If you’ve been following me for a while, you’ll know I’m not particularly interested in quick fixes. I use high quality, therapeutic supplements when they are needed, I use testing all the time, and I absolutely believe hormones can be supported back into balance - but only when the foundations are solid.
And one of the most overlooked foundations of all?
Water!
Not because hydration is trendy (although yes, please do drink enough), but because what’s in the water you’re drinking every single day will absolutely be influencing your hormones in the background.
When we talk about hormone disruption, most people’s minds gravitate to soft plastics, perfumes, cookware and cleaning products. And yes they are going to influence things, but their impacts are far smaller.
The endocrine system (your body’s hormone communication network) is incredibly sensitive. Hormones work at tiny concentrations, so substances that interact with hormone receptors don’t need to be present in large amounts to have an effect.
Now, tap water in the UK isn’t ‘toxic’ - and I want to be very clear about that. It’s treated to be safe from an infectious disease perspective, which is hugely important. However, it can legally contain trace levels of compounds that are well-evidenced to interfere with hormone signalling, thyroid function and oestrogen metabolism.
And water is vital for us to stay alive, we cannot avoid it, so we will be exposed to these compounds multiple times a day, every day, for decades. You can’t detox your way out of something you’re constantly topping up!
So what’s actually in tap water?
Chlorine & chlorine by-products
Chlorine is added to water to kill bacteria - again, very important. The issue isn’t chlorine itself, but what happens after it enters the body. Chlorine and its by-products increase the workload on the liver. And your liver isn’t just a detox organ - it’s responsible for breaking down and clearing used oestrogen.
When liver clearance is sluggish, oestrogen can be reabsorbed rather than excreted. Clinically, this often shows up as:
- Worsening PMS
- Breast tenderness
- Bloating
- Headaches around your cycle
Fluoride
Fluoride is another compound added to some water supplies, and it has a particular affinity for the thyroid. Chemically, fluoride can compete with iodine, which is a key building block for thyroid hormones. Over time, this can subtly interfere with thyroid signalling, even if blood tests look normal.
Symptoms I often see alongside this include:
- Fatigue that doesn’t improve with rest
- Feeling cold when everyone else is fine
- Low motivation
- Brain fog
- Sluggish metabolism or stubborn weight
This is especially relevant if you already have borderline thyroid function, are postpartum, or have a history of under-eating or chronic stress which will all place additional burden on this vital endocrine gland.
Arsenic
Arsenic sounds dramatic, but low-level exposure through water is actually quite common depending on geography. At low doses, arsenic has been shown to:
- Alter oestrogen receptor activity
- Increase oxidative stress
- Disrupt normal cellular signalling
In real life, this can look like:
- Irregular or unpredictable cycles
- Breast tenderness/pain
- Poor stress tolerance
- Feeling ‘wired but tired’
Again, this isn’t about acute toxicity, it’s about cumulative exposure over time.
Pesticide residues
Some pesticide residues act as xenoestrogens, meaning they mimic oestrogen in the body. The problem with xenoestrogens isn’t just that they add to your oestrogen load - it’s that they bind to receptors without giving the same helpful signals as your own hormones.
Common symptoms include:
- Heavy or painful periods
- Mood swings
- Water retention
- Worsening PMS
When these compounds are coming in daily through water, they add to the hormonal noise your body is trying to manage. This is actually one of the key areas that has contributed to the rise in suggested ‘oestrogen dominance’. It’s not about your internal oestrogen level rising, it’s this under the radar confusion of your total load and removal.
Pharmaceutical hormone metabolites
One of the least talked-about issues is pharmaceutical residues. Hormones from medications (including contraceptive hormones) are excreted, enter the water system, and aren’t fully removed by standard water treatment. These metabolites are biologically active at extremely low doses.
Why filtering water is a non-negotiable
So what do we do? The answer is actually - thankfully - pretty easy: filter your drinking water!
It might not be the sexiest solution ever, but it is incredibly effective. And for every woman I work with - whether she’s dealing with PMS, thyroid symptoms, fertility challenges or stubborn weight gain - it’s usually one of the very first changes we make. If your body is constantly dealing with low-level endocrine disruptors, no amount of supplements, trendy detoxes or hormone protocols will work as well as they should.
Don’t get me wrong, filtered water doesn’t replace good nutrition, sleep, stress management or targeted support. But it makes all of those things more effective. And, because you drink water every day, the return on investment is huge.
If you’re looking for recommendations, the one that I use myself is a Phoenix Gravity Water Filter. It removes 99.99% of all contaminants, with a ten year warranty, is made from the highest grade stainless steel, and is wonderfully easy to clean and maintain. Compared to other systems you will see it is also brilliantly cost effective. You can find it here - and an extra £20 off your first order with code PL20!
As always, if you have questions - pop them in the comments or send me a message. This stuff matters, and it doesn’t have to be complicated.
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