ABOUT HORMONE DECEPTION

Hormone Deception brings hormone disruption to life by interweaving the author's dramatic personal story with the emerging scientific research on the topic of hormone disruption. It offers new insights into the hormonal "soup" in which we live and provides an exploration of the compounds that can disrupt our hormones. Once you understand the problem, there are steps you can take – ways to protect you and your loved ones at home, school, or work from the possible effects of hormone disruption. Out of this understanding comes a practical list of what-to-do's in relation to diet, your home, and the way you may choose to utilize pharmaceutical hormones.

Hormone Deception takes you on a magical mystery tour through all the research on hormone disruptors and what this means for breast feeding, intelligence, emotional behavior, immune systems, and many other human events and conditions. The author researched this book for 6 years, waded through massive amounts of scientific data (there are almost 800 references backing up the information in the book), and then translated these facts into easy-to-understand reading. In the course of working on this book, Berkson interviewed over 60 inspiring people who are studying hormone disruption from many different angles. Highly regarded and extremely busy scientists gave her a lot of their precious time as she badgered them in person, on the phone, or through frantic e-mails because they, too, want you to understand what's happening with endocrine disruptors and the new, emergening picture about hormones.

Part I offers an introductory explanation of hormone disruptors, as well as describing the role of estrogen and other natural hormones in regard to our health. Chapter 4 shows how the daughters and sons of mothers who took DES, the first synthetic estrogen, are the canaries in the mine of hormone disruption.

Part II shows how the fetus in the womb and infants are the most vulnerable to hormone disruption, and how these compounds can affect the health of some of our children in relation to childhood diseases, puberty, sexual identity, behavior, and intelligence. Women's health issues – including fertility, pregnancy, menopause, fibroids, endometriosis, and cancer – are examined. Reproductive abnormalities in the male, such as lowered sperm count and abnormal penises, are also discussed, as well as diseases that affect both men and women.

Part III is an easy guide of practical suggestions, covering the food we eat, the water we drink, and a room-by-room tour that provides guidelines for minimizing our exposure to hormone disruptors in our home. Methods of detoxification – ways to get this stuff out of us – are discussed. We look at the ways in which we can help and show how consumership is a powerful tool for change.

In Appendix A, we go into detail about the various chemicals that are known and suspected hormone disruptors. Appendix B explains Natural Hormone Replacement and Hormone Potentiators, alternate ways of treating menopausal symptoms. Appendix C includes lists and charts that are referenced in earlier chapters. And Appendix D is a list of resources for further information.

Over 87,000 chemicals have entered the marketplace since World War II, very few of which have been sufficiently tested to determine whether or not they are a risk to our health. When we look at the weight of evidence – read all the scientific laboratory studies that have been conducted, see what has happened to DES children and to wildlife, and check the statistics for cancer and other diseases – it makes plain common sense to be as careful as possible about chemical compounds that act or are suspected of acting as hormone disruptors.

Some examples of what will be covered:

Assessing your risk Why men are from Mars and women are from Venus in relation to hormone disruptors How a child's IQ may be affected while still in the womb The 12 least contaminated fruits and vegetables The latest information about soy Consumer product information (and how product names can mislead you) Steps for ridding yourself of toxins Shocking news about baths and showers Herbal and nutritional remedies for specific menopausal complaints An inexpensive way to remove chlorine from drinking water The last thing we needed was something else to be paranoid about. Don't worry. Hormone Deception gives usable guidelines for reducing your exposure and thus protecting your health and that of your family