Men And Their Meat, Part 1: The Virility Connection
As a medical research specialist and healthcare consultant my special area of interest has been hormones, largely in part to the birth defect I was born with. For the last fifteen years I’ve been mentally bathed in everything hormonal. There is not a day that goes by that I don’t say the word 50 times. With my research concentrating for so long on the effects that hormones and additives in food have on children I got to thinking…. what about men? When we think about hormones, we normally think women, menopause, and disruptions of the reproductive system. It’s fairly obvious to most at this point that hormones and antibiotics in food affect children can cause premature maturation, obesity and even cancer. But what is the effect of hormones and food in men? Does it really make a difference? What is the connection between men and their meat?
Estrogen disruption has become one of the most common medical complaints in this century. Insulin resistance, low sperm count, estrogen dominance, premature maturation, early onset diabetes. All of these things and a thousand more have to do with hormones. In 1992, a historical analysis of 62 separate sperm-count studies, by Elisabeth Carlsen, concluded that sperm count among men throughout the industrialized world has declined by about 50% during the past 50 years. In 1994 this finding was challenged by researchers who said that it might have been caused by Carlsen’s erroneous choice of statistical methods, not by an actual decline in sperm count. The two new studies appear to confirm the conclusion than an actual decline in sperm count has occurred and is occurring.
The reported sperm loss appears to be occurring world-wide. There are confirming data from animal experiments as well. One major culprit in this problem appears to be dioxins. Dioxins do much of their toxic work by acting as an estrogen-like hormone. They interfere with the endocrine gland system, causes cancer, affects reproductive & immune systems. Pregnant female rats given a single, very low, dose of dioxins on the 15th day of gestation produce male offspring that have genital tract abnormalities (particularly undescended testicles) and that have a low sperm count after they mature.
Dioxins are produced by both natural processes, including volcanoes and forest fires, as well as man-made processes such as manufacturing, incineration, paper and pulp bleaching, and the burning of fossil fuels. They are created during the manufacturing of products that contain chlorine. Many weed killers (that organic farmers don’t use), paper bleached with elemental chlorine, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic are examples of chlorinated products. Dioxins are highly toxic to humans and other animals. Combustion of fossil fuels releases dioxins into the air, where they eventually fall to the ground and into surface waters.
How are humans exposed to dioxins? Unfortunately, they’re everywhere. They are found in air, water and soil. And, most importantly, our food. Animals consume the dioxin-contaminated water and plants, and the dioxins accumulate in their fatty tissues. It is estimated that 95 percent of human exposure to dioxins occurs through eating animal products such as milk, cheese, and and beef. Dioxins can also be transmitted from mothers to children during pregnancy and nursing.
As organic farmers, we raise our cows in a certified organic pasture, and we are very careful to keep them away from any substance that can adversely affect them. As consumers, men who are concerned about their health and virility need to learn that organics aren’t just a fad, more expensive and ’something my wife wants to do.’ Men truly are what they eat. It’s important that men learn how to avoid toxins. One way to do that is to eat organically and locally whenever possible and avoid unnecessary exposure to chemicals. Dioxins are only a small part of the destruction of our food chain and the dangers to our own species as a whole. Next month in my series of Men and Their Meat I will cover the estrogen disrupting hormones that are found on produce and their effect on men.
This is a great topic. Almost every one is concerned about the global warming and environment protection but sometimes people don’t know what to do. I’m glad to work for an organization that for several years had promoted the use of recycled and eco friendly products and offer constantly support to friends and customers.