Today we’re going to go over pesticides and how they destroy your body and make people fat. None of this is considered medical advice by the way.

More than 1.1 billion pounds of conventional pesticides are used each year in the United States. Pesticides are known endocrine disruptors (EDCs) which are chemicals that interfere with the normal functioning of the endocrine system, which is responsible for regulating hormones.

Most people don’t really consider pesticide usage as a potential reason for weight loss plateaus or the inability to lose fat. They should though.

If you’ve been following me for a while, you’d probably know that I believe that weight gain is hormone/endocrine related.

If Pesticides Didn’t Exist, We Would be Healthier and Naturally Slimmer

Today you’re going to learn:

• How Pesticides Affect Key Hormones and Your Weight
• Other Issues with Pesticides
• Strategies to Minimize Pesticide Exposure

How Pesticides Affect Key Hormones and Your Weight

Did you know that more than 50 active ingredients in pesticides have been identified as endocrine disruptors? Chronic exposure to pesticides has been associated with numerous health conditions like obesity, diabetes, and other metabolic disorders.

The interaction between pesticides and our hormones is more significant than most people realize. These chemicals can actually mimic or block the action of numerous hormones in our bodies:

• Estrogen: Certain pesticides can mimic estrogen which can contribute to estrogen dominance in both women and men. Increased estrogen can promote fat storage, particularly in the hips and thighs. Please keep in mind that fat is an endocrine gland which also produces estrogen.
• Cortisol: Pesticides can indirectly elevate cortisol levels through increasing the activity of the HPA axis, which increases the release of corticotropin releasing hormone. This stimulates the pituitary gland to release adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) which tells the adrenals to release cortisol. Excess cortisol is known to promote fat storage.
• Progesterone: Pesticide exposure can disrupt progesterone production. Low levels of progesterone can also contribute to weight gain due to its role in regulating the metabolism.
• Thyroid: Pesticides can interfere with thyroid function, particularly with proper thyroid hormone synthesis, release, transport, metabolism, binding and action. Since your thyroid regulates your metabolism, impairment of thyroid activity can slow down metabolic processes, making weight loss significantly more challenging.
• Testosterone: Testosterone is crucial for muscle development and a healthy metabolism. Pesticides can lower testosterone levels, hindering muscle growth and fat burning. Some pesticides have actually been shown to activate aromatase, an enzyme that converts androgens (male sex hormones) to estrogens (female sex hormones).

Critical Insights that People Don’t Consider Regarding Pesticides

• Studies have shown that pesticides from different classes can promote fat accumulation in adipocytes (fat cells).
• Research has identified the storage of pesticides in human fat tissue, indicating that pesticides can be sequestered in fat cells.
• Commercial livestock feed is sprayed with pesticides. Those pesticides can also be sequestered in livestock fat cells.
• Pesticides are absorbed into the plant through their root systems. Washing fruit/veggies helps, but isn't bulletproof.
• The EPA has set maximum residue limits (MRL) on pesticide residue in food. Even at levels below the MRL, pesticides can have adverse health effects.
• Pesticides are some of the contaminants found in  tap water.
• The raw materials of alcohol, beer, and wine are heavily sprayed with pesticides
• I'm not recommending to go carnivore (you can if you want to though), but this is one of the biggest reasons that many people do well exclusively eating meat - they reduce their exposure to numerous environmental toxins, pesticides included.

Safeguarding Your Health: Strategies to Minimize Pesticide Exposure

Reducing your exposure to pesticides is vital to supporting your hormonal health and weight loss journey. Here’s how:

1. Choose Organic: Whenever possible, opt for organic produce. Organic farming standards prohibit or strictly limit the use of synthetic pesticides. It's not perfect though, but it's better. 
2. Thoroughly Wash Produce: Use a mixture of baking soda and water to wash your fruits and vegetables, which can help remove some pesticide residues.
3. Avoid Processed Foods: I personally always assume that any ultra-processed food will have numerous ingredients sprayed with pesticides
4. Diversify Your Diet: Eating a wide range of foods can reduce the risk of excessive exposure to a particular pesticide.
5. Filter Your Drinking Water: Tap water is contaminated with more than just pesticides. I personally use a reverse osmosis system. Affiliate Link (https://amzn.to/3G3b0r1). I love it. 
6. Stay Updated: Follow resources like the EWG’s 'Dirty Dozen' list to identify produce with the highest pesticide levels and make informed choices.
   1. Strawberries
   2. Spinach
   3. Kale, collard and mustard greens
   4. Peaches
   5. Pears
   6. Nectarines
   7. Apples
   8. Grapes
   9. Bell and hot peppers
   10. Cherries
   11. Blueberries
   12. Green beans

Actionable Tip for the Week:

⭐️ Reduce pesticide exposure by any means necessary (see above) ⭐️

 Cheers,

Tim

PS: I take requests and suggestions. Let me know if there's anything you want me to write about or make a video about. Would love to hear from you!