Fertility and environmental toxins
As fertility, pregnancy and women’s health specialists, the topic of environmental toxins is always on our radar here at Mama Lounge in San Francisco. Specifically important to be aware of are endocrine disrupters, or chemicals that interfere with our hormonal systems.
They can be found in thousands of everyday products – including food, cosmetics, toys, metal and plastic food containers, detergents, lotions and pesticides. We know, its not pretty. It’s tempting bury our heads in the sand when it comes to opening this Pandora’s Box.
According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, “Research shows that endocrine disruptors may pose the greatest risk during prenatal and early postnatal development when organ and neural systems are forming.” The very basis of our children’s health is being compromised by exposure to chemicals at the most fundamental stage of development. So what is a simple, effective approach to tackling this topic while not becoming too neurotic about everyday toxins?
PRE-CONCEPTION CLEANSE-
We always recommend a good 3 month protocol to optimize uterine environment and cleanse the liver before trying to conceive. Some women need more of a certain nutrient or particular vegetable, some need to detox and reduce inflammation, some need to gain weight, some need to lose weight. It’s customized to the unique physiology and lifestyle of each client. Cleaning the environment your child will grow in is a very important, often ignored, first step to having a baby.
EDUCATION-
It can feel overwhelming and close to impossible to try and eliminate every product in your life that contains endocrine disrupters. We find that educating yourself and starting with a few commonly used items can start you on the path towards change. Cosmetics, shampoos, and lotions are great places to start – especially since so many of these products are applied directly to our skin. A major endocrine disruptor to avoid is a fragrance chemical called diethyl phthalate. This has been found to cause in utero feminization of male babies. It can be helpful to start replacing your products one by one as you finish using your current supply. You can check to see if a product is safe to use and also find alternative products at one of our favorite websites: EWG’s Skin Deep Cosmetics Database.
EXERCISE-
Yes, good old exercise. Simply sweating enables the body to eliminate many toxins. One of the common toxins you’re likely to run into, BPA, can be eliminated through sweat. Get to it!
