Brief Summary
This podcast episode features Dr. Anthony Chaffee interviewing Dr. Anthony Jay about hormone-disrupting chemicals and their impact on health. They discuss the prevalence of estrogen-mimicking chemicals in everyday products, the dangers of these chemicals, and strategies to avoid and eliminate them from the body. They also touch on the importance of hormone balance, the effects of diet on hormone levels, and the limitations of conventional medical approaches to hormone health.
- Estrogen-mimicking chemicals are pervasive and can disrupt hormone balance, leading to various health problems.
- Avoiding plastics, filtering water, and sweating are important strategies to minimize exposure and eliminate these chemicals.
- Diet, particularly a carnivore diet, can significantly impact hormone levels and overall health.
Introduction
Dr. Anthony Chaffee introduces Dr. Anthony Jay, a biochemist with a PhD from Boston University Medical School, as a special guest on the Plant-Free MD podcast. Dr. Jay's background includes research in Alzheimer's, heart disease, and stem cells, as well as genetic consulting and the authorship of the book "Estrogeneration." The discussion will focus on hormone-disrupting factors and their impact on health.
Hormone Disrupting Agents
Dr. Jay explains that when he wrote "Estrogeneration," estrogen-mimicking chemicals were not widely discussed. Now, awareness has increased, but many people still lack basic knowledge about these chemicals and their effects. He highlights chemicals like BPA, microplastics, and phthalates, which mimic estrogen in the body. Toxicologists often underestimate the danger because they focus on cell death rather than hormonal disruption at low doses. Dr. Chaffee adds that anti-caking agents in spices and pre-graded cheese can also disrupt hormones.
The Shell Game of Bisphenols and Phthalates
Dr. Jay describes how companies use a "shell game" by replacing BPA with other bisphenols (like bisphenol F or S) that are just as estrogenic. Phthalates, another plastic ingredient, lower testosterone. The problem with phthalates is that there are thousands of them, making research difficult, and their metabolites can be even more problematic. Parabens in perfumes and fragrances also mimic estrogen. He mentions Shanna Swan's book on phthalates but emphasizes that many other chemicals also disrupt hormones, such as oxybenzone and atrazine, which can feminize males.
Sex Hormones and Epigenetics
Dr. Jay explains that sex hormones (estrogen, progesterone, testosterone) are made from cholesterol and, uniquely, go inside the cell nucleus to act directly on DNA, causing epigenetic changes that can last for generations. These changes are physical marks on DNA that are inheritable, leading to multigenerational effects. Dr. Chaffee mentions studies showing that BPA exposure can reduce penis size in mice over multiple generations. Dr. Jay notes that the normal range for testosterone has been lowered since the 1980s, normalizing bad health.
Testosterone Replacement and Estrogen Receptors
Dr. Jay says that testosterone replacement can rewrite epigenetic changes, but doctors often don't prescribe it due to the lowered normal range. He cautions against testosterone replacement without first eliminating estrogen chemicals to avoid prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is linked to the estrogen receptor alpha, which is activated by chemicals like BPA, phthalates, parabens, oxybenzone, and atrazine. The beta receptor is beneficial, protecting against Alzheimer's and heart disease, as long as testosterone is high enough to balance it out.
Phytoestrogens and Environmental Estrogens
Dr. Chaffee raises the issue of phytoestrogens in plants like soy and flaxseed, questioning if they activate the alpha receptor. Dr. Jay confirms they do, which is why he debates with vegans. Isoflavones in soy depend on gut bacteria for breakdown, but most people have unhealthy gut bacteria. He notes that polar bears in northern Alaska have phthalates and parabens in their fat, showing how pervasive plastic contamination is. It's hard to find a control group for studies because everyone is already saturated with estrogenic chemicals.
Hormone Balance and Reference Ranges
Dr. Chaffee emphasizes that hormone balance is crucial, not just having more estrogen or testosterone. Reference ranges are based on averages, which are changing due to widespread health problems. He notes the wildly different B12 ranges across labs. Dr. Jay adds that B9 is also a factor and must be in balance with B12. He sees B12 levels as an indicator of nutrient absorption, influenced by gut health. Vegans often have low creatine levels, even though the body can make it, indicating gut issues.
Gut Health and Estrogen Absorption
Dr. Jay explains that a terrible gut biome leads to absorbing more plant and environmental estrogens. Sweating is a good way to clear these chemicals. Studies show more BPA and phthalates in sweat than in blood and urine. Saunas and high-intensity exercise can help with hormone balance. Dr. Chaffee suggests that the benefits of high-intensity exercise may be due to sweating out toxins.
Avoiding Chemicals and Environmental Impact
Dr. Jay stresses the importance of avoiding chemicals, such as drinking from plastic bottles. He recommends zero-plastic coffee makers and notes the trend toward products avoiding plastics. He also discusses the environmental impact of plastic waste. High estrogen levels can mimic pregnancy, triggering extra fat storage. Gynecomastia is a sign of breast tissue confusion due to high estrogen levels.
Menopause and Hormone Replacement
Dr. Chaffee asks how estrogenic exposures affect menopause. Dr. Jay says that early puberty can lead to early menopause. He is a fan of hormone replacement during menopause, especially starting with bioidentical progesterone creams. He has seen many men with sleep problems who are low in progesterone due to estrogen signaling. Both men and women need testosterone and progesterone for various health benefits.
Hormone Levels and Medical Misconceptions
Dr. Jay notes that women's testosterone levels drop significantly after menopause, but doctors often ignore this. He shares a story of a healthy man with high natural testosterone levels being told by a doctor that his levels were toxic. Dr. Jay recommends progesterone as a silver bullet for menopause and is also in favor of estrogen and testosterone replacement. He advises against using soy for estrogen replacement.
Bioidentical Hormones and Dairy Concerns
Dr. Chaffee points out that soy is not a bioidentical form of estrogen. Dr. Jay mentions that concerns about hormone replacement therapy were based on studies using non-bioidentical hormones from horses. He also raises concerns about estrogen levels in dairy milk from pregnant cows. Studies linking estrogen to breast cancer often use horse urine and don't balance estrogen with progesterone.
Animal Hormones and Food System Issues
Dr. Chaffee jokes about eating bull testicles for testosterone. Dr. Jay shares a story about butchering a cow and his neighbor recommending sending the cow to a feed lot before hormone pellets are added because they affect the taste. He emphasizes the importance of grass-fed beef and the detrimental omega-6 to omega-3 ratio in corn-fed beef.
Omega-3s and Carnivore Diet
Dr. Chaffee notes that after three months in a feed lot, beef has minimal omega-3s. He advises carnivore dieters to consider omega-3s by including grass-fed butter, tallow, fish, and organs. Dr. Jay adds that people with the APOE4 gene are more sensitive to omega-6s.
Hormone Improvements with Carnivore Diet
Dr. Chaffee has seen women come out of pre-menopause and even menopause with a ketogenic carnivore diet. Insulin blocks the conversion of testosterone to estrogen in women's ovaries. Correcting DHEA levels can often correct testosterone levels. Women on a ketogenic carnivore diet often return to 25-year-old levels of DHEA and testosterone. Men in their 70s have also returned to optimal testosterone levels with a carnivore diet, exercise, and sun exposure.
Thyroid Health and Carnivore Diet
Dr. Chaffee discusses thyroid health, noting that many people are hypothyroid. He has seen improvements in thyroid function with a carnivore diet, especially in patients with Hashimoto's. The diet removes factors that precipitate autoimmune responses and eliminates goitrogens, plant toxins that disrupt thyroid function. He also emphasizes optimizing iodine, zinc, and selenium uptake.
Thyroid Hormone Levels and Ketosis
Dr. Jay believes that thyroid numbers go down a little bit because receptors go up, making people more sensitive to thyroid hormones. Dr. Chaffee has seen thyroid blood tests improve across the board with a carnivore diet. He notes that ketosis reduces the demand for T3 because fat oxidation produces more ATP per molecule of T3.
Medical System and Hormone Health
Dr. Jay says that doctors often complain about thyroid blood tests improving because they are not well-trained in hormone health. The medical system is not interested in people's thyroid because there are no patented prescription drugs for it. He believes the medical system is intentionally not well-trained in hormone health because it is more preventative.
Taking Control of Health and Deprescribing
Dr. Jay emphasizes that people need to take control of their own health and be their own best advocate. Dr. Chaffee's practice focuses on health optimization and deprescribing medications. He shares a story of a patient on 18 medications who was able to significantly reduce them through dietary changes.
Prescription Cascades and Dietary Recommendations
Dr. Chaffee notes the problem of prescription cascades and shares a story about a drug company executive who favored drugs with side effects that could be treated with other drugs. Dr. Jay adds that dietary recommendations are often a scam, leading people to need more drugs. He criticizes the advice to cut sodium and eat more whole grains.
Practical Tips for Avoiding and Eliminating Toxins
Dr. Jay advises avoiding liquids in plastics and filtering water. He recommends checking the EWG tap water database to see chemicals in your water. Shower curtains and baby mattresses can also off-gas harmful chemicals. He suggests choosing tile over plastic flooring. Avoidance, exercise, and sweating are the best detox mechanisms.
Fat Cells and Seed Oils
Dr. Jay explains that estrogen-mimicking chemicals can stay in fat cells for a long time. Seed oils also store up in fat cells and take years to flush out. He notes the absence of acne in yearbooks from the 1930s and 1940s, before the widespread use of seed oils. Obesity amplifies these problems.
Fragrances and Promiscuous Receptors
Dr. Jay recommends going fragrance-free with everything, as most fragrances are petroleum-based synthetics that mimic estrogen. He explains that estrogen receptors are "promiscuous," binding to many different things. Testosterone has only one receptor, so there are fewer synthetic testosterone triggers.
Conclusion
Dr. Chaffee thanks Dr. Jay for the deep dive into hormone-disrupting chemicals and emphasizes the importance of living right and considering the impact on future generations. Dr. Jay can be found at ajconsultingcompany.com.
