119: The Hidden Toxins Making You Fat, Dumb, and Impotent | Leonardo Trasande, MD

Podcast Notes Key Takeaways There are 4 main environmental toxins:Pesticides used in agricultureFlame retardants used in furniture, electronicsBisphenols used in aluminum cans and thermal paper receiptsPhthalates used in cosmetics, personal care products and food packagingA thyroid disruption in a pregnant mother can pass through the placenta into the fetus that can have permanent lifelong consequences for that child’s brain development and cause ADH, autism, or other health effectsThe two most known toxins to cause thyroid disruption are pesticides and flame retardants“Synthetic chemical exposure that mess with hormones can disrupt metabolism and increase weight gain” – Leonardo TrasandeBPA is an obesogen and is commonly used in aluminum cans and thermal paper receiptsPhthalates change how the body responds to fat or sugar loads“These chemicals rewire how calories are sent across the body and stored. So instead of making muscle…these chemicals hacks how the body processes them and puts it in fat as opposed to muscle” –  Leonardo TrasandeAvoid getting print receipts and especially avoid print receipts if you used hand sanitizer recently, it magnifies the effect of BPS by ten-fold“I pity some of the cashiers especially these days that are handling these receipts and lobbying on hand sanitizer to prevent various infection cricketers in their daily contact and then magnifying the absorption of these synthetic chemicals that are hormone disruptors”– Leonardo Trasande6 ways to avoid endocrine disruptors:Eat organicAvoid canned foodsSaying no to paper receiptsOpen your windows a minute or two each day using a wet mopDon’t microwave plasticsAvoid the recycling logos that have the numbers 3,6, or 7 (it has phthalates) 

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Dr. Leo Trasande is the Jim G. Hendrick, MD Professor, Director of the Division of Environmental Pediatrics and Vice Chair for Research in the Department of Pediatrics at NYU School of Medicine. He also serves on the faculty of the NYU Wagner School of Public Service and the NYU College of Global Public Health. He is an internationally renowned leader in environmental health. His new book is called Sicker, Fatter, Poorer: The Urgent Threat of Hormone-Disrupting Chemicals to Our Health and Future... and What We Can Do About It.