cheeses, hard meats, and firm vegetables, you can remove the portions with mold and salvage the unaffected areas. However, experts recommend you discard beverages, canned foods, and other food products that show signs of mold.)

Tip 5: Avoid estrogenic cosmetics and personal care products. Consider any product with fragrance to be estrogenic unless it’s labeled otherwise and avoid cheap sunscreens.

(Shortform note: It can be hard to tell whether products with fragrances contain estrogenic ingredients because fragrances in cosmetics are considered “trade secrets.” This means that companies don’t have to list the chemicals they use to create them.)

Tip 6: Avoid heating plastics. If you can’t avoid plastics entirely, try not to heat food or liquids in plastics, as this causes more estrogenics to leach into them.

(Shortform note: Similarly, using plastics that have been scratched or damaged can also result in higher levels of estrogenics leaching out from them. Because of this, experts suggest you throw out any plastic products that are worn or discolored—as this indicates that the plastic is breaking down. To minimize wear and tear, avoid washing plastics in the dishwasher or with rough brushes, as this can scratch the plastic.)

Tip 7: Filter your water. Use a charcoal filter to remove harmful contaminants, even for water used for boiling or steaming food. This is because estrogenics can seep from the water and into the food.

(Shortform note: To choose the best water filter for your home, experts recommend you first find out what contaminants may be in your local water system. Then, compare filter types—such as activated carbon, reverse osmosis, and ion exchange—and choose one that best removes contaminants from your local water system and fits your budget and home. After purchasing a filter, keep it well-maintained to prevent bacteria growth.)

Tip 8: Sit in a hot sauna. A sauna can help rid your body of estrogenics. By raising your body temperature, saunas speed up your body’s expulsion of waste or toxic substances and move estrogenics out of fat cells at a faster pace.

(Shortform note: Saunas offer a host of benefits beyond ridding your body of toxins: They can improve your heart health and blood pressure, ease muscle soreness and joint pain, lower your risk for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, reduce stress, heal certain skin conditions, enhance your sleep quality, and make you less susceptible to colds.)