Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals: How to Reduce Toxins for Better Hormonal Health and Management of Endometriosis

What Are Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs)?

Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are substances that can mimic, block, or interfere with your body’s natural hormones. Research shows they can play a direct role in hormonal health conditions such as infertility, PCOS, fibroids, endometriosis, and adenomyosis.

These chemicals are found everywhere — in the air we breathe, the food we eat, the water we drink and bathe in, and the product we use on our bodies and in our homes daily. Reducing exposure is key for long-term hormonal and reproductive health.

The Link Between Xenoestrogens and Hormone Imbalance

One important group of EDCs to understand are xenoestrogens (pronounced zeno-estrogens). These chemicals can bind to oestrogen receptors in the body, but instead of supporting balance, they disrupt it — increasing the risk of reproductive diseases and symptoms associated with oestrogen dominance (think heavy painful periods, irregular cycles, breast tenderness, mood swings, bloating and fluid retention, weight gain, headaches or migraines, insomnia, Endometriosis, uterine fibroids, and fertility challenges).

How to Reduce Toxin Exposure and Support Hormone Health

Avoiding every toxin isn’t realistic — but making small, consistent swaps can greatly lower your exposure over time. Here are some foundational changes to reduce xenoestrogens and other hormone disruptors.

1. Reduce Plastics in Your Daily Routine

• Bring your own containers and cups – Avoid hot drinks and meals in plastic by using a reusable option.

• Never heat food in plastic – Chemicals leach more when heated, so avoid microwaving or boiling in plastic.

• Store food in glass or stainless steel – Especially for freezing or long-term storage. Aldi and Woolworths both have great options for glass containers!

• Invest in a water filter – BPA and other chemicals can leach from PVC pipes into drinking water. Keep you eye out for some water filter recommendations and how to choose the best filter for you, coming soon!

2. Choose Hormone-Safe Personal Care Products

• Start with the products you use most often – Replace daily-use skincare and cosmetics first, things you use the most!

• Look for paraben-free and phthalate-free on labels. You can shop my go-to safe options by signing up here, simply request my ‘Low-Tox Shopping List’ when signing up and I’ll send it to you. If you’re a current client, simply send me a request from your script account.

• Audit your current products using the Skin Deep Database.

• Switch to cleaner fragrances – Try essential oil roll-ons or toxin-free brands like One Seed, Recreation Beauty, and Ode to Self. They all offer testers which are a great idea to get started!

3. Choose Hormone-Safe Home Cleaning Products

• Switch to plant based cleaners - Look for brands that say no ‘synthetic fragrances, parabens or harsh chemicals’ - Koala Eco and Abode are my favs to use in the home!

• Make your own with common household items - White vinegar, baking soda and Eucalyptus essential oil are honestly incredible at keeping your home sparkly clean! I always have a white vinegar and water mix in a spray bottle on hand along with baking soda as it gets stains off benches like you wouldn’t believe!

• Avoid all synthetic fragrances. Essential oils are all you want for happy hormones.

• Use microfibre cloths.

• Shop my favourite Home Cleaning Products by signing up here and requesting my ‘Low-Tox Home Cleaning Products’ and I’'ll send it straight to you!

• Avoid all air-fresheners - opt for essential oil diffusers or open the windows!

4. Limit Pesticide and Hormone Exposure in Your Diet

• Follow the Dirty Dozen & Clean Fifteen list to prioritise which foods to buy organic.

• Shop at local farmers markets for spray-free and organic produce at (much) better prices.

• Choose certified organic when possible, especially for produce you eat regularly, I know this can be pricey but your hormones and overall health will be very happy!

• Choose organic, grass fed meat and poultry where possible. Places like Butcher Crowd and Ethical Farmers are helping make this easier for consumers

• Choose Wild Caught fish where possible. The GoodFish site is great for helping to guide your choices on wild-caught versus farmed fish!

5. Avoid Heavy Metals That Disrupt Hormones

• Choose low-mercury fish – Avoid shark, swordfish, marlin, tuna, barramundi, and other large fish.

• Eat smaller fish under 40cm like sardines, herring, anchovies, and whiting.

• Filter your water to reduce lead exposure.

• Check bone broth and organ meats for heavy metal testing. I like Ancestral Nutrition for all things powdered organ meats. You can sign up here to shop, along with my other clean recommendations!

• Avoid smoking and vaping, which increase heavy metal exposure.

Small Changes, Big Impact for Your Hormonal Health

Reducing your exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals is one of the most powerful ways to support hormone balance, protect fertility, and lower your risk of reproductive conditions. Start with one change at a time and build from there - small, consistent steps will have the biggest long-term impact.

To gain access to all of the above recommendations (home and personal care products) I recommend to my clients, sign up here and request the ‘Low-Tox Shopping List’ and I’ll send it straight through to you!

If you want more in-depth tips, tricks and insights on how to support your hormonal health, subscribe to my email list here

If you’ve been wanting support with hormonal imbalances or Endometriosis - you can book an appointment to start your journey back to feeling really well here. I can’t wait to support you in a 1:1 setting!

Any further questions, feel free to email me at tayla@wildhealthstudio.com