6 min read
The Unspoken Stressor, Part 3: Supporting Hormonal Health at Home
Hormonal health begins at home, in the air we breathe, surfaces we touch and materials that surround us. This final part in the series offers practical shifts for a lasting difference.
WORDS Elissa Rose
In the first two parts of this series, we explored how our indoor environments can quietly shape hormonal health, without being obvious – one of the challenges with environmental hormone disruption is that it feels invisible. Across all bodies, hormones regulate mood, metabolism, sleep and more. And across all ages, our endocrine systems can be disrupted by what surrounds us every day.
We don’t often consider the health of the spaces in which we spend the most time. Our bedrooms, kitchens or living rooms, may, in fact, contain materials that interfere with hormone signaling over time. Known as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), these substances are found in common household items like plastics, furniture foam, cleaning products, electronics and synthetic scents. Their effects are rarely immediate. Instead, they build slowly, adding to a chemical load that our bodies have to process again and again. According to Dr. Shanna Swan, Professor of Environmental Medicine and Public Health at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, “chemicals in our environment and unhealthy lifestyle practices in our modern world are disrupting our hormonal balance.”
This final installment in the series moves us from insight to action. We don’t need to live in fear of every object, but we can become more aware of what we choose to bring into our homes and how those choices can support long-term wellbeing.
Feel Empowered About Exposure
There’s no warning sign on the sofa. No alert from your shampoo bottle. The effects may show up gradually as disrupted sleep, foggy thinking, irregular menstrual cycles, fatigue or changes in libido or weight. For children and teens, it might be early or delayed puberty, mood shifts or developmental changes that seem difficult to explain.
And while many factors affect hormonal health, such as diet, stress, genetics and age, our surroundings matter. In fact, they often act as amplifiers or quiet background influences, either helping the body stay in balance or quietly tipping it out. The good news is that unlike many medical or structural issues, the home environment can be shaped. And once you start noticing, it becomes easier to choose differently.
Start Where You Spend the Most Time
Focus on the areas of your home where exposure is most consistent. Think sleep, food, air and skin. What do you touch or breathe in every day? The bedroom is a great place to begin, especially if you’re trying to support children. Mattresses, pillows, wall paints and dust can all carry chemical residues, especially when they're made with synthetic foams, glues or finishes. If the kitchen is where you gather most, then food containers, packaging and cooking habits are key areas to look at. If your self-care routine involves a lot of products, start there. Think of each shift as an investment in a steadier internal rhythm.
Supporting Hormonal Health at Home
Dr. Pete Myers, Founder and Chief Scientist of Environmental Health Sciences states that “chemicals are not thoroughly tested, if at all, for safety before being released into the market, resulting in widespread if not universal exposure, including to highly vulnerable populations like babies still in the womb. Serious harmful effects often are not detected until decades later.” He also makes the point that, “we need to…do a much better job at designing the next generation of inherently safer materials.” While it’s impossible to eliminate every chemical from our homes, small, intentional shifts can significantly reduce the burden. Think of it not as a one-time purge but as a gentle, ongoing edit – one that supports long-term wellbeing.
Here’s a short checklist of impactful swaps and habits to consider:
- Ditch the synthetic fragrances: Swap out conventional air fresheners and scented candles for those made with essential oils or opt for scent-free altogether. In cleaning products and personal care, look for ‘fragrance-free’ rather than ‘unscented’ as the latter may still contain masking agents.
- Use glass or stainless steel food containers: These are safer alternatives to plastic, especially for storing hot or acidic foods, which increase chemical leaching.
- Avoid plastic cooking utensils and teflon-coated cookware: Even BPA-free plastics may contain substitute chemicals with similar hormone-disrupting effects. That includes plastic containers in the microwave, single-use coffee and tea pods and plastic-based air fryers. Use ceramic or glass in the microwave.
- Vacuum and dust regularly: Since many flame retardants and plasticizers accumulate in dust, keeping your floors and surfaces clean with a HEPA-filter vacuum or a damp cloth can help minimize exposure, which is especially important for families with crawling babies or small children.
- Choose textiles carefully: Look for OEKO-TEX or GOTS-certified fabrics, which limit the use of harmful substances in bedding, clothing and upholstery.
- Choose mineral or low-VOC paints: Opt for mineral-based or certified low-VOC paints to reduce toxic load, especially in bedrooms or nurseries where long-term exposure can be more impactful.
- Check your skincare labels: Look for products labeled ‘paraben-free’ and ‘phthalate-free’. Dr. Swan points out that her studies showed the link between “the exposure [to phthalates] and fertility.” Brands with transparent ingredient lists and third-party certifications (like COSMOS Organic) tend to be more trustworthy.
Make Small Swaps First
Changing the products we use or the habits we’ve built over years can feel daunting. But this isn’t about doing everything at once, it’s about momentum. Replace one item when it runs out or swap one habit when it starts to feel intuitive. Often, a single change leads to the next. If you have children at home, involve them in the process. Let them learn how to read labels and talk about why you’re making changes.
Creating a hormone-supportive home doesn’t require throwing everything out or spending a fortune. It requires curiosity, care and the willingness to take one step at a time. In many ways, it’s about building a new relationship with the spaces we live in – not just how they look, but how they make us feel. If the past two articles helped you understand the risks, let this one offer a path forward. Hormonal health isn’t static. It responds to what we eat, how we move and, just as importantly, what we live with. With each shift, we lighten the load. With each choice, we support the systems that quietly support us every day.
Hormone Series Articles:
Part 1: The Unspoken Stressor: How Household Chemicals Can Affect Female Hormonal Health
Part 2: The Unspoken Stressor: How Household Chemicals Can Affect Male Hormonal Health
Photography: Hancock Park, LA by Studio AF
