BODY CHEMICAL WARFARE

Everyday items are making us ‘sicker & poor’

Humans are evolving — but not exactly for the better.

Research has shown that chemicals in the foods we eat, pollution in the air we breathe and toxins in the goods we use on a daily basis are changing our bodies in bizarre ways — from enlarged testicles to “precocious puberty.”

“These are chemicals that literally make us sicker, fatter and poor,” Leo Trasande, an expert in children’s environmental health at NYU Langone Health and author of “Sicker Fatter Poorer,” told The Post.

Additives and chemicals affect us in many ways, but one of the main impacts is messing with our hormones.

“Hormones are basic signaling molecules underlying every basic biological function [known] to man, from temperature, metabolism to salt, sugar and even sex,” Trasande explained. “So these are not just lifestyle effects. These are life and death effects.”

Of the more than 40,000 chemicals used in US products, fewer than 1% have been thoroughly tested for human safety, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Simple things can be done to reduce exposure: Eat organic, don’t use products with PFAS or phthalates, crack open a window to recirculate air.

“It doesn’t mean you zero out your exposure. It doesn’t mean there aren’t harmful exposures that are remaining,” Trasande said. “But there are steps that are low-hanging fruit for the betterment of your health.”

Here are some of the ways everyday foods, goods and products are changing us:

EYES AND EARS

We know that beta-carotene in carrots and other veggies, which converts to vitamin A in the body, is good for the eyes — so much so that the lack thereof can cause blindness. One case study proved as much, linking a teen’s blindness to the patient’s poor diet. In 2019, doctors reported iron and vitamin B12 deficiency — but as years went on, the patient began to lose his ability to see and hear, as a result of cellular nerve damage caused by a severe absence of nutrients.

LUNGS

Don’t go crazy on the scented candles, which release particulates. One study to investigate the effects of volatile organic compounds — particularly limonene in citrusy smelling candles and cleaners — demonstrated that these particles are small enough to “travel deep” into our respiratory system and brain, potentially causing illness, irritation and headaches or contribute to organ damage and cancer diagnosis.

BLOOD

Earlier this year, experts discovered that phthalates in popular nail polishes and shampoos, which make the products more elastic and durable, was linked to a 30% to 63% increased risk of Type 2 diabetes, a disease affecting blood glucose regulation, in one cohort of study participants. These compounds, detected in over 80% of fast foods, as well as personal care products, packaging, children’s toys and more, are known to disrupt the body’s flow of hormones in the bloodstream.

LIVER

Coated cookware contains perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), that build up in the body and environment over time. Now, scientists believe that PFAS could encourage endocrine diseases and put consumers at 350% greater odds of developing liver cancer.

PENIS AND TESTES

The average penis size in men has increased from 4.8 to 6 inches in just 30 years. Men might think that sounds positive, but experts fear what could be causing it. Research on mice suggests some popular foods, namely Coca-Cola and Pepsi, boost testosterone and inflate the testicles — meaning our bodies are being artificially altered.

BRAIN

Studies have linked ultraprocessed foods to depression, suggesting that your Happy Meal might be doing the opposite. Frequenting the junk food aisle has also been linked to impaired memory, cognitive decline and a 25% increased risk of dementia with every 10% climb in junk food intake.

HEART

In addition to shaving years off your life by way of heart disease and obesity, snack staples such as PopTarts, Rice Krispies Treats and CheezIts are part of the 1,200-some food products that contain none( TB HQ) and PFAS. Experts claim that such compounds, used to extend the shelf life of foods, could alter immune function, leading to increased inflammation and risk of illness.

GUT

Food coloring is the ultimate party pooper. Scientists now know that dyes used in 90% of US-manufactured foods — Red 40, Yellow 5 and Yellow 6 — alter cells in the gut and could harm digestive function, potentially leading to the development of Crohn’s disease and colitis. Meanwhile, the accumulation of microplastics in the body — equal to the weight of one credit card per week on average — can trigger an immune response and activate inflammation, which may pave the way for the growth of cancerous tumors and metabolic diseases.

OVARIES AND UTERUS

Cases of irregular menstrual cycles and early puberty (preteen and even younger) have surged in recent years, and researchers are pointing fingers at household factors. One study linked the phenomenon to the presence of phthalates, parabens and phenols in popular personal care items. Seen in countless soaps, cosmetics and menstrual products marketed to women, these substances have furthermore been tied to endometriosis and endometrial cancer, hormonal dysfunction and infertility.