The 800lb Gorilla: How EDCs Are Destroying Your Hormones

Carlos Bertonatti and Dr. Rudolph Eberwein deliver an unflinching examination of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and their devastating impact on hormonal health in the 21st century. Opening with the shocking case of an 18-year-old with testosterone levels equivalent to an 85-year-old man, the Medical Health Institute co-founders frame EDCs as the overlooked root cause behind the epidemic of hormonal imbalances plaguing modern society. While functional medicine emphasizes finding root causes, they argue that the conversation stops too soon—addressing symptoms and even hormones themselves without confronting the environmental toxins systematically poisoning endocrine systems across all demographics.

The discussion centers on the changing demographic of hypogonadism, a condition traditionally associated with aging men (late-onset hypogonadism in men 55-65+) that now increasingly affects men in their 30s, 20s, and even teens. Dr. Eberwein presents compelling clinical evidence, including a pivotal study showing one in five adolescents and young adult men (ages 15-39) experiencing low testosterone symptoms. The panel dissects the inadequacy of current medical standards, exposing how testosterone reference ranges have been systematically lowered—from 350-1,500 ng/dL in the 1990s to as low as 264 ng/dL today at some labs—effectively normalizing pathology. Through the case of "John," a 35-year-old lawyer with a total testosterone of 411 (technically "normal") but critically low free testosterone, they illustrate the concept of medical gaslighting, where symptomatic patients are dismissed as depressed rather than properly diagnosed and treated for legitimate hormonal deficiencies.

Bertonatti and Dr. Eberwein emphasize that while hormone replacement therapy can restore vitality—John ultimately regained enough mental energy and drive to launch his own law firm—treatment alone isn't enough if patients continue daily exposure to toxins. They challenge the biohacking community to move beyond optimization protocols and confront the environmental assault undermining hormonal health at its source. The panel criticizes the tendency of even leading practitioners to avoid this "Doom and Gloom" topic, arguing that silence perpetuates the crisis.

This session positions EDCs as perhaps the most significant health challenge facing the longevity and biohacking movement. With Dr. Eberwein's 25+ years specializing in hormone optimization and age management, combined with Bertonatti's extensive self-experimentation and clinical leadership at Medical Health Institute, the panel offers both scientific rigor and practical clinical insight. Their call to action frames the EDC crisis not as an insurmountable problem, but as an urgent opportunity for the biohacking community to demand systemic change—because optimizing health while ignoring ubiquitous environmental toxins is fundamentally futile.