Rethinking your coffee maker.
Hmmm. I love the smell of coffee first thing in the morning. But drinking coffee from a brewer that releases hot water through a plastic filter releases chemicals that act like estrogen in the body. And the last thing I need being that I am prone to being estrogen dominant and recovering from estrogen-receptor positive breast cancer are more chemicals that mimic estrogen in my body.
We can either produce too much estrogen on our own due to genetics, liver congestion or we can acquire it from our own environment or diet. In today’s modern world, hormones are added to foods, especially beef and dairy. They are present in pesticides, herbicides, plastics and even cosmetics.
Estrogen and progesterone need to be in balance for achieving optimal health. When xenoestrogens (foreign estrogens) enter the body, they increase the total amount of estrogen resulting in estrogen dominance. Estrogen dominance symptoms include: Irregular and heavy periods, weight gain, fibroids/endometriosis, fibrocystic breasts, insomnia, depression/anxiety/irritability, low libido and fatigue. So what does this have to do with coffee?
Well for many years, I began eating hormone-free foods, tossing out personal care products and home-cleaning supplies that were toxic and were known to be endocrine (hormone) disruptors. But I completely overlooked my coffee maker. I do love one hot steaming cup of organic coffee in the morning. I love the rich flavors from a freshly brewed cup and living in Minnesota, a warm cup of anything is almost a necessity.
In addition, when I went to a coffee house, I never thought about drinking through the plastic lid. Now at the counter, I ask them to hold the lid.
A good first step to minimizing xenoestrogens is to change my morning ritual. I researched coffee makers and found the Chemex coffee maker to be my favorite. Not only is it beautiful in design, the coffee only comes in contact with a non-bleached filter and non-porous glass. Besides being elegant, it produces a rich-tasting cup of coffee without bitterness and sediment. Once the pot is brewed, the grounds can easily be tossed out.
Other products I have used are Italian espresso makers and the French Press. They are made of stainless steel and glass respectively so they are great choices to avoid heated plastics. Personally I enjoy the taste of the coffee from my Chemex better and best of all, cleaning up the grounds is a lot easier when it is all contained in the filter.
I will be discussing step-by-step how to replace and or purchase products that will help you in your quest to balance your hormones. Since many of us drink coffee, working on replacing this habit will begin your journey to minimizing xenoestrogens. And at your favorite coffee shop, tell them to hold the lid.
