Article written by Janice Rosenthal
Owner gardenofessences.com and gardenofessences on etsy
WHAT ARE OBESOGENS?
Obesogens are chemicals we ingest which disrupt our hormonal system, which in turn can lead one in the direction of obesity. Whether one reaches full obesity or not, the symptoms of obesity begin to manifest as:
weight gain
fatigue
reproductive disorders
and many more symptoms related to endocrine disruption, including fibromyalgia.
For a complete detox read ‘5 Ways to Detoxify your Body’, or simply follow the Obesogen Detox, below.
I was honored to have my article, “5 Ways to Detoxify your Body” featured on Harcourt Health, where you can learn more about correct detoxification.
How to avoid Obesogens
Xenoestrogens: These obesogens are found in antibiotics, which doctors over prescribe. Only take antibiotics when a bacterial infection is present.
Phthalates: Phthalates, which are obesogens, are found in certain plastic containers, (see below, for list), and air fresheners.
Phthalates disrupt fat metabolism.
Phthalates can damage the liver, kidneys, lungs, and reproductive system.
Pesticides: There are thousands of pesticides sprayed on food, of special note, atrazine and DDE are major obesogens. For info on which food you must eat organic, see below.
BPA: This plastic, full of obesogens, is found in some hard plastic bottles, which hold sports drinks, and in linings of canned foods, unless the label specifically says ‘BPA free’.
BPA has been banned in baby bottles. Thats how toxic it is.
Plastics have triangular markings imprinted within the plastic, so avoid plastics with the number 3 or 7, as these may leach BPA.
Number 3 contains phthalates.
Instead look for the numbers 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6, which are unlikely to contain BPA.
BSA: This became the replacement for BPA, when the truth about BPA came out. However, it is just as bad as BPA. If in doubt, read your bottle manufacturer’s website, or write to them. Crystal Geyser wrote back to me, to inform me that their water bottles contain neither BPA nor BSA.
PFOA: THE MAIN INGREDIENT IN TEFLON COOKWARE, WHICH LEACHES INTO THE BODY, every time you cook on it. It is one of the major obesogens, and a known carcinogen.
PVC: These obesogens are found in cling-wrapped meats and cheeses, and other plastic-wrapped foods.
PVC is also found in the pipes leading to your faucet. A Water Purifier is essential, to filter out dozens of obesogens, toxins, and heavy metals.
Polystyrene / styrofoam: This chemical, packed with obesogens, leaches into your take-out coffee, and other hot drinks.
Meat, eggs, and cheese: All animals are given massive doses of Growth Hormone to increase their mass, which equals higher profits. So, only eat dairy stating “no BGH” on the label, or you will also get ‘fattened up’. Labels stating “Organic and no BGH”, are even better.
When it comes to eggs, eat ‘organic and antibiotic free’, to avoid these obesogens.
High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS): HFCS is now in almost every type of packaged food, due to it being far cheaper to manufacture than sugar. It is one of the main obesogens in the American diet, and has been theorized by many authorities, to be one of the leading causes of the fast-growing obesity epidemic in this country.
Studies have found that regular consumption of HFCS will double your chances of becoming obese.
High fructose corn syrup is not corn, nor is it fruit. Yes, it is derived from corn, but once the glucose in the starch is chemically converted into syrup, by the time you eat it, it is a chemical, not a food.
Due to the bad press HFCS has received, BE AWARE that companies producing HFCS have been granted permission to use the following terms on food labels: corn syrup, corn sugar, fructose, glucose syrup, maize syrup, isoglucose.
Tap water: Heavy metals are leached from metal pipes, and enter the faucet. Heavy metals are obesogens.
Modern plumbing is made of PVC piping, which is a major source of obesogens, as the plastics leach into the water.
Fluoride, in tap water, is only slightly less toxic than arsenic. Scientifically published research shows that a build-up of fluoride in the body, leads to fibromyalgia, weak bones, heart and arterial disease, ADHD and a host of other degenerative diseases.
Fluoride is a goitrogen, that lowers the level of iodine in the thyroid gland, and disrupts its function. This leads to hypothyroidism, which in turn, often leads to osteoporosis.
Other symptoms of fluoride build up, are: arthritic joints, diabetes insipidus, and chronic skin rash disorders.
Therefore, fluoride is one of the major obesogens, and is consumed daily, by the gallon.
Fluoride accumulates in cells. But there are ways to detoxify from fluoride:
How to detox from fluoride
A. The only scientifically proven way to detox from fluoride, is with iodine. Infusing the body with iodine, displaces fluoride from cell receptors, and flushes the fluoride out of the body, and into the urine.
Sources of iodine include seaweeds, seafood, kelp supplements, curcumin extract, tamarind extract, organic blackberry juice, and quercetin.
B. Buy a powerful water filter, which is proven to remove fluoride, and other heavy metals. Remember to only cook with filtered water, and this includes tea and coffee beverages.
C. Most pesticides contain fluorides, so if you have been eating produce that is heavily sprayed, you have been ingesting fluoride. Washing fruit and veg does not help. The pesticides penetrate the skins.
Recently, EWG published a list of the most heavily sprayed foods, from data they accumulated from the FDA’s extensive testing, The conclusion was that the following produce must only be eaten organic, or else, you will be seriously endangering your health:
strawberries, apples, nectarines, peaches, celery, grapes, cherries, spinach, tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumbers.
Also to be avoided, are juices made from the above produce. 
Berries, although borderline ‘safe’, are not safe, due to pesticides penetrating them to the core.
Although not on the list, potatoes, lettuces, and citrus fruits should also be eaten organic, as they are heavily sprayed with fluoride-based chemicals, far in excess of a safe dose.
How to Detox from Obesogens
Obviously, you would avoid all the items on the above list. Secondly, the supplements most effective in removing obesogens from your cells, are:
reishi extract / tamarind extract / curcumin / calcium D-Glucarate / greens powders containing wheat grass, barley grass, kelp, and other cruciferous and green veges.
Take these supplements for 3 weeks, while avoiding all the issues mentioned in the above article, ‘How to avoid Obesogens.’
Weight loss should be expected, but equally importantly, symptoms which were caused by obesogens, should decrease dramatically.
Article written by Janice Rosenthal
Owner gardenofessences.com and gardenofessences on etsy