10 Common Products That Could Affect Your Hormone Balance, According to Experts

10 Common Products That Could Affect Your Hormone Balance, According to Experts

Many common household items contain chemicals that can interfere with our body’s natural hormone balance. These endocrine disruptors mimic, block, or alter how our hormones work, potentially affecting everything from our metabolism to our mood. Learning which products might be causing problems is the first step toward making healthier choices for you and your family.

1. Plastic Food Containers

Those convenient plastic containers in your kitchen might be leaching chemicals into your food. BPA and its common replacement BPS can mimic estrogen in your body, potentially triggering weight gain, reproductive issues, and mood changes.

Heating these containers in the microwave makes the problem worse. The heat causes more chemicals to transfer into your food, especially fatty or acidic dishes like pasta with tomato sauce.

Consider switching to glass or stainless steel containers. They’re safer alternatives that won’t release hormone-disrupting chemicals, even when heated.

2. Non-stick Cookware

That slick coating on your favorite frying pan contains perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that can mess with your thyroid function. When overheated, these pans release compounds that may interfere with reproductive hormones and metabolism.

PFAS chemicals don’t break down easily in the environment or in our bodies. They’ve earned the nickname “forever chemicals” because they stick around for so long.

Cast iron, stainless steel, or ceramic cookware offer safer cooking surfaces. Though they require different care than non-stick pans, they’ll help reduce your exposure to hormone-disrupting chemicals.

3. Scented Candles and Air Fresheners

The lovely scent filling your home might be disrupting your hormones. Many artificial fragrances contain phthalates, chemicals that can interfere with testosterone and other hormone functions, potentially affecting everything from fertility to development.

Room sprays, plug-ins, and scented candles often release these chemicals directly into the air you breathe. Your body absorbs them through your lungs with every breath.

Try natural alternatives like essential oil diffusers, simmering spices on the stove, or beeswax candles. Your home can still smell amazing without the hormone-disrupting chemicals.

4. Cash Register Receipts

That innocent-looking receipt from your morning coffee run contains BPA or BPS. These thermal paper receipts have a powdery coating that transfers to your skin and can be absorbed into your bloodstream, especially if your hands are wet or you’ve used hand sanitizer.

Store clerks who handle receipts all day have significantly higher BPA levels in their bodies. The hormone-disrupting effects can include reproductive problems and increased risk of certain cancers.

Decline receipts when possible, ask for email alternatives, or wash your hands after handling them. Never let children play with receipts or put them in your mouth to hold temporarily.

5. Conventional Cleaning Products

The strong-smelling cleaners under your sink could be affecting your hormone balance. Many contain chemicals like triclosan, quaternary ammonium compounds, and glycol ethers that have been linked to thyroid disruption and reproductive problems.

These products leave residues on surfaces that can be absorbed through skin contact. The fumes they release can also be inhaled, giving these chemicals direct access to your bloodstream.

Vinegar, baking soda, and castile soap make effective cleaners without the hormone-disrupting chemicals. Or look for products certified by third parties like Green Seal or EWG Verified.

6. Pesticide-Treated Produce

Conventionally grown fruits and vegetables often contain pesticide residues that can act as endocrine disruptors. Chemicals like organophosphates and atrazine can interfere with hormone function even at very low doses.

Children are especially vulnerable because their bodies are still developing. Their smaller size means they get a bigger dose relative to their body weight when exposed to these chemicals.

Buying organic when possible helps reduce exposure, especially for the “Dirty Dozen” most contaminated fruits and vegetables. Always wash produce thoroughly, and consider using a produce wash for items you can’t buy organic.

7. Personal Care Products

Your morning routine might expose you to dozens of hormone-disrupting chemicals. Parabens in lotions, triclosan in antibacterial soaps, and chemical sunscreens like oxybenzone can all mimic hormones in your body.

Women typically use more personal care products than men, potentially increasing their exposure. The average woman applies over 160 chemicals to her skin daily through cosmetics and personal care items.

Look for products labeled “paraben-free” and check ingredients using apps like Think Dirty or EWG’s Skin Deep database. Mineral-based sunscreens with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide offer safer sun protection.

8. Canned Foods

Many food cans are lined with epoxy resins containing BPA or similar chemicals that can leach into your food. Acidic foods like tomatoes and fruits cause more leaching than non-acidic options.

Studies show that people who eat more canned foods have higher BPA levels in their urine. These hormone disruptors have been linked to everything from obesity to reproductive problems and certain cancers.

Choose fresh or frozen foods when possible, or look for cans labeled “BPA-free.” Better yet, choose brands that use glass jars or cartons instead of cans for items like tomatoes, beans, and soups.

9. Synthetic Fabrics and Treated Clothing

Your wardrobe might be disrupting your hormones through chemicals like flame retardants, PFAS in water-resistant coatings, and formaldehyde in wrinkle-free fabrics. These compounds can be absorbed through your skin or inhaled as they shed from clothing.

New clothing often contains the highest levels of these chemicals. That “new clothes smell” actually comes from a cocktail of industrial chemicals used in manufacturing and finishing processes.

Choose natural fibers like organic cotton, linen, and wool when possible. Always wash new clothes before wearing them, and avoid synthetic fabrics treated with stain-resistant or wrinkle-free finishes.

10. Vinyl Shower Curtains

That new shower curtain smell comes from phthalates and other chemicals that help make PVC flexible. The warm, humid environment of your shower creates perfect conditions for these hormone disruptors to be released into the air you breathe.

A study found that a vinyl shower curtain can release over 100 different volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into your bathroom air. Many of these chemicals persist in the air for weeks after installation.

Switch to shower curtains made of natural materials like cotton, hemp, or linen. These breathable fabrics resist mold naturally and don’t off-gas harmful chemicals during your daily shower.