What Causes Early Puberty?

In a recent article in the April 2011 Parenting School Years issue, an informative article regarding girls entering puberty earlier than they should was on tap for reading. I thought some of the ways to stop contributing to these girls entering puberty too soon were interesting and revealing as to how we as parents can be a part of the solution to this dilemma. Ways to avoid early puberty are available, when you become aware of them.

Well Checks

Regular doctor visits are important when keeping on top of early puberty in girls. Symptoms of early puberty can be indicative of an underlying hormonal problem or other illness. Your doctor will carefully monitor your child's growth and development at their regular well child check making those visits a must.

Maintain a Healthy Weight

Make sure your child gets an adequate amount of exercise to keep their weight within a normal range for their height. It appears that those girls entering puberty at younger ages are sometimes doing so due to higher BMI levels, (body mass index) according to Dr. Frank Biro M.D., director of the division of adolescent medicine at Cincinnati Children's Hospital. With increased body fat appears the increased hormone levels that accompany early puberty in girls. I learned from a certified nutritionist that I sent clients from my health food store to, that excess weight contributes to increased estrogen due to the fact that the fat secretes estrogen, further confirming this aspect of early puberty.

Avoid Plastics

Plastics contain a substance called phthalates. These components in plastic are known for disrupting estrogen levels and can increase the levels of the hormones creating early puberty in girls. If you can, stay away from drinking or eating from plasticware of all types to keep a good balance of estrogen and progesterone at all times for a regular cycle.

Meat and Growth Hormone

Our meat industry in America leaves a little something to be desired with regard to keeping the meat in our markets free of the growth hormones that they give the feed. These are growth hormones that are injected into the meat to increase the weigh of the animal when the cow is still alive. We then eat this meat that has this growth hormone in it and our bodies respond the same.

Boys on the other hand seem to go unscathed by these circumstances. They generally go into puberty later than girls and that seems to be holding steady.