Consider exploring topics from across the top or click the More button on the right choosing information on foods, over the counter, or herbs. Use the pulldown menu to choose an item.Words in brown are links. This site contains details on cystic organ disease. If you cannot find what you are looking for, contact us, or try searching using the search engine or the language translator located at the bottom of each page.
Plastic
Avoid Plastic, Strong Estrogen Disruptor
Plastic (BPA, phthalates) is a strong estrogen disruptor. All plastic, but especially plastic containing Bisphenol A, has been considered unsafe for children and pregnant women particularly when associated with heated foods. Try avoiding plastic from coming into contact with any thing that is put into the mouth. Save glass bottles to use for storage. Food manufacturers Line the inside of cans with BPA.
However it is always better to keep kidneys well hydrated rather than to avoid drinking water for fear it comes in a plastic container. Allow city water to sit out for twenty four hours to dissipate any residual added chlorine (from city drinking supplies).
Bisphenol A or BPA
Bisphenol A is a potent endocrine disruptor. It has been widely used in cosmetics and foods. Bisphenol A was investigated in the 1930's during a scientific search for estrogen mimickers. Plastic is now known as an estrogen disruptor. In the 1930's, while studying the synthetic compound diethylstilbestrol (DES), DES was shown to be a better competitor for estrogen. This lead to other possible uses for plastic or Bisphenol A. Bisphenol A activates estrogen receptors, leading to similar physiological effects as bombarding the body with its own hormones.Liver Cysts
Liver cysts have estrogen receptors. The first evidence of estrogenicity of BPA or bisphenol A or plastic came from experiments in the 1930s when it was fed to rats without ovaries. Hormone disrupting effects in studies on animals and human cancer cells have been shown to occur at levels as low as 2 to 5 ppb (parts per billion). It has been claimed that these effects lead to health problems: in men, a lowered sperm count and infertile sperm have resulted. Recent medical studies confirmed that bisphenol A exposure during fetal development has carcinogenic effects and produces precursors to breast cancer.
What Makes Liver Cysts Grow?
Liver cysts have receptors within their cell walls. These following compounds are similar. They ↑ liver size and cyst growth attaching to hormone receptors within the liver cysts.
BPA
Bleach
Endocrine disruptors
Hormones
Parabens
Phytoestrogens
Phthalates
Plastic
Xenoestrogens
Phthalates
Phthalates (BPA, plastics) are used to make vinyl soft and flexible. Medical devices, toys, cars, homes all contain flexible vinyl products. These molecules stimulate liver cyst growth. Phthalates resemble hormone like molecules and their use can be found in many products: such as blood storage bags, intravenous medical tubing, stents, petri dishes, vinyl flooring, detergents, automotive plastics, soap, shampoo, deodorants, fragrances, hair spray, nail polish, plastic bags, food packaging, garden hoses, inflatable toys, vitamin bottles, containers, plastic wrap, water bottles, and more. It is also used in cosmetics, especially nail polish. DEHP, or di(2-ethylhexyl) are phthalate chemicals that leach hormone like chemicals have been linked to reproductive problems. Male infants, pregnant women are at higher risk from any exposure to phthalates (pronounced THAL-ates), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Why is plastic harmful for PLD?
Chemicals that resemble estrogen molecules, with a similar structure to hormones are called estrogen mimickers, false estrogens, xenoestrogens. When present in plants these are called phytoestrogens. I wondered why some plant estrogens seemed to create a growth and pain in my liver cysts and others do not. I read that sometimes several false estrogens, though weak on their own, when combined become with another endocrine disruptor become a super false estrogen.
Self Testing Liver Size
Self testing can be done by measuring your own girth at the same, at the same place on your body each day. This is called self testing. Try withdrawing the food, herb, supplement than re-starting it in a week's time to see if once again symptoms return or abate. Through this self testing is how the list of avoid and enjoy items has come about. Those experienced as being harmful have caused a liver to grow in size. These items are called xenoestrogens.
This abundance of empirical knowledge, our experiences, are here on this website; i.e., that chicken, caused polycystic liver expansion along with deep liver aches. Consumer Reports Magazine, pointed out that all poultry in the USA is dipped in a bleach bath to prevent salmonella. We experienced a deep ache in our cystic liver when we ate poultry. No one knew or understood the reason for this pain. Then it clicked. Food manufacturers were dipping poultry, produce, food in a bleach bath before bringing these to market. Bleach, chlorides are endocrine disruptors. They disturb liver cysts. These additives are the source of pain. Once eliminated, the liver pains lessened.
By eliminating bleach products, alcohol and alcohol products, ammonia and ammonia based products and pesticides this lessened kidney and liver pain. Take this further by eliminating bleach in toilet paper, napkins, paper towel, coffee filters, shower city water that is treated with bleach.
Coffee is a phytoestrogen that exacerbates cystic disease. Coffee made with bleached coffee filters results in a triple whammy of xenoestrogens from the bleach in the coffee filters in combination with xenoestrogens from the hot liquid combining with coffee bean oils. This is then heated and passed through a plastic (xenoestrogen) filter, and the coffee itself contains cafestol the highest agent known to man to raise lipid cholesterol levels. All have an added synergistic effect releasing elevated dangerous amounts of dioxin that can become cumulative over the years, all endangering a body with cystic organs.
Common products containing endocrine disruptors, phthalates
Plastic wrap Plastic is made from chlorides and is a potent endocrine disruptor. In addition, plastic & plastic wrap heated in oil then in a microwave oven contain 500,000 times the minimum amount of xenoestrogens needed to stimulate the formation of breast cancer cells proliferation. Lexan and Nalgene plastic bottles contain Bisphenol-A (BPA). BPA is used in some plastic coatings inside food cans, cling wrap, and dental sealants. Transfer things to glass containers when possible; and continue to avoid plastic vitamin bottles, plastic cutlery, plastic or foam dishes, saran wrap, non-stick cookware. Hospitals know about phthalates and are attempting to ease out plastic tubing and blood equipment especiallyfor newborn infants.
Dry Cleaning Solutions Human evidence comes mainly from women working in the dry cleaning and pharmaceutical industries, and in agriculture.
One Finnish study concluded that female dry cleaning workers exposed to the chemical perchloroethylene were three to four times more likely
than the general population to spontaneously abort during pregnancy. Some studies have indicated that perchloroethylene can cause menstrual irregularities,
fertility problems, and spontaneous abortions among women who work in the dry cleaning industry. Perchloroethylene residue from dry cleaning processes can
also seep into drinking water, causing a variety of problems. Some scientists believe perchloroethylene exposure can cause liver or kidney damage.
In addition, perchloroethylene has been named a probable carcinogen by the International Association for Research on Cancer.
I was told that matted spider telangectasias are only seen when the liver fails to properly metabolize estrogen or estrogen like molecules. I received
a detailed description of xenoestrogens and told to eliminate them. If I eliminate plastic from contact with things I eat, (food, vitamins, bottled water) I experience
a decrease in my spider angiomas on my ankles. These angiomas are oftentimes painful, awakening me in the middle of the night with intense burning.
The doctors told me the cause was the liver's inability to metabolize estrogen and estrogen like molecules. I have found that all these compounds:
estrogen disruptors, estrogen mimickers, xenoestrogens,
estrogen like compounds and false estrogens have the same end effect; they enlarge a cystic liver.
Pesticides
The end residual by product left behind for years from pesticides and DDT spraying is even more harmful than the initial chemical. This was stopped in the United States in the 1950's but what remains in the soil and rivers are the residual molecules that have become chemically changed from the original pesticide molecule. These changed molecules are then taken up by animals, which graze on the grasses or drink from the rivers. This is then stored in the fatty tissue of the animal. For this reason perhaps a well marbled steak may be particularly high in estrogen like molecules. Eating organically helps diminish estrogen exposure. I juice, juice, juice. This provides the body which much needed micronutrients not found in a vitamin tablet. Cabbage juice with a handful of almonds are food products that increases the metabolism of estrogen. Added benefits a few of us have discovered who drink daily cabbage juice with almonds is that our gray hair seems to revert back to its natural color. Much of the gray is eliminated.
Dairy
Butter and cheese are high in estrogen like molecules. Now many dairy farmers have taken to giving cows in the United States bovine lactating hormone to keep the cows producing 10-100 times the amount of milk that these cows would naturally produce. The milk, cheese, butter, and meat from these cows not only has estrogen like molecules from their grazing on contaminated grass but it also has artificially added true estrogen given to the cows. One way to avoid this is to eliminate dairy. If one has kidney disease then diary is good thing to choose to eliminate. Dairy is high in sodium and it has many solutes that dehydrate the body and increase the workload of the kidneys by making it difficult to eliminate. Dehydration is one of the worse situations for hastening kidney failure. A perfectly healthy person when deprived of water can lose their kidneys. Milk is so high in sodium that it raises my blood pressure. For these reasons I have eliminated all dairy from my diet. If one cannot eliminate diary then be sure the dairy taken in is organic, free of pesticides, produced without any bovine growth hormone, and the dairy is from skim milk. Estrogen is stored by the body is fatty tissue. Perhaps 2 ounces of skim milk drunk in the winter months would be beneficial in providing Vitamin D for people living in Northern countries. A better way to assure an adequate intake of Vitamin D is to take daily walks in the sunshine. If one cannot eliminate all fat from dairy then the next best possibility is to choose dairy which is cultured such as French butter called Plugra. This butter is produced from crème fraiche; a cultured cream; then it is churned into butter. Yogurt is made from a cultured starter. Buttermilk also utilizes a culture. If one must have cheese then choose a light white cheese with half the fat such as enmenthaler (called Swiss cheese in the USA), Try and find salt free cheeses or goat cheeses. Soft white goat and sheep cheeses may also be better choices. Dairy alone is high in sodium. Avoid any yellow cheeses and any hard cheeses; also avoid mozzarella.
PCB
PolyChlorinated Biphenyls - were manufactured by a one company - Monsanto Chemical - starting in the 1930s. They were promoted as a nearly indestructible replacement for hydraulic oil, pump oil, and the oil bath for electrical transformers and capacitors. It was known even in the 1930s, when production began, that they were extremely toxic. Exposed workers began showing signs of toxic exposure almost immediately. Plastic Polyvinyl chloride was discovered in 1930. I asked a researcher if any work had been done linking the discovery of plastic with the increase in all types of cancers. I was told that when food is heated in plastic (such as in a microwave oven) the plastic imparts some of its molecules to the food which is then eaten. I then learned in Germany there is another researcher who is very concerned with mineral water bottled in plastic. She is developing an easy to use inexpensive test.
Soy
I have eliminated all soy and soy products from diet due to the high phytoestrogen content. I avoid tofu, soy sauce, tempe, soy milk. In New Zealand soy was eliminated from all infant formulas when babies were becoming sterile due to the high phytoestrogen content. Additional farmers at Monsanto were planting genetically altered soy and mixing it up with non-genetically altered soy. This new soy would withstand a strong dose of weed killer which kill everything but the genetically altered soy.
Flaxseed
Flaxseed contains phytoestrogens. A researcher looked at flaxseed. If cancer cells were placed alongside flaxseed in a petrie dish, the cancer cells grew. This has yet to be proven with live subjects, but in the meantime I have eliminated flaxseed. Essential fatty acids contained in hemp seed oil, chia, purslane, seem better choices.
Chemicals
I have eliminated all chemicals from my cleaning cupboards. I use no bleach, ammonia, or alcohol containing cleaning products. Instead I use static cloths from 3M, sprayers filled with water to eliminate grim; washing soda and borax to clean toilets; vinegar to make glasses sparkle. I wear a mask or a handkerchief over my nose and mouth when placing powdered detergent in the wash machine or I use a liquid. There are also ceramic balls without chemicals that you throw into your wash machine to clean clothes. Sometimes I use no soap at all. I try to use soap dishwasher pellets.
Dry Cleaned Clothing
Avoid dry cleaning your clothing.
Chlorine
Chlorine in pools gets leached through to the skin and can cause liver cysts to grow and expand. A wellness shower filter is designed to eliminate chlorine, contaminants and enhances the water for healthier and better looking skin and hair. Exposure to chlorine might be cumulative, anything you can do to help lessen the workload on polycystic kidneys is helpful. The American Chemical Society estimates that we could receive from 6 to 100 times more chlorine by breathing the air around showers and baths than we could by drinking water. Not only is chlorine absorbed through the skin, but it also vaporizes in the shower, is inhaled into the lungs, and is transferred directly into the blood system. I avoid perfumes that contain alcohol, using fragrant oils. I think inhaling is a detrimental method of absorbing chlorine. The lungs sit right next to the liver. Chlorine byproducts found in swimming pools are linked to higher incidences of asthma, lung damage, stillbirths, miscarriages and bladder cancer, according to credible research conducted in the U.S., Canada, Norway, Australia and Belgium. One researcher noted that 10-year-old children spending an average of 1.8 hours per week in a swimming pool environment suffered lung damage she would expect to see in an adult smoker. For conscientious swimming pools managers, the question this raises is are there viable alternatives to chlorine? Ozone and ultraviolet are the two most commonly cited technologies. A number of safe, non-toxic options exist, such as treating water with ozone gas or ultra violet light.
Increase estrogen metabolism
Broccoli Sprouts, DIM Diindolylmethane is available as a capsule, broccolive by New Chapter Vitamins, saffron, organic turmeric, cabbage juice. Cabbage juice is an excellent source of DIM diindolylmethane as well as other cruciform vegetables. Juice a third to a half of a cabbage daily through a juicer with additional almonds gives a dose of DIMs. Cabbage juice, other cruciform vegetables such as broccoli or capsules of DIMs all increase the metabolism of estrogens by products through the liver. Avoid cruciform vegetables (cabbage, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, rutabagas) with thyroid problems. Milk thistle, artichoke and turmeric are useful for cystic livers. Watercress s a particularly nutrient dense vegetable, especially when eaten raw is another super nutrient. Sauna and clay baths increase the metabolism of estrogens through the liver. This utilizes sweating through the skin to eliminate liver toxins. Bentonite clay or Aztec clay encourage the body to rid itself of toxins. Do not drink it but rather use it as a soap by mixing it with olive oil a teaspoon of honey and the clay to make a paste.
