Are There Toxic Chemicals in Your Yoga Pants?

We strive to be healthy. We eat our vegetables; we drink our green juices and smoothies. Then we head to the gym. Uh-oh. While daily moderate exercise contributes to good health and has been found to lower the risk of cancer recurrence by up to 50 percent, did you know that your favorite yoga pants could be making you and everyone else sick?

Research shows that hazardous chemicals such as phthalates, perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs), dimethylformamide (DMF), nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs), and nonylphenols (NPs) are found in most sportswear. One Swedish study found that these substances, known endocrine disruptors, are just not good for you. Countless other studies say the same, including those done at NYU Langone.

After all, women with hormone-driven cancers really don’t need exposure to more chemicals that interfere with their hormone systems. Plus, many of these chemicals have direct links to cancer.

Men Are at Risk From Synthetic Fabrics Too

PFCs have been linked to prostate cancer, and DMF has been linked to testicular and other cancers as well as to severe damage to the liver (a healthy liver is essential for efficient detoxification). What this means is that men should also not be wearing their synthetic pants any longer than necessary.

Synthetic clothing also contains other toxic chemicals such as formaldehyde and perfluorinated chemicals (Teflon), which are used to make clothes wrinkle-free and cling-free (after all, we need to look good in our clothes, right?).

Formaldehyde, a known carcinogen, has been linked to a significant increase in lung cancer risk. One study linked formaldehyde to a dramatic increase in myeloid leukemia incidence. Teflon, another carcinogen, has been linked to various cancers and health issues. Suffice it to say that synthetic fabrics are too toxic to wear every day, all day long, and should be worn with caution.

While toxic chemicals are an issue with most clothing, sportswear presents an added problem as sweat and friction can precipitate more rapid absorption of toxins into the body. As the body heats up, the high temperature and humidity open up your pores and increase chemical absorption. When toxins are absorbed through the skin, they bypass the liver, which is responsible for metabolizing and removing toxins. Thus, these chemicals are free to cause havoc within the body.

Why Sports Bras Are of Particular Concern

I am particularly concerned with sports bras, as women who have had lymph node removal surgery may have an even more sluggish lymphatic system (the lymphatic system is notoriously sluggish). This is a problem because toxins then stagnate in the breast and lymph node areas.

Plus, NPEs and NPs – absorbable through the skin – have shown to have estrogenic properties in humans. Unfortunately, many of us stay in our yoga pants all day, even if we have swapped out our sweaty bra for a dry top. Instead, we should really shower right after exercising and change into natural fiber clothing.

Yoga Pants Provide Toxic Fish Food

A new study led by the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium, found that shreds of plastic are released from these fabrics during the wash cycle as well as down the shower drain. This is because yoga and other exercise clothes – as well as those comfy, warm polar-fleece jackets – are made from synthetic materials, including recycled polyester from plastic soda bottles. When washed, they shed microscopic plastic fibers (microfibers) into water systems.

These fragments are not good for the environment, nor are they good for you. Importantly, they are too small to be filtered out. Once they enter the water, they end up in the stomachs of marine species, such as shellfish like oysters. So essentially, you could be eating your yoga pants for dinner!

What Are the Safest Fabrics to Wear?

In general, it is best to avoid polyester, acrylic, rayon, acetate, triacetate, nylon, and anything else that is stain resistant, permanent press, or wrinkle-free. The healthiest choices are organic cotton, wool, silk, linen, hemp, bamboo, Cupro, Tencel, and cashmere – as long as you don’t dry clean these fabrics.

Wash all new clothing in non-toxic detergent prior to use as even those made of organic fabrics may contain chemical processing detergents, bleaches, formaldehyde, chemical softeners, and more. Never use commercial fabric softeners or dryer sheets, which add a whole other layer of chemicals. Going forward, continue to use only non-toxic cleaning products.

Why We Need to Detoxify on a Regular Basis

All the collective chemicals that we eat, use, or wear pollute the body and our environment. However, as we cannot avoid every toxin we come across, daily detoxification is essential.

Detoxification is the process of actively eliminating toxins in the body. Specifically, the liver has the task of keeping the blood clean and neutralizing toxic substances, including excess estrogen. It processes toxins and excretes them from the body.

In the perfect world, your body would expel toxins on a daily basis. But the world is not perfect, and over time toxins build up in the body, including within the lymphatic system. Too many toxins can overwhelm this system and lead to liver damage and various chronic diseases, including cancer. Foods such as cruciferous vegetables, consumed on a regular basis, can support the detoxification process. Certain supplements are also highly beneficial.

Are you surprised to hear about toxins in synthetic fabrics such as yoga pants? Please share this important information with your friends and family.