In a span of just over 80 years, we have produced 70,000 industrial chemicals that have become integrated into our environment. What is particularly concerning is that a significant number of these toxins are present in our food chain! Alongside the toxins we inhale and those that come into contact with our skin, they contribute to the toxic burden that our liver and other organs strive to manage every single moment of every day! Additionally, let’s not overlook other toxins such as:

• alcohol
• medication
• excess caffeine - coffee
• smoking

It's hardly surprising that we experience illness, sleep disturbances, low energy, and struggle with being overweight and sluggish. Toxins also play a significant role in disrupting our hormonal balance, impacting the mitochondria – the energy-producing powerhouses in our cells that are essential for our metabolism.

BPA - a synthetic compound utilized to strengthen plastics, is also present in epoxy resins. Recent research reveals that over 90% of North Americans carry BPA in their bodies. This compound not only lowers testosterone levels, but also imitates estrogen, contributing to increased abdominal fat, reduced libido, cardiovascular issues, and lowered immunity. Men experiencing low sperm counts should consider testing for BPA. Over the last 60 years, sperm counts among men have notably decreased; researchers indicate that the average sperm count has plummeted by 45%, dropping from 113 million per millilitre of semen in 1940 to under 66 million by 2000. Additionally, the volume of semen ejaculated has fallen by 25%, cumulatively resulting in a 50% decline in total sperm count. The incidence of men with extremely low sperm counts, around 20 million, has surged threefold during this timeframe, escalating from 6% to 18%. Furthermore, men exhibiting higher BPA levels show diminished sperm counts and quality, alongside heightened instances of sexual dysfunction.

Doxin - is a by-product of chemical manufacturing processes that involve chlorine, incineration, and combustion. Among these by-products are dry cleaning solvents, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, disinfectants, and plastics. It's alarming to realize that they can be found everywhere, including in dairy and meat products. Exposure to dioxins has also been linked to cancer. Research indicates that women with endometriosis tend to have elevated levels of PCBs in their bloodstream. Chlorine stands out as one of the most extensively used chemicals, found in drinking water, household cleaning products, and in the air for those living near industrial sites that utilize it. This exposure can result in severe respiratory issues.

Phthalates -  are plastic compounds that enhance the flexibility of various manufactured products, including children's toys, vinyl flooring, nail polish, hair spray, and slow-release medications. These compounds are fat-soluble and exhibit estrogenic and anti-androgenic properties, disrupting hormonal functions and contributing to weight gain as the liver struggles to detoxify an overloaded system. Phthalates can cause DNA damage and deform sperm cells, leading to decreased sperm production and a higher incidence of cancer. While smoking is harmful to lung and oesophagal health, it also adversely affects reproductive health. Cigarettes contain cadmium, a heavy metal that diminishes blood flow to the testes, resulting in oxidative stress and damage to testicular cells, which in turn leads to lower sperm counts and increased sperm abnormalities.

Cancer - has risen alarmingly in the last 50 years. Cambridge University's East Anglican Cancer Intelligence Unit has now predicted that by 2018 there will be a 50% chance of people getting cancer! This has in fact already been proven in the heavily industrialised areas where environmental toxins tend to concentrate. Mould and other fungal toxins can cause cancer too, as well as heart disease, asthma, MS and diabetes. Major areas of concern are contaminated buildings, peanuts, wheat, corn and alcoholic beverages. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC's) are mainly found in indoor air than in outdoor air because they put off gas from household products such as drinking water, carpet, paint, deodorants, cleaning fluids, varnishes, cosmetics, sunscreens, dry cleaned clothes, air fresheners etc. These all lead to cancer, eye and respiratory problems, headaches, dizziness and memory problems. Progesterone is protective against cancer.

Prostate Cancer - has doubled dramatically. It is estimated that in 20 years 1 in 4 men will have it, making it a bigger problem than breast cancer. It is now the most common cancer in American men. The National Cancer Institute in the USA reported a 127% rise in prostate cancer from 1973 to 1991, making that a yearly increase of 3.9%. Over 400,000 men in the USA are operated on each year for prostate problems, over 40,000 die from them. A study in the USA discovered that male mice exposed to the natural female hormone estradiol - one of the estrogens - or to a synthetic estrogen whilst still a foetus, affected the prostate gland causing hypersensitivity to the male sex hormones for the remainder of the animal's lives. As a result, researchers found that when the mice reached puberty they had all the symptoms of prostate disease found in men i.e. enlargement, smaller urethras, inflammation, increased frequency of urination and cellular changes similar to cancer in humans. Yet another study found a high fat and meat diet linked to a greater increase in the disease, due to the estrogenic steroids given to livestock to fatten them up!

Testicular Cancer - in Denmark has tripled since the 2nd World War, with rates increasing by 2-4% per year and 5% in Germany and Poland. It is the most common cancer found in young men. This is caused by the rapid increase in testosterone, which occurs during puberty, acting on previously damaged cells. The occurrence of undescended testes has doubled since the 1940's and now affects 2-3% of all baby boys. It has also been reported that there is also a 2-3% increase in abnormalities of the penis resulting in mild to severe hermaphrodite (having both male and female sex organs).

Breast Cancer - Over the past 60 years, the incidence of breast cancer has surged dramatically. In 1940, the odds of a woman developing breast cancer were 1 in 20, but that figure has now escalated to 1 in 8. Currently, it stands as the primary cause of death for women aged 40 to 45. Furthermore, the number of reported cases in the USA skyrocketed by 32% from 1980 to 1987! It's well established that a woman's exposure to her natural estrogen significantly heightens her risk of developing breast cancer. This risk is further amplified for those using contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy (HRT). The American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology noted as early as 1993 that both long-term and short-term users of HRT face a 40% increased risk of breast cancer.

There is growing alarm over the potential link between estrogen-mimicking chemicals and the onset of cancers. Professors Carlos Sonnenschein and Ana Soto have conducted experiments demonstrating that breast cancer cells proliferate, revealing that nonylphenol produces a similar effect. This toxic chemical is commonly found in industrial detergents, lubricating oils, paints, plastics, toiletries, and agricultural products.

Cervical cancer - Since 1986, the incidence of endometrial cancer in women under 50 has been rising at an annual rate of 3%. This type of cancer is primarily driven by estrogen that remains unopposed by progesterone or progestins, commonly found in hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Currently, over 12 million women in the USA suffer from endometriosis, with 30-40% facing infertility issues. Before 1921, there had only been 20 cases documented worldwide, and the condition is most prevalent among those aged 25 to 40. Research suggests that dioxin, an environmental toxin, may contribute to a compromised immune system. Estrogen acts as an inflammatory hormone that promotes the growth of endometrial tissues, while progesterone serves to counteract excess estrogen, functioning as a calming and anti-inflammatory hormone.

PCB's - heighten the likelihood of miscarriage by leading to a decrease in progesterone through the expedited breakdown of this hormone in the liver. PCBs were first introduced in 1929 and found applications in various sectors such as the electrical industry, lubricants, plastics, paints, varnishes, inks, and pesticides. However, they were banned in 1976 due to their inability to decompose, resulting in their persistence in the air, soil, water, animals, birds, fish, and humans.

Reproductive and behavioural problems - are rising globally. Theo Colborn's book/book, Our Stolen Future, vividly highlights how hormone disruptors are impacting brain development and behaviour in animals, proposing that this may explain the surge in learning difficulties, hyperactivity, and aggressive behaviour among children. Disturbingly, 5% of infants in the USA are exposed to enough PCBs in breast milk to potentially harm their neurological development.

Anxiety and Depression - Mental health issues are on the rise in the UK. The alarming 210% increase in spending on anti-depressants from 1993 to 1998 raises serious concerns. Environmental toxins are being identified as contributing factors. Over 6 million adults in the UK experience some form of mental health challenge. Research now shows that the rate of incidence among children is doubling every five years, alongside a rise in hyperactivity. In 1998 alone, approximately 50,000 prescriptions for Ritalin, a leading medication for managing hyperactivity in children, were issued.

Autoimmune diseases are on the rise, with a higher prevalence observed in women compared to men. The connection between low progesterone levels and environmental toxins is significant. The late Dr. John Lee, renowned for his research on progesterone therapy, raised the possibility that these ailments could be manifestations of estrogen toxicity. Many of his patients receiving progesterone treatment reported a remarkable improvement in their debilitating autoimmune symptoms.

The late Dr. Katharina Dalton, who had been administering progesterone therapy in the UK since 1948, discovered that there is no justification for restricting progesterone's use solely to menstrual, pregnancy, and hormonal concerns, as it is present in all vertebrates. Progesterone is essential for both men and women, playing a crucial role in safeguarding our health from environmental influences. It serves as a powerful anti-inflammatory, anxiolytic, and antioxidant.

The book 'Progesterone in Orthomolecular Medicine' by Dr. Ray Peat discusses various negative impacts that estrogen can have on the body.

• Salt and water retention
• Increases body and blood fat, blood clotting, embolisms
• Lowers blood sugar
• Opposes actions of thyroxine
• Causes copper retention and zinc loss
• Promotes development of fibroids, histamine release
• Promotes gallbladder disease
• Accelerates aging of collagen (connective tissue)
• Increases risk of endometrial cancer and endometriosis
• Increases risk of fibrocystic breast disease and breast cancer
• Restrains osteoclast function
• Decreases libido
• Reduces oxygen levels in all cells

Progesterone opposes all of these, but more importantly, it counters stress - see here.