Pulling Down the Moon

Cleaning Up Everyday Toxicity

Aug 19, 2010

Here at Pulling Down the Moon, in addition to optimizing your diet, we also look at the bigger picture of your total lifestyle and how it may be affecting your chances of conception. Many items that you use every day can be a source of toxic chemicals that could negatively impact your fertility, such as plastic water bottles and food containers, personal care products, and household cleaners to name a few. Bisphenol A (BPA), specifically, has been getting lots of bad press recently as more studies show its detrimental health effects such as possible increased risk for breast and prostate cancers and hyperactivity according to the Environmental Working Group (EWG).


BPA is a chemical used in certain types of plastic, including food containers, which is an estrogen mimic, meaning that in our bodies Bisphenol A acts like estrogen does. Estrogen is, of course, an important hormone in women’s health and fertility, however estrogen dominance is associated with increased risk for ovarian and breast cancers, endometriosis, and uterine fibroids. A study in the journal Human Reproduction found that exposure to Bisphenol A was associated with recurrent miscarriage. Another study noted that higher levels of BPA in the blood were associated with increased risk for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). Furthermore, BPA may negatively impact male fertility by causing the creation of reactive oxygen species according to another study. Given the mounting evidence against BPA in the areas of hormone balance and fertility, it is wise to keep BPA exposure as low as possible.


Follow these tips to phase BPA out of your life for better overall health and fertility:

  • Make sure all water bottles you drink out of state that they are “BPA free.” Stainless steel water bottles are preferable to plastic, but you still must make sure the bottles are “BPA free,” because sometimes metal bottles are lined with BPA.
  • Use a stainless steel lined travel mug for carrying hot beverages. Avoid plastic lined cups.
  • Never microwave your food in plastic. Invest in glass food containers for reheating leftovers.
  • Avoid putting food in any polycarbonate plastic containers with the #7 inside of the recycle symbol.
  • Minimize intake of canned foods. The lining of cans contains BPA which is capable of leaching into the food. Some companies including Trader Joe’s and Eden foods do use some BPA-free cans, but not across the board.


References

1. Sugiura-Ogaswara M, Ozaki Y, Shin-ichi S, Makino T, Suzumori K (2007). Exposure to bisphenol A is associated with recurrent miscarriage. Human Reproduction . 20:8:2325-2329.

2. Ooe H, Taira T, Iguchi-Ariga SMM, Ariga H (2005). Induction of Reactive Oxygen Species by Bisphenol A and

3. Abrogation of Bisphenol A-Induced Cell Injury by DJ  Toxicological Sciences . 88(1), 114-126.

4. Takeuchi T, Tsutsymi O, Ikezuki Y, Takai Y (2004). Positive Relationship between Androgen and the Endocrine Disruptor, Bisphenol A, in Normal Women and Women with Ovarian Dysfunction.  Endocrine Journal . 51(2):165-169.

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Therapeutic Yoga for PCOS?

By Beth Heller • 13 Sep, 2024
There are many reasons that a therapeutic yoga program may benefit women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. PCOS presents very differently in different women but the syndrome as whole is associated with infertility and other adverse health conditions including obesity, diabetes and heart disease. Women with PCOS may also have higher levels of chronic inflammation and elevated levels of circulating stress hormones. The good news is that more and more research suggests that lifestyle intervention including lifestyle intervention including diet and exercise may be the best way to manage PCOS. In addition, new research is showing the benefit of Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat the hormonal imbalances, symptoms like hirsutism and acne, and menstrual irregularity that is associated with PCOS. Another element of PDtM’s PCOS “Action Plan is yoga. Yoga has been shown to lower levels of stress hormones and women with a regular yoga practice have been show to have a “healthier physiological response to stress". Yoga has also been shown to reduce markers of oxidative stress and blood sugar control in people with diabetes as well as improve blood pressure and cholesterol levels in heart disease patients (1). Some of the goals of a therapeutic yoga practice for PCOS include: Standing and seated yoga asana that create an invigorating, but not exhausting, exercise session Twisting poses, which in yoga physiology are believed to help decrease abdominal fat Postures that bring blood to the thyroid gland, an important endocrine gland for metabolism Stimulating agni, the digestive fire, that supports complete digestion and metabolism of foods Mudras (hand yoga) that stimulate different physiological and energetic systems Breathing exercises that induce the relaxation response While lifestyle changes can be very helpful with PCOS, they are not enough on their own. Working in partnership with you physician or Reproductive Endocrinologist and ensuring they are kept up to date on any holistic treatments you may be using is the smartest approach for PCOS management. Yoga for Fertility to support PCOS is available at Pulling Down the Moon in-center starting on Sept 21st and virtually starting on Sept 30th . If you would like to learn more about PDtM’s PCOS Action Plan to manager your PCOS Action Plan with holistic health treatment ( Acupuncture , Massage , Nutrition , and Yoga ) then contact us at 312-321-0004 or email info@pullingdownthemoon.com to get started today! (1) Field, T. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice 17 (2011) 1e8
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Pregnancy Passport: Relaxed Mommies Make Healthier Babies

By Beth Heller, MS RYT • 15 Aug, 2024
As I’ve said before, it took me seven years and five pregnancies to get two kids. So, while pregnancy was a joyful time for me on some levels, it was also a time of stress and sleepless anxiety. In fact my business partner Tami will often joke that my pregnancies were some of the most stressful times of her life. Honestly, though, without yoga, massage and acupuncture I think I would have bitten my fingernails to the quick waiting for Jackson and Calvin to arrive safely. What I didn’t know then was that seeking relief for anxiety through holistic means was also good for my boys. A growing body of clinical evidence now suggests that prenatal stress, depression and/or anxiety is linked to adverse health outcomes for both moms and babies including preterm birth, preeclampsia and even future risk of chronic disease and obesity (1). Women, especially women who have struggled to conceive, may feel guilty about experiencing anxious emotions during this “blissful time". Yet preparing for a new baby, no matter how hard one had to work to get it, can be stressful. Changes in the body during pregnancy, including the strains of a growing belly and nighttime muscle cramps, can also disrupt sleep, which increases stress. Rather than worry about worrying, we suggest you take the bull by the horns and enjoy a 360 degree self-care program during pregnancy. And honestly, it will never again be as easy to justify self-care like acupuncture , massage and yoga as it is when your efforts are a “double-dip – good for mom and great for baby. Here are several strategies for decreasing maternal stress and improving overall well-being during pregnancy: 1. Get acupuncture. A 2010 study in Obstetrics and Gynecology found that acupuncture treatment alleviated symptoms of stress and depression in pregnant women and women experiencing infertility (2, 3). Acupuncture has also been shown to be effective at managing morning sickness, back and pelvic pain and labor pain. Make sure, however, that you see a practitioner who is experienced in treating pregnancy. 2. Do prenatal yoga. Compared to controls, women who did prenatal yoga experienced significant reductions in physical pain from baseline to post intervention compared with women in the third trimester whose pain increased. Women in the yoga group showed greater reductions in perceived stress and trait anxiety in their third trimester than women from the control group (4) The same women also experienced better sleep and less wakefulness (5). 3. Get prenatal massage. Research shows that women who received prenatal massage reported decreased depression, anxiety, and leg and back pain. Cortisol levels decreased, which decreased excessive fetal activity; the rate of baby prematurity was also lower (6). 4. Seek expert prenatal nutrition counseling. There are specific nutritional strategies for managing weight gain, avoiding conditions like Gestational Diabetes and Pre-eclampsia and improving digestion (less heartburn, avoid constipation). At Pulling Down the Moon we target our prenatal nutrition consults based on trimester. Get your passport to pregnancy relaxation by getting started today with prenatal care in Chicago , Highland Park , or virtually ! Gift certificates are also available at our online store shop.pullingdownthemoon.com . 1. Entringer S et al. Prenatal stress and developmental programming of human health and disease risk: concepts and integration of empirical findings. Curr Opin Endocrinol Diabetes Obes. 2010 Dec;17(6):507-16. 2. Smith CA. 1. SMith The effect of acupuncture on psychosocial outcomes for women experiencing infertility. J Altern Complement Med. 2011 Oct;17(10):923-30. Epub 2011 Oct 6 . 3. Manber et al. Acupuncture for depression during pregnancy: a randomized controlled trial. Obstet Gynecol. 2010 Mar;115(3):511-20. 4. Beddoe AE et al. The effects of mindfulness-based yoga during pregnancy on maternal psychological and physical distress. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs. 2009 May-Jun;38(3):310-9. 5. Beddoe AE et al. Effects of mindful yoga on sleep in pregnant women: a pilot study. Biol Res Nurs. 2010 Apr;11(4):363-70. 6. Field, T. (2010). Pregnancy and labor massage therapy. Expert Review of Obstetrics and Gynecology , 5, 177-181.
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