Why Kids Are Starting Puberty Earlier Than Ever Before

The average age of puberty has been rapidly declining in recent decades. A concerning analysis found that girls are now starting puberty 3 months earlier every decade. For boys, there's been a staggering 15-fold increase in precocious puberty over the last two decades. What's causing this alarming trend, and what can we do about it?
In this eye-opening episode, Dr. Josh Axe dives into the potential culprits behind the premature onset of puberty in children and the serious risks it poses to their health and well-being. He explores the latest research linking factors like chemical exposure, obesity, stress, and more to this disturbing phenomenon.
You’ll discover:
* The top 5 foods and everyday products containing hormone-disrupting chemicals that may trigger early puberty
* Staggering statistics on how much earlier puberty is starting in kids today compared to just a few decades ago
* Long-term health consequences of precocious puberty like increased cancer risk, mental health issues, and more
* Practical tips on creating a low-toxin home environment to reduce your child's chemical exposure
* Simple lifestyle strategies to help prevent obesity and chronic stress - two key drivers of early puberty
Don't miss this vital episode packed with actionable advice to safeguard your children's healthy development. Tune in and walk away armed with the knowledge to protect your kids from the alarming rise of premature puberty.
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Links:
ijponline.biomedcentral.com/a...
www.health.harvard.edu/blog/p...
www.psychologytoday.com/us/ar...
healthmatters.nyp.org/what-to...
jamanetwork.com/journals/jama...
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33148...
www.nytimes.com/2022/05/19/sc...
www.theguardian.com/politics/...
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti... www.news-medical.net/health/C....
journals.plos.org/plosone/art...
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...
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ABOUT DR. JOSH AXE
Dr. Josh Axe is a leadership expert, entrepreneur, and physician. He earned his doctorate from Palmer College and his Master of Science in Organizational Leadership from Johns Hopkins University. Josh is the cofounder and CVO of Ancient Nutrition and founder of DrAxe.com. His company ranked on the Inc. 500 fastest growing companies two years in a row. He is the bestselling author of Eat Dirt, Keto Diet, and Ancient Remedies. Josh is the founder of Leaders.com, an online platform that provides the latest on breaking news, leadership, business, and wealth. He regularly teaches lectures and trains entrepreneurs on leadership, mindset, and self- development. Josh is married to his wife, Chelsea, and they have two daughters. They live between Nashville, TN and Dorado, PR and enjoy cooking, staying active swimming and cycling, and prioritize time for their faith and family. His latest book, Think This Not That, is now available nationwide.
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DISCLAIMER
This content is strictly the opinion of Dr. Josh Axe and is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of medical advice or treatment from a personal physician. All viewers of this content are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. Neither Dr. Axe nor the publisher of this content takes responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content. All viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement or lifestyle program.

[@LizLondonWWA]

We’re all now living in chemical cesspools.

[@kathleenking47]

Kids arent outside neither.. Not really. They also need regular bedtimes.. especially single digits

[@cupidok2768]

Yeah that's true and they catch up to my age and look older than me but their brain is bad watch too much tiktok

[@HYDROCARBON_XD]

Puberty is starting the same as normal,it’s just better nutrition,but puberty before age of 8 is usually obesity and hormones,but puberty starts at 10-11 and periods at 12-15 years of age

[@mylifeintheusa4720]

@@HYDROCARBON_XD Girls in 4th and 5th grade have their periods. That's younger than age 12.

[@mylifeintheusa4720]

@@kathleenking47 My 10 year old goes to bed at 8 pm. In the summer it changes to 9 pm as we go outside in the evening. During the day the temperature is over 100°F.

[@TheHeggert]

I teach 4th grade. Had two girls start their periods this year. One is obese, the other comes from a highly dysfunctional home with a lot of stress and chaos. Both of them have ended up being seen by our school counselor on the regular due to mental health concerns. It's way too young to be dealing with hormones, sexual drives, etc.

[@jacquiej5330]

I had no idea stress and anxiety were a factor! I started at 10 and I had anxiety and stress so bad, I had hives. I ran away from home at 12 and my hives went away a month later, when I got home, they came back.

[@kathymaradiaga5607]

I remember my time when I started my period in 4th grade, really bad stress and really bad cramps to the point of crying, missed a lot of school every time my 🩸 came. I am very scared to know when or how my daughter will go through hers 😩

[@afairlady224]

4th grade friend started here too😢

[@brittany16950]

I got you beat. Music teacher here. I teach a 2nd grader who got her period this year. Granted, I think she is behind a year. Also obese.

[@princesspikachu3915]

I know a 2nd grader who got hers last year. She was 7 at the time. She’s 8 now.

[@jacksprat429]

My daughter started her period at age 8 and a half, well before her 9th birthday. When she told me, I was not sure, but it was her period, and even though, I started at 10, her earlier puberty really shocked me at the time. It is pretty young to have to deal with that sort of thing, I must admit. It was also difficult for her, when she asked to be excused from swimming, and her teacher did not believe that she had a period, and demanded a letter from me, confirming that she was having a period. Well of course, she did not have a letter with her, on that day, so the teacher punished her, by making her do squats, for lying, which was totally unacceptable. I was absolutely livid.

[@daffodil1017]

That's so awful the teacher punished her, I hope they were pulled up and apologises to your child!!! No kid should be punished for menstruating, that's horrific.

[@HollyDawna]

I'm a retired teacher. I would have urged you to press charges. That was not in any way 'acceptable or appropriate punishment', and punishment was not warranted (even if the teacher had proof of a lie, which the teacher did not). That was humiliation, and torture.

[@jacksprat429]

@@HollyDawna I did go down to the school and complain to the vice principal, as the principal was unavailable, at the time. Whether anything was ever done about it, I have no idea, but after a few things, that I was not happy with, including this incident, I took my daughter out of school, and home schooled her. I need to add, that this was an exclusive private school, for which we were paying a lot of money. So private schools are not always all they are are cracked up to be. My daughter thrived much better out of the school environment, was diligent, and excelled in her studies, going on to university, to gain a law degree. She had many friends of all ages, during her school going years, and even afterwards, and is very well thought of in the community. So I know I did the right thing, removing her from the school environment.

[@patriciasanderson2171]

Poor thing having to go through that, that's quite cruel. @@jacksprat429

[@vanessac1965]

That's appalling. As a former teacher that sickens me.

[@enaid54]

And, to think they shut down the Amish farmer. We can't have healthy people, no money for big pharma!

[@freedomforusa1658]

Pharma is witch craft in Greek history.

[@wednesdayschild3627]

It has nothing to do with aging. I know someone started menses at 11, she stopped at 55 and looks much younger than her compatriots. Better nutrition is the reason.

[@jgriffin282]

Exactly my story. I look younger than many of my age group.

[@dawnwright8422]

Same here

[@endamasterson7921]

One of the biggest problems I see in clinic is the over-sexualisation of our culture - the music, movies, tv ads kids are exposed to that parents seem oblivious to. I can’t help but wonder if the over- exposure to this toxic sexuality frequency in our culture is disturbing our kids neuro-endocrine systems and it’s balance, convincing it to develop far before it’s ready. Occasionally I’ll ask kids what their favourite songs are and then pull up the lyrics. In many cases the parents are shocked just how disturbing the lyrics are without the beat and rhythm.

[@NightinGal89]

It's also abuse. Children being exposed to p*rn is sexual abuse. Which in turn raises cortisol levels, which pushes the body to mature asap, in order to become adults. My sister had a friend with a son born in 2001 and she told my sister his 2nd grade teacher caught 2 boys watching p*rn on their smartphones, during class..I can only imagine it's gotten much worse in recent generations

[@heikejohannajahns3257]

I think the same. They are exposed to too much and too strong stimuli much too early.

[@danktankdragkings7117]

undoubtedly

[@sarahham88]

I’ve noticed a lot of my kids friends are maturing much quicker. I’ve always joked and said it’s the nuggets but it’s truly scary. My kids are only allowed screen time now on weekends and we spend much more time outside and even working on a garden now. I also stopped buying foods filled with artificial dyes. I was born in 88 but I don’t see all the neighborhood kids out like I did when I was a kid. It’s truly sad what’s happening especially in America. We have to make changes for our kids. I’m also seeing a lot of friends my age struggling with health issues. I wish everyone could be educated on these things.

[@Jack-jp6ki]

Are your friends seeking help for their health issues?

[@johnjoe69]

it's just paranoid propaganda. This has been very common in less development countries for decades and far before that.

[@princesspikachu3915]

I’m another born in ‘88. There really aren’t a lot of kids playing outside and when I do see them they are desperate for adult attention and want someone to toss footballs around with. I do try to play with my child and her friends outside but I’m an asthmatic and it’s goldenrod season. 😢

[@sarahham88]

@@Jack-jp6ki some are yes. But some don’t take the time to educate themselves on what’s the root of their issues. Quite sad..

[@elizabethcowan4306]

Plastics play a really huge role in this too with xenesteogens. They’re so hard to avoid. I’ve tried to hard to remove plastics from our foods, but it’s just about impossible.

[@stripedrajang3571]

Are they in bottled water?

[@elizabethcowan4306]

If the bottles are plastic, absolutely.

[@NaturalDrAmanda]

Yes, any consumable goods stored in plastic can contain phthalates as they don’t link up in covalent bonds to the structured plastic so it’s easy for them to leach out into products and enter our bodies. Scented products are also a source. 😮

[@shaec3405]

Do. Not. Microwave. In . ANY. PLASTIC. EVER.

[@elizabethcowan4306]

Or styrofoam!

[@oliviaj1593]

I gave my daughter organic foods from day one of her life and she still started her period at 12.

[@erheaflower4318]

Better than 10, which is very common among kids I know

[@melissas.5814]

Organic foods in the US also have pesticides. It's best to just grow your own food if you can at this point of history. There's also the issue of plastic/microplastics🤷🏾‍♀️

[@erheaflower4318]

@@melissas.5814 very true. There's also the issue of what they put in body care products, and the fact that we can absorb bpa through our skin even through store receipts. Nothing will change until more people are informed and push back on things like this

[@falcongamer5867]

​@@melissas.5814 talk about it. There's plastic bag/fabric debris in the dirt of backyards

[@stormytehcat]

12 is later than many

[@annakirshenbaum1458]

Shakespeare's Juliette was 13 years old. Her mother told her that at her age she already had her. History is full of girls having children around age 12, which is creepy but doesn't make it sound like people were hitting puberty at 16 back in the day.

[@falcongamer5867]

Why is it creepy? We evolved to be able to do that at that age. It's not like we got to that point in an optional evolutionary route just because.

[@annakirshenbaum1458]

@@falcongamer5867 It's creepy because females at this age are still children - even 500 years ago. Not all girls, still developing themselves, were able to carry and birth children successfully. Some remained maimed for life.

[@falcongamer5867]

@annakirshenbaum1458 the growth plates are still open and pregnancy tends to boost certain body parts to adapt, bones and tissue are still more adaptable to flexion than older females. Pregnancies also last shorter. Not to mention that birth in general used to be more dangerous across the board before advanced healthcare, and most are even forgetting proper ways to give birth, like lying on their backs instead of squatting, etc. Many factors are at play, including stress from peers and people surrounding you, which is the case most of the time for teens. Mental stress alone can cause miscarriage even if everything else can work

[@user-sl3bx6gj3]

Dr. Josh Axe thank you for standing confidently and graciously for the faith! You will be attacked for speaking the TRUTH but stand firm, for Jesus has overcome the world!

[@drjoshaxe]

Amen 🙏 Thank you!

[@davidinchcliff4560]

All the meat is full of hormones.

[@priusa8113]

I think dr axe is Jewish?

[@SAADOFFICIAL436]

Ex-christian here Allahu Akbar ☪️☪️☪️🚩🚩🚩

[@Parentingwiththefutureinmind]

Thank you for this video, my daughter will turn 12 in 2 weeks and yesterday she asked, when will she have her period, and I said you don't have an idea of how blessed you are. I try to buy all organic foods, and she is shy that all her friends have their periods.

[@farzeenanihar6243]

Exactly this is what my fear is about. Kids coming up and asking if they are normal because they have not attained puberty yet. This will really set them down, especially when this is used to tease them in school.

[@rosiep3209]

I started at 2 weeks before my 12th birthday. Im 40 this year. My mu started at 13 and shes 75. She thoight having a school period talk aged10 was to younb but had i nit i woildnt have known a year later

[@Adrienne-wv7qo]

Yea, my daughter had hers at 13; I had mine at 12

[@princesspikachu3915]

I had mine the day before I turned 17. This was back in 2005. 😅

[@ViewPoint1517]

For the record, the 18th century (1700-1800) is not "a little over a hundred years ago." It is well over 200 years ago.

[@eric1107]

1899 to 1999 is 100 years and 1999 to 2024 is 25 years. 100 plus 25 is 125 so the 18 hundreds ended 125 years ago. Last time I checked 125 is not well over 200 years

[@eric1107]

I guess you and your 54 likes believe that 125 is a higher number then 200 which it’s not

[@wintersprite]

@@eric11071899 would be the last year of the 19th century, not the 18th century that the OP mentioned. 1900s is the 20th century. The US bicentennial (200th birthday) was in 1975.

[@roxanneadamczyk8889]

Something else that is adding to this is the water we drink (including bottled water) bathe in, swim in..PFAS & other toxins are endocrine disruptors. When I was in France, their chicken legs, breasts, etc were so much smaller than here, in the U.S. My aunts & uncles told me that it's because the garmers aren't allowed to use hormones in their cows & chickens -the farmers will lose their farms - even their cows looked smaller. The same hormones that fatten up the chickens & cows also will cause weight gain in children & adults. My aunt gained 15 lbs within the first month she stayed in the U.S.

[@katie7748]

🎯

[@drjoshaxe]

Wow! Absolutely spot on, thanks so much for sharing!

[@hollythebordercollie2257]

Plastic lining in tined/canned food is also interfering with our hormones - also PVC in changing matts/kids toys

[@stuartist]

16 for average puberty for girls in the 1800s? Maybe that had to do with poor nutrition for it to be so late back then. I have several ancestors who gave birth younger than that.

[@stuartist]

Researched this a bit, and puberty was earlier BEFORE the industrial revolution. 12-14 was the average when girls were healthier, and then shot up to 16 when they were suffering in factories. "In 1840, the average age at menarche, or first menstruation, was 16.5 years. In England, historical sources suggest that menarche occurred between 12-14 years just before the industrial revolution, and between 14-17 years in the 1840s" .

[@mybeaniebooz9601]

Your race can also determine what age you start puberty

[@lindag9975]

Great points. However with grocery prices already through the roof now, most people can't afford to buy all organic foods.

[@Rosie_C]

This is my second response with this info - but I have found it so helpful to check out the dirty dozen and clean 15 lists. For example: it’s encouraged me to buy organic spinach and apples, and to be comfortable buying regular Hass avocados and regular cauliflower…

[@doubles1545]

I disagree. Most people can afford it, they choose not to. They would rather spend money on big houses, new cars, eating at restaurants, fancy phones, etc. Organic food isn’t that costly if one buys simple raw ingredients and cooks from scratch. It is all about choices and what we prioritize.

[@Michele-hd1uh]

The body doesn't recognize frankenfoods and will not experience satiety which overall causes overeating and rising food costs. Eventually wirh eating whole, real foods, the body will not require as much intake and reduces costs.

[@nancyroberts8749]

@@doubles1545 If this the case, then the people you know are upper middle or upper class

[@knov6228]

Grow your food! Start small. Use what u have around your house. Be creative. And don't give up, if it doesn't go well out of the gate. Do it again. I make my own bread. First 2 loaves were ok, not great, but still edible and healthier than store bought. Now a few loaves later. They are fantastic. My first sauerkraut fermentation didn't go well. Was Kam yeast fermentation. Tossed it tried again. This one seems to be much better. ❤😊

[@carmengutierrez8594]

My daughter was 7 years and 11 months when she got her period. After that she got diagnosed with Hashimoto,hypothyroidism and her pituitary gland it’s bigger than normal. It’s hard for her but we’re doing the best that we can.

[@victoriabryant3078]

Diet

[@sasharemez7459]

Wow! I am sorry! Praying for you and your daughter!!!

[@mbwilson8592]

Hashimotos is hugely effected by diet. Cutting sugar and seed oils. Also fixing gut health with quality probiotic.

[@winonahdemars579]

Dang! 7 yrs. She just barely got done with you helping her bathe herself! Then you had to help her with that kind of hygiene. Poor little one.😢

[@DurindaErvin-hi7rw]

Way to young 😢

[@wdonato4423]

I think genetics has a lot to do with it. I grew up in the 70’s in back woods country eating an unprocessed vegetarian diet and I got my period at 11-12 years old. My girls also grew up in the country eating a clean vegan diet and with no devices and they got theirs at 10-11 years old.

[@victoriangirl83]

Genes don't develop in a vacuum. They change according to lifestyle and environmental exposures. Look into epigenetics.

[@violetw2653]

I was 8 in 1991/92 and it started then for me. I was raised forced to drink milk at every meal too, it was that kind of childhood. My mother wanted to have me committed when it started, she was in denial.

[@expatiate1]

My mother born in 1934 started her cycle at 13. Her mother born in 1912 started her cycle at 13. I born in 1962 started my cycle at 11. I was underweight, and a hard-core athlete. My sister didn't start her cycle until she was 17. She was normal weight and not an athlete. My daughters who were born in 1987 and 1988, started their cycles at 13-14. Were of normal weight and were fed an organic diet. I think heredity plays a major part in the puberty cycle.

[@Harvesterain]

I started puberty at 11. I had a lot of mental and physical issues. I was huge compared to the other girls (not overweight, just tall and filled out) and I couldn't control my period, and I would bleed excessively through my pants EVERY period. I would leave puddles of blood on my chair at school. I was in 6th grade. Even my parents bullied me to an extent. I was told I was smelly, gross, unwashed, unattractive...it was a horrible time period for me.

[@actualangel5133]

Feel sorry for you. But you are brave.

[@T-swizzle08]

I sorry you went thru this you deserve better

[@BarbaraM-lv7pe]

I am so sorry that you lacked emotional support from people who should have had your back. Too bad the school nurse wasn’t a safe haven of information and coping skills for you. A bewildering time made traumatic

[@Qwinbee7]

Honestly I think people should just normalize period to girls, I got mine at 11 and has had my girls be familiar with pads since they are old enough to ask questions, they like bursting in the bathroom on me so they see the blood and I tell them one day it will be them, if it ever happens at school go to the nurse office, I will make sure to buy my kids pads and extra undies and pants in their bags during time of the month, we can’t change when our girls get it, all we can do is be supportive and let them they are perfectly normal

[@collinskipruto5034]

Indeed, we now have to unlearn some things that we learned in school.

[@traceyparker1407]

My daughter started growing breast buds when she just turned 8 years old. Took her to the MD & he said she would be starting her period at 10 years old. She wasn't even 10 when it started. MD said girls are starting way earlier now & they don't know why? This was 22yrs ago. 😢 All grown now & had all the symptoms you said growing up. It was & still is devastating. Anxiety & panic attacks continue. 💔

[@susanpendell4215]

Sugar is a major contributer.

[@wintersprite]

I got my first period at age 10 (4th grade) in the mid 1990s. I think I started developing around 8 as well. I hated it as it made me self conscious, embarrassed, and gave me body image issues. I was always shy and I think I may have actually developed anxiety as a kid (started the bad habit of chewing the insides of my cheeks in 2nd grade). I didn’t know I had anxiety and depression until 2018 when I was diagnosed. Looking back it makes sense that I did (not just from puberty). In 5th grade, we had a day where the girls and boys were split up and the teachers talked about puberty and gave out samples of deodorant, pads, etc. I ended up being sick that day and was glad that I was because I would have felt embarrassed, even if no one else knew.

[@traceyparker1407]

@wintersprite All of what you experienced happened to my daughter, too. To this day, she deals with severe anxiety, depression and is very introverted. She just turned 25. It is a hard road. 😒

[@amandawayne829]

I've been talking about this for years now! It's insane that we just accept this as normal when it is destroying children's bodies.

[@alexandraonai8187]

I thought having a menstural cycle at 13 was way too early. Hearing stories of homeschool kids and organic kids who dont start until 16, breasts, hips, period. Its wild!

[@sarataylor8207]

Thank you for your video. I have a 5.5 month old who sprouted her first teeth when she was 3.5. I was told by her doctor that she's likely to develop precoscious puberty and that there's nothing for me to do about it. I don't know if I can do more than pray about it, but thanks to videos like this, I'm taking steps to hopefully minimize her chances. Thank you again for your work.

[@carmengutierrez8594]

There’s a book about early puberty if you’re interested in reading it. It’s call (The New Puberty: How to Navigate Early Development in Today's Girls) the title it says girls but it also talks about boys.

[@jessica93116]

My son also got a tooth very early and he has not gone through puberty early. I’m not sure there is a relationship…

[@itchyscratch3829]

My daughter didn't get her first tooth until about a year old, but at 10 years old is tall and already fully developed pubic-wise. I'm expecting menstruation very soon. This kind of goes against what your doc said...

[@lclaseA]

Don't know if this helps, but my first teeth came early too. Even my molars came earlier than my peers. Yet, I hit puberty at 14, literally when I had just started high school.

[@himanshimajethia4230]

Make her do more physical work....put her in sports and keep check her on diet. Keep positive thoughts around her..more than that you can't do much.

[@laurenkwarren]

😣😫. I feel so hopeless. What can I do for my kids? Some of these things I can control (and do) but so much seems to be surrounding us, especially the chemicals. We use natural soaps, cleaning products, shampoos, no fluoride, we only buy organic meat and dairy at home (but my concern is going out to eat) .. I honestly am terrified about them starting puberty early. My kids are 10 (boy) and girl (6). I’m especially worried about my daughter.

[@rhondacole6890]

I am speaking as someone who matured very early in life. I started my period at age 7. I know what it is like. I realize that everyone is different but I never fit into any of your statistics. I am now 68 and healthy. I grew to 5'9". It didn't stunt my growth. I never was picked on. I have never dealt with depression. I am healthy and well adjusted. I've seen these videos before about how terrible it is and how you will live a shorter life and so forth but I don't believe it. Why dont you actually ask the women and men who experienced puberty earlier in life. You might find that your studies are flawed.

[@jck6920]

I am encouraged to hear this - thank you for sharing!

[@wanjafaith]

I think these kind of studies and statistics relate to the majority rather than the minority of cases. No study is 100% accurate and there are always people who defy all odds

[@kimberlyjohnson2580]

Thank you for sharing this! This video made me feel like I was doomed 😅

[@princesspikachu3915]

Have you ever considered that you are the exception to the rule? I have seen the opposite.

[@erheaflower4318]

I think they look at overall trends, not every single individual

[@karenholsopple6388]

After I developed autoimmune disease due to the SAD and lifestyle growing up, we started focusing on nutrition, whole foods, lower carbs, mostly organic, and growing everything we can. The result? Our children are so much healthier than we were at their age and they all hit puberty exactly when they should.

[@caitlankelly4367]

My niece was 6 when she started complaining about pain in her chest. She had a lump, which turns out was a breast. She was put on hormones that delayed her puberty (for better or worse). She’s now 8 going through puberty. She is very distraught and has started picking her legs to bits, sores bleeding constantly. I hate to say it but all of the boxes the Doc gave us for early puberty she checks.

[@Sarah-ik5ce]

About time someone covers kids health !! I have been asking different people for this , Well done 👏

[@lindajohnson2149]

Thank you for continuing to be a truth teller and bringing awareness for us and our future generations, Dr Josh Axe! I've followed you and shared your videos and materials for decades and even bought your business course and truly appreciated getting your personal insights and feedback there. Continued blessings to you and yours!

[@drjoshaxe]

Thank you Linda! Blessings 🙏

[@jamipowell275]

I had early puberty at 12. I remember being teased because I was a full grown woman while everyone in my class looked like little girls. It was very stressful, and i always felt very alone

[@amandaamadori7756]

Me too I was 11

[@voiletwhitehorse]

I was at the other end,late ,period started at 16

[@sunrisetacticalgear2676]

@@voiletwhitehorseI was a “late bloomer” boy and was bullied and teased, now at 54 I’m still in great shape and those men are fat and bald. Mother Nature has a way of balancing things out.

[@voiletwhitehorse]

@@sunrisetacticalgear2676 yep 47 and feeling fit and looking younger than my years

[@janec1354]

I was 10 when I experienced periods in 1968.

[@Christina-cq6hq]

Thank you for this, De Axe. Our daughter started her period at age 10, and I have been wondering why. We eat healthy, buy organic/non GMO as much as possible and she is outside constantly This all makes so much sense and solidifies my suspicions on it.

[@angelabacker1177]

From time immemorial, girls have reached puberty at 12 years of age. In fact, if girls reached the age of 15 without the onset of menstruation, testing was recommended.15 was considered late onset puberty.

[@HYDROCARBON_XD]

Menarche isn't the earliest stage of puberty,it's breast grow which occurs 3 years earlier

[@Lucy-ou5hf]

How interesting; I'm 36 now and got my first period at 16 and a half. When I was 15 my mum wanted to take me to get checked, she was wondering why I didn't start it yet. I remember being embarressed she asked me about it lol. I look back on it now and know that there was nothing wrong with getting it "later". But all of my friends in primary school got their first period at around age 11 and 12.

[@AmandaGarrellArt]

I know all the women in my family ( me, sister, mom, and grandma) have started at 12 but we are also all naturally on the heavier side so who knows.

[@xodroid9853]

​@@Lucy-ou5hfI also started at 16.5. Pretty much everyone else I knew had it by then.

[@katiebugbooth4212]

Boomer here and I didn't start until 14. And while that was difficult being the last one my age and also late blooming breasts, I really appreciate it now.

[@ivelissebouet9563]

This is so great. Thanks for sharing.

[@kcsunnyone]

What a concise, educational, and powerful video! Thank you.

[@drjoshaxe]

Thanks so much! Glad you tuned in!

[@ljc5371]

Dr. Axe where would we be with out you man!!solid gold info!!

[@janicejames3939]

I think it’s because of the hormones that are in food/food products

[@IsmailAbdulMusic]

Excellent info and insight. We have to be proactive in preventing this!

[@mihaelafrincu8732]

Thank you Dr Axe,brilliant info as always!

[@drjoshaxe]

Thanks so much for tuning in! Everyone should be aware of this!

[@jdawn1001]

My daughter started her period at 11. She also is fully developed (not from moms genetics for sure) which is hard for her being so young. She is thin but isn’t as tall as I was at her age. My kids don’t have any electronics at all. We don’t even have television or streaming. We homeschool and go for walks, play outside. They do love milk and I only buy organic every other time because it’s pricey. Only organic milk from now on! We buy organic fruits, veggies, chicken, beef. I don’t know that we can get away from the poison in our environment.

[@sarahnichols4253]

This makes me think that at least it's not 100% my fault that my daughter is in precocious puberty. I feel so guilty because I'll be honest we don't do organic everything and we do have tv and tablets ect. I guess we lose either way☹️

[@divadance1202]

What they don’t tell you is that, organic veggies use extra pesticides because they aren’t as bug resistant. So we’re damned if we do and damned if we don’t.

[@Rosie_C]

I’m curious if the screen factor simply relates to causing some children to be overweight? One of my nieces started around 10 and she didn’t have access to any screens and she’s always been very thin. 🤷🏼‍♀️ I’ve always wondered if food was the issue for her. Please may I ask - have you always used fragrance free products since your daughter was born? Endocrine disrupters are variable and affect females differently. They don’t bother my mom and sister, but I got most of my dna from dad’s side and they drastically affect me.

[@OnyiJoseph]

3 replies

[@shynot6741]

My granddaughter is five, she has large breast. Spent too much time on IPad and cell phones. Great information Dr Ax

[@kathleenking47]

Not getting vitamin D3 from sun. This could be why gen Z is aging..or looking as old as millennials as adults

[@Ravenelvenlady]

Excellent information Doc. I will pass it on. 💖🙏🏾

[@tonyalavigne2455]

I’ve noticed this Dr. Axe for years with children developing early. It’s So concerning the amount of medication are given today compared to when I was growing up alone with other things. Thank You for getting information out to us!! I will do my part with Sharing as well!

[@drjoshaxe]

Thanks so much for sharing! Let's spread the word!

[@BarbaraM-lv7pe]

I wonder if being born very premature (very late February as opposed to late May) has any effect on puberty, menarche, menopause and other mid life health issues (hypertension, borderline diabetes and weight gain (!) at menopause? I wonder if they even study people born very premature for later in life projected health and demise?

[@sharidhinshaw4519]

Thk u! Well appreciated! I’ve shared with my son’s for there family’s ♥️

[@lisabonelli4908]

Totally agree! Also had to get on a med for allergies since I don’t take. When I saw it was for asthma, blown away side effects cause, depression, weird dreams, suicidal thoughts! Got off and this what they give to kids? OMG this is part of the problem 😮

[@sandracastillo7916]

This is precious information!🙏🏽💕

[@drjoshaxe]

Thanks so much Sandra! Everyone should hear this!

[@pimpussadelko7483]

Thank you for your work❤

[@camillecali2]

Got my period at 6 in 1968. It is normal in my family. My sis got hers at 9. People still think I am 15 years younger then I am so not aging faster.

[@littlesongbird1]

My sister's friend and her mom had a similar thing

[@wintersprite]

My mom got hers at age 11 and I got mine at age 10. People say we both look younger than we are. We also don’t wear makeup much (I occasionally wear it if I’m in the mood, for an event/outing, or if I’m in a play).

[@susangorgas5291]

In the 60's, we girls began our menstrual periods between 12 1/2 and 13 1/2 yrs old. This was true for all the girls! It was rare if a 14 yr old hadn't started yet. By the way, I very much enjoy all that Dr. Axe has to share with us!

[@smania7575]

Puberty was about 12-13 years old for most girls when I was a kid in the 90's.

[@Kwildcat13]

I was 15 when I started ! I’m 44 now .. so yes 12 was young for the girls around me

[@juliefitzgerald-frangos2211]

I was 13 almost 14 (1994) when I started . All of my friends already started their periods. I was the last one and practically begging for it since everyone else had it !

[@eurekahope5310]

It seems to me that 12 to 13 was typical in the '90s. At the time it was already known that weight impacted first cycles so my friends and I would exercise as a joke to prevent the onset of menses. The science bore out anecdotally in my home as my younger sister began right after me. She had struggled with her weight and I hadn't. I had a friend who was fully developed in 7th grade. The kids were brutal to her. I cannot imagine how difficult it would be for a girl to have precocious puberty in elementary school!

[@sacredmommyhood]

Interesting. My sister and I didn't start until we were between 14 and 15. This would have been the late 80s for us. I have nine daughters. The oldest five were 14 or 15 when they started. My 13 year old has not started yet, and I suspect won't start for at least another year. She looks more like an 11 year old. The rest of the girls are younger, so time will tell. But so far, none of my daughters have started before the age of 14. I wonder how much genetics plays a role.

[@amandalaurenFYF]

I would consider us healthier than your average family in that we try to avoid all these toxins that you listed… we eat 80% organic. But, my girl got her menstruel cycle at 10… she is overweight, she’s already developing a woman’s body… I just feel like we live in this toxic soup right now, and I’m just at a loss as to what else to do… I’m not saying we have been perfect, but far healthier than how I grew up on the 90s.

[@kinderleichtlerneneasypeas6885]

I think a more plant based diat would help to losse this body fat. Hormons are in fat, this is the problems. Doing sports outside, playing with the kids... Water with apples cider vinegar is tasty and helps with loosing body fat too. I know this from my own expirience.

[@mz4420]

If most of your organic food were organic processed food, such as chips, and ate huge amount without workout. You would have problems as well

[@mariekatherine5238]

It’s hardly even doable to expect kids to not be on screens. Most schools, middle school and certainly high schoolers, do their work on line. It’s required. A high schooler will literally be unable to function in the real world.

[@ken33tg]

Praying for you Dr. Axe.

[@rminfinitycal7635]

Getting so much information such as this stressing me out! 😅

[@beemikeme]

Dr Axe - I've watched numerous podcasts of yours and also saw you on PBS. You have great content! I have a suggestion for you to consider: I think you should talk a little bit slower as well as give a slight pause when transitioning from one idea to the next idea. Your rapid-fire delivery almost seems to be a bit stressful to listen to.

[@stitches318]

Not right to compare us to the 1800s when many people were underfed or starving. Girls who are anorexic also enter puberty much later

[@drew2fast489]

"Many people" and "girls" are not scientifically quantifiable amounts.

[@sammig.8286]

My thought too. Starving bodies don't care as much about doing puberty.

[@LM_2802]

People were thriving in 1800, whats “starving” for you? Plenty to eat in America for the amount of people in that era

[@drew2fast489]

@@LM_2802 Agreed.

[@drew2fast489]

Using anorexic girls as a standard is arguing from the exception.

[@ministryofwrongthink6962]

Yeah. Even years ago me and my friends noticed how awkward and uncomfortable it was that several girls who were 14-16 literally had DD bust size. We even said then it was the growth hormones in milk. Glad to have vindication without seeming like a pervert

[@karenrehm9423]

Thank you so much, Dr.Axe. Are you able to give any recommendations for the natural body and hair shampoo? Blessings to you and all that you do.

[@moggy992]

the expense of organic produce is absolutely through the roof. i try to eat as much organic as i can at 55 years old my milk is filtered milk? its so hard to buy organic. Decades ago things were more organic anyway. Im a lonely person so screen times are up.

[@stitches318]

This is true this is not a personal problem but a societal problem. When I lived in a bigger city I had access to organic food, but was around homelessness and crime. Now I'm in a nice small town and the only place to shop is Walmart! I can maybe buy organic milk but not cheese or ice cream. That's all conventional. Most of America is a food desert.

[@DragonBabyLove]

Do you have a balcony or yard where you can grow your own vegetables?

[@Rosie_C]

1) I find it encouraging to check out the dirty dozen list and only focus on buying organic of the foods on that list. 2) it’s getting warmer out and you would not believe the benefits of a 30 minute walk outside. I have dozens of trails in my county and just having a priority of going for a walk once or twice a week has helped me spend less screen time.

[@sacredmommyhood]

Are you in a position to start a small garden? It's the only way we can afford organic. We grow a large portion of our food. But I completely understand. Prices are absurd!

[@jrstf]

@@sacredmommyhood - I try to grow my own food. I do well with blueberries and rhubarb. Everything else comes in quantities too small to be useful. Efficient farmers are an amazing thing, I can't touch what they do.

[@linashayo2068]

Thank you so much for your education 🙏you help many iam sure ❤️🙏

[@drjoshaxe]

Thanks so much for listening!

[@phyllisturner5922]

Thank you and yes you are speaking Truth

[@pamelamays4186]

I started puberty at the age of eight in 1967. My girls started puberty at the ages of ten and eleven in the 2010's.

[@APR944]

The trajectory we are on as a country is horrendous and unsustainable. Thank you for your work Dr. Axe 💪🏽

[@liviaplettenberg4138]

"The 18th century lasted from 1 January 1701 to 31 December 1800." (Wikipedia). Not a hundred years ago. Also, the difference between 8.9 and 10.4 is not two and a half years but 1.5 years. Interesting talk but these minor mistakes still bug me.

[@donnagriffey621]

Thank YOU for this important subject its happening in my grandchildren 🔥🔥🔥

[@drjoshaxe]

Absolutely! So important, spread the word!

[@Mrs.Milkins23]

Going through puberty at 8 and being SA screwed me up mentally I didn’t know it could age us faster 😬

[@rhyde0731]

You are what your food eats! That includes the soil all our produce comes from. I try and support local farms that practice organic and regenerative agriculture, our soils are so depleted. Switched our family to raw milk 2 ago and will never go back!

[@jacquiej5330]

I all started my period at age 10. I didn’t have electronic devices in the 70s, but I did have extreme anxiety and my dad used pesticides that are now banned. My son, my daughter and 2 granddaughters went through puberty before age 12! My other children and grandchildren were older

[@JesusChangesEverything.]

Exactly, thank you!!!

[@banjiegirl2001]

I was born in 69 started puberty at age 8, my daughter born in 92 started puberty by age 9. My son born in 95 hit puberty by 14.

[@3333falcon]

I love this video, thank you! I tell my husband that we should buy organic meat and dairy but he tells me isn't that what we pray over our food for? He says the Bible says kill and eat. I however try to buy all organic and natural hygiene products because I think we need to try at least to do what we can do, however my husband has that different view and sees this somewhat as a lack of faith. What do you feel about this Dr. Axe?

[@mytribeoffive7605]

Some factors to consider….People all those years ago were more petite and underweight. Door frames were shorter and beds way smaller. Maybe some suffer from malnutrition? They did have some crazy chemicals in every day items too. Makeup made from led, asbestos on farms, cough syrup made with heroine, opium, coke with cocain. Feed your baby some coke with their formula. Anyhow, as a society we are way bigger and heavier than we used to be much more “nourished.” I agree with the everything you said all these things contribute. My daughter is a 5th grader and she and many friends have thier periods at 10 and 11. My daughter is tall and thin and hitting 5’4 95 pounds. She wears 11 shoes.. I think she will be taller. Anyhow I’m thinking hitting weight starts it. I was her size when I started mine at 13. She’s 11.

[@wintersprite]

Don’t forget arsenic in Paris Green: walls, fabric dyes, food dyes, etc.

[@wintersprite]

I started puberty around 8 and my period at 10/4th grade in the mid 1990s. It made me self conscious and embarrassed. I was always shy and after I was diagnosed in 2018 with anxiety and depression, I looked back and realized I likely had them for years-especially the anxiety which likely started when. I was a kid. It also didn’t help that my breasts grew large; I never liked them large and eventually they started causing physical problems. Last summer I finally got a breast reduction which has been so beneficial. I’ve read that a breast reduction might reduce the risk of breast cancer so if anything, my risk of it might be more average now. I’ve struggled with being overweight since I was a kid too.

[@PrettiBelle]

My daughter is deaf and autistic her menses started at 8 years old. She's 4'10. She stopped growing at age 8

[@karenhopwood891]

I started when I was 11. The first in my school. The shame and embarrassment have never left me. Curiously, I never grew another inch. I am 4'11. After 2 miscarriages, and endometriosis I had hormone treatment when I was 37. Never had another period. It was bliss. I'm 54 and to this date I have not encountered menopause. I'm so thankful to that doctor!

[@MarciaLopes-gm1jk]

Wow

[@lorenaroman4495]

Thank you very much Dr, my daughter is only 7 and she started to develop her breast. We went to the doctor and she said I shouldn't worry about it and when I asked if we can do some blood test to check everything is alright inside her she only answer we don't do any test on children for starting puberty... but I was very worried because I read the information about early puberty in medline plus website and it says that they should do blood tests and x-ray to check how far is progressing already in her body... but thanks to your video I know what I can do now to help my daughter, thank you so much 💖 Blessings for you and all your love ones

[@BarbaraM-lv7pe]

Get a second opinion if possible or see an endocrinologist to test your daughter. Mother knows best !

[@serenepeacefulrelaxingmusi3874]

Thank you very much.

[@sarahnichols4253]

My daughter is 8 and is in precocious period☹️

[@drjoshaxe]

Thanks for tuning in!

[@jtika1978]

I was 11, it was 1990. My daughter is 12 and has started developing but not started her period yet. I think 16 is actually really late. My best friend was 16 & one of the last girls to start.

[@elioraimmanuel]

21 years ago our eldest was diagnosed with CPP. The pediatric Endocrinologist said it was already epidemic THEN! He put her on Depo shot which wreaked havoc on our child. He instructed no soy and no commercial milk. He said if she made it to 9 without a period that would be great. I took her to an NP who detoxed her, put her on supplements and changed her diet. I took her off the Depo. She made it to age 10.5, but she is 5 inches shorter than she should have been and has always struggled with her weight. She was never obese as a child or teen, but was never boney like all our other children. She had a little chunk. Now, she is 25-30 lbs overweight . However, she is very fertile.

[@allthings5358]

This is sad … evil people

[@kayajackson50]

I started my period when I was 9. I was abandoned by my father and my busy mom fed me McDonalds dinner 5 nights a week, frozen food on the weekends

[@aprilj6159]

My son is 12. He has not started puberty yet. He’s considered one of the smaller boys on his baseball team. I’ve been buying organic for years on anything that comes from an animal.

[@HYDROCARBON_XD]

Boys start puberty later than females,like 2 years

[@Nursealinamac]

This was very informative Dr Axe! Chemicals are in everything 😩I make all our own soaps and buy organic grass fed meats and mostly organic foods. One of my daughters started her period at 10, and I was 12 (both tall and thin), my other daughter is only 9 and showing prepubescent signs and symptoms (tall and a little on the heavier side). It’s definitely the foods with hormones and PFAS we are surrounded by. I think checking hormones at a younger age to prevent diabetes and heart disease, etc would be optimal. DPC can check all the labs that a conventional MD would not do because of insurances.

[@chuntathecat4222]

It’s always funny but sad how “they” say no one knows why. Oh sure not the food or water or plastic no, must be something spiritual

[@Nursealinamac]

@@chuntathecat4222 Right !! They know exactly what they are doing. I think more and more people are waking up to it finally.

[@scarlettstott7570]

I'm a teacher of 4-5th grades and there are about 3 out of 13 girls who have not started puberty, with many of them by the end of the year expected to start menstruating!

[@mtnlight311]

I haven’t listen to this yet but my instincts have always been that it’s the hormones in the meat and dairy and also other chemicals that mimic estrogen in the body. I’m excited to hear what the dr has to say! 😊

[@Imana23]

iam not sure why the doctor says that normalperiod is at 16. I am 43 and my period started at 12 as well as my girl friends.

[@susanpendell4215]

I was 10 1/2 and I'm 60. My mother was 11 and she's 80. When I was young 16 was almost unheard of, 13 I think was the average age. My step sister was 10 and she was 5 years younger than my mother, she's passed away some years back. I don't know where you're getting your ages.

[@laurap9403]

I started at 14 and I ate all the 80s/90s processed food s and milk , but I was a really skinny kid ( not sure if that was in my favor). Idk-I feel like even 100 years ago there was a lot of crazy chemicals that people were exposed to. I watched a video of an old early 1900s film reel of “disinfectant “ being sprayed out in the open getting all over people-it’s wild.

[@BarbaraM-lv7pe]

and the green dye in wallpaper was arsenic laced or copper (!)

[@wintersprite]

@@BarbaraM-lv7peArsenic was in the green fabric dyes, paints, and even food dyes as well.

[@miggy7165]

Organic milk sold in grocety stores, including the organic grocery stores, are ultra-pastuerized. So it is tit for tat. Ultra pastuerized is over processed and non-organic milk has growth hormones. Unless you have access to a farmer and can afford it, you are pretty much stuck.

[@mignonbaricevic36]

My 2 daughters were 10. My 3rd daughter had a cleaner upbringing with food, outdoors etc and she is 10 now and no signs of puberty yet. My eldest son was 13 or 14. He is shorter than we were expecting and both him and my eldest daughter seemed to grow rapidly but stop growing very early

[@priusa8113]

Dr Axe I am 41 and got my period at 9… what does it mean for my health and life? What to do about it? I do try to eat mostly organic but don’t exercise. I am brazilian for ethnicity context. Thank you very much ❤

[@thuyle1075]

So I heard from others that organic milk and other organic food also has has antibiotics/pesticide in it. So organic is not totally safe

[@bettyanneduplessis419]

I was 8 when I started my period, have had alot of hormones issues, my grandson is 10 and his voice is dropping already, its crazy

[@HYDROCARBON_XD]

My brother is 10 and his voice has been deep since he was like 7,not puberty because he still looks like a child though

[@kathleendavis6122]

Dr. Axe : Do you have a reliable source to educate myself on the rate of antibiotic breakdown in food animals? I have a source for cleaner meat BUT animals do get sick. They do need intervention sometimes. I’m understanding of that. I just want to make sure they are harvested enough AFTER that intervention to have those items processed out of their systems. (And I know that it depends if it is a fat soluble vs water soluble item, if we are talking meat vs milk, etc. LOTS of factors.)

[@A.MENdes_6]

I'm learning the best & safest way to go is plant-based; simply because we were created to eat living, whole foods, not dead flesh, which so often incurs sickness & disease due to inhumane treatment & other things... but who am I? Certainly not a doctor but just a student of history & Bible prophecy🤷🏿‍♂️ whereby we may understand current events more clearly. P.S - when I say plant based I don't mean switching to this so called plant based, lab grown meatless concoction either; I mean, the Genesis diet: fruits, nuts, grains, & vegetables (Genesis 1:29/2:9,16). The prophet Daniel & his companions did it when taken into Babylonian captivity & they proved to be much better in every way(mentally, physically, & spiritually) than those who ate of the king's rich, luxurious diet. (Daniel 1). 1 last thing... Before the flood in Noah's day, people lived hundreds of years, but after the flood, when flesh was introduced into the human diet, the lifespan shortened dramatically, until now, we're baffled & blown away if a person reaches 100 years of age... GOD'S ways are always best. Blessings & peace

[@Ahmetdiop]

Which lotions are the best with no estrogens ? And chemical Lipikar or ?

[@HYDROCARBON_XD]

Pretty sure in medieval times children entered puberty at 10-12 years old as seen by a study,also another study studied on Bronze Age skeletons and determined that tanner stage 1 (prepubescence) was observed at 9 years old which is a normal age for puberty today,what happened later is period that should happen at 14-16 years old but now happens at 12 years old

[@mylifeintheusa4720]

Unfortunately, there are so many families struggling financially already. How are they going to afford organic food?

[@jdavisfreshoil3658]

My daughter began showing early puberty in 3rd grade … and many people told me it was “normal” I took her to an endocrine specialist in the 4th grade who decided my daughter did not need medical intervention. Instinctively, I took her off cow-dairy milk for a couple years and used almond milk. The hardest part was dealing with the menstrual cycles before Junior high/middle school age when she should have been a “kid” longer. She did continue to grow well to 5’3” Her technology use did NOT start early… we held off as long as possibles.

[@sallyreid9442]

I was 12 when I hit puberty. The girls in my class started around 12 or 13. I was born 1986 and most girls I knew was starting their periods at 12 or 13.