When it comes to protecting your skin from the nasty BJJ/Wrestling mats, a trusty rashguard can be an essential part of any fitness minded person’s wardrobe. However, according to leading endocrine disruptor expert Dr. Shanna Swan, some rashguards may contain chemicals that could be cause for concern.
“There’s a turns out there’s a lot of particularly in it’s a problem for workout wear because you’re absorbing so much you’re sweaty you’re hot and you’re bringing these chemicals into your body,” Dr. Swan warned in a recent conversation with Dr. Andrew Huberman.
In May of 2023, The Centers for Environmental Health (CEH) has issued legal notices to eight activewear brands, including Nike, Patagonia, Athleta, and Adidas, after finding levels of bisphenol A (BPA) in their clothing that exceeded California’s legal limits by over 40 times. BPA, an industrial chemical often found in plastics and resins, is linked to health risks such as increased blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and infertility.
The affected items were allegedly Nike, Patagonia, Athleta, Champion and Kohl’s leggings, Adidas, Nike and Champion athletic shorts, Fabletics athletic shirts and Sweaty Betty sports bras.
Under California’s Proposition 65, only three micrograms of BPA are legally allowed for skin exposure per day. CEH discovered these elevated BPA levels specifically in polyester-based clothing with spandex, such as leggings, sports bras, and shirts. Despite CEH’s call for product reformulation, brands like Athleta maintain their products meet safety standards. To minimize BPA exposure, the Mayo Clinic suggests using BPA-free or alternative materials like glass and stainless steel for food storage and recommends avoiding microwaving plastic containers.
The problem, as Dr. Swan explains, stems from the potential for certain synthetic fabrics used in activewear to contain microplastics and other endocrine-disrupting chemicals. “If you put anything in a container that has these chemical in it they will and then put it in a hot environment they will come out of the plastic and go into the food,” she said.
While the full health effects of microplastic exposure are still being studied, some research has linked it to hormonal imbalances, reproductive issues, and other concerning outcomes. That’s why Dr. Swan advises being cautious when selecting your next rashguard or other workout gear.
But it’s not just rashguards that Dr. Swan is concerned about. She recommends taking a close look at all the products you use on a daily basis to reduce your exposure to endocrine disruptors.
For example, Dr. Swan says to “Don’t use any product with fragrance for example that’s a major source of exposure to phalates any product any fragrance product if fragrance is no perfume no lotions soap with fragrance right even essential oil fragrances like essal oil is a tricky right it’s a mix it’s a mix.”
She also advises replacing plastic food storage containers with glass or stainless steel alternatives, avoiding non-stick cookware, choosing organic produce when possible, and even leaving your shoes at the door to prevent tracking in chemicals.
“We try to get them to get rid of their um non-stick pans because of the posos chemicals that are in those,” Dr. Swan said. “I always buy organic always buy organic” and “We try to leave our shoes at the door,” she added.
The goal, according to Dr. Swan, is to minimize exposure to endocrine disruptors as much as possible, even if complete elimination is difficult. By being mindful of the products we bring into our homes and onto our bodies, we can take proactive steps to safeguard our health.
So the next time you’re gearing up for a training,, be sure to do your research on your rashguard and other workout gear. Your body will thank you.
A former capoeira instructor turned biohacking enthusiast, Gio spent his early years bouncing between São Paulo and Miami before settling in Austin. With a master’s in sports physiology and a penchant for experimenting with traditional Brazilian herbs, he’s become Rude Vulture’s go-to expert on movement optimization and plant-based performance enhancement. When not writing about the intersection of martial arts and ancestral living, he runs an underground fight gym where participants are required to follow strict circadian rhythm protocols.