Environmental Pollutants and Fertility

Perhaps you've overheard the news reports or glanced at the articles. You're aware that environmental pollutants are a growing concern, but now, as you are trying to expand your family, it is becoming particularity important that you pay attention to these findings. Analyses show that pesticides, plastics, cleaning agents, and other chemicals we are exposed to on a daily basis contain toxic substances which disrupt our hormonal balance and increase our risk for infertility. Arm yourself with knowledge and learn about your options as you and your partner start on the journey towards parenthood.

Pregnancy Planning And The Environment

According to a press release issued by Friends of the Earth, there are over 300 recently developed substances our bodies can store that cause hormonal imbalance. Furthermore, women who are exposed to heavy metals such as lead, aluminum or cadmium are more likely to have irregular cycles and suffer from even more dramatic hormonal fluctuations. To enable your body's natural detoxification system to work properly and insure hormonal balance, it is important to take measures to avoid these harmful substances.

Limit Pesticide Consumption

The only way to remove pesticides from the surface of fruits and vegetables is by peeling them or removing the outer layers of leafy vegetables.But sometimes its not quite practical to peel everything - imagine trying to peel bunch of grapes! For those fruits and veggies that you can not peel, the go-to method of rinsing under water hardly removes the harmful residues. After peeling, the best way to remove pesticides is by soaking your produce for 10-30 minutes in a solution of water with a bit of dishwashing detergent or vinegar.


If you don't have the patience to soak your produce, a produce spray, available in most healthfood stores, is also a good option. Spray your produce and wash thoroughly before eating. You can also create your own produce spray by mixing up a 3:1 water to vinegar solution to keep in a spray bottle by your sink.


Nutritionist advise including a wide variety of fruit and vegetables into your diet to avoid ingesting too much of one particular pesticide.

Protect Yourself Against Plastics

Until recently, no one thought twice about our bombardment with plastics - plastic bottles, plastic food wrappers, plastic dishes, plastic bags and plastic containers for everything - but today, there is growing concern among scientists about these products.


Dramatic hormonal alterations were found in those who had high levels of the chemical compound Bisphenol A (BPA) that is common in plastics. One study proved that women who experienced one or more miscarriages had triple the concentration of Bisphosphate A in their blood than women who had never suffered a miscarriage. Another highlighted a scary phenomena where male workers developed breast after inhaling dust containing BPA.


Take these steps to protect yourself, especially if you are trying to get pregnant.

1. Use plastic containers and tableware that are clearly marked BPA-Free or that do not contain any softening agents. If you cannot determine this clearly from the product description or label, don't buy the product.

2. Do no cook or reheat food in plastic. Do not use plastic containers in a microwave oven.

3. When you buy food sealed in a plastic film, remove the food from the packaging straight away and store it in a suitable container. Be especially careful to avoid keep high-fat foods in plastic containers as Xenoestrogens are easily transferred to foods with a high fat content.

4. When you buy hard cheese sealed in plastic film, scrape the surface with a knife before consuming.

5.  Use glass bottles! Water is probably the most important ingredient in a healthy diet and detoxification regime, and there has been a huge increase in the consumption of bottled water. However, while this bottled water might be filtered, because it is stored in plastic, it absorbs BPA. We recommend you refill your own non-plastic water bottle instead of using toxic plastic bottles.

Avoid Heavy Metals

You might not realize just how often you are exposed to heavy metals. Aluminum cookware, metal cans, foil coatings, and even the material used to correct teeth are also causing concern among the scientific community for their high levels of BPA and other toxic substances. Below we will address some of the more common metals and their effect on fertility, and what you can do to avoid them.


Aluminum

Scientific studies have shown that aluminum impairs the absorption of nutrients and can negatively impact fertility. Aluminum is found in everyday goods such as antacids, deodorants, anti-clumping agents in dried milk, aluminum kitchenware, drink cans, and foil.


- Replace all your aluminum pots and pans with kitchenware made from iron, glass or stainless steel.

- Do not drink carbonated drinks from aluminum cans. Carbonated drinks in cans have high concentration of aluminum from the inner lining of cans that dissolves into the drink.

- Buy aluminum-free deodorants.


Mercury

You might already know that pregnancy women should avoid fish with high levels of mercury, but you probably don't realize where else mercury is shows up. Mercury is not only unsafe for pregnant women, it has an effect on your ability to get pregnant as well. Studies have shown that Mercury reduces fertility by accumulating in the pituitary gland, which is crucial to stimulating the production of sexual hormones. An alarming finding shows that female dentists and dental assistants, who are often exposed to mercury, have a particularly high rate of miscarriages.


The mercury in your teeth fillings can escape in the form of mercury vapor and pass into our bodies when we consume hot drinks such as tea or coffee, brush our teeth or chew gum. One study, in which over 100 research reports and medical files were assessed, concludes that the accumulation of mercury in the body can cause many different symptoms such as allergies, chronic exhaustion, depressive episodes, flu-like ailments, menstruation complaints, reduced sperm levels, ovulation disorders, and miscarriages.


If you need a tooth filled, ask your dentist for alternatives to the standard metal filling. Special tests can reveal if mercury is escaping from your fillings. If you find that it is, dentist can replace the fillings. However if the test reveals that there is no indication that mercury is passing into your body, you should not have the replacement work done while trying to get pregnant because large amounts mercury could be released during the procedure. Our advice is to have all of your necessary dental treatments completed three months before attempting to get pregnant.


Copper

Copper is one of the essential trace elements, but it too can be toxic in high concentrations. The body can absorb copper from water pipes or from contraceptive coils. The main problem with copper is that if its concentration increases too sharply, the absorption of zinc, and important component in fertility, will be impeded.


Try not to wear copper jewelry if you are trying to conceive, and if you cook in copper cookware, make sure the surfaces are not scratched.


Cadmium

Cadmium is a highly toxic heavy metal found in cigarette smoke that has a very harmful effect on male and female fertility. Quit smoking and protect yourself against second hand smoke.

Chemicals in the Home

That fresh, chemical smell that permeates your house after you give it a good cleaning ––you know, the one that smells like a mixture of pine and bleach? Well, many experts believe that these chemicals are actually a great risk to your fertility because of the volatile off-gassing. Its important to live in a clean environment though, so lets take a look at some of the natural alternatives that do just as good, if not a better job, of eliminating those messes.


Vinegar. It's a magic cleaning agent with virtually endless possibilities.

- A dash of vinegar on a damp cloth is ideal for cleaning unvarnished wood.

- Add a few drops to your steam cleaner to it kills house dust mites and bacteria.

- A good alternative to floor cleaners, which contain lots of chemicals: add a cup of vinegar to a bucket of water.

- In a spray bottle, mix vinegar and water in the ratio of 1:1 for a natural window cleaner.


Baking soda also has excellent cleaning properties.

- Create your own room spray by mixing a few drops of essential oil with baking soda.

- For fresh clean carpeting, sprinkle baking soda over it before vacuuming.


While thinking about expanding your family, you might decide that this is the perfect time to expand or redecorate your house. Be careful though, many materials used in renovations have been linked to infertility.


Paints that contain solvents and turpentine substitute release gases which can hang in the air for weeks after the painting work has been finished. Also, new carpets often contain the preservative formaldehyde, which can irritate the mucous membranes of eyes, nose and throat and are generally unhealthy. An American study of women who were suffering from unexplained infertility revealed a high concentration of two chemicals which are present in carpets, leather upholstery and wood preserving agents.

Toiletries and Cosmetics

Many commercial toiletries contain detergents and artificial fragrances which can irritate your skin and mucous membranes. Read labels before making any purchases, and avoid those with chemicals.


For an all natural relaxing bath, try adding dried or fresh fragrant herbs (lavender, rosemary or peppermint), essential oils, or a cup of Epsom salts to warm water. Try switching to natural, organic soap which you can purchase in wholefood shops or pharmacies.


If you want to get pregnant it is best not dye your hair or use any chemical hair treatment that comes in contact with your scalp. Highlights are a good alternative to a full hair dye because to chemicals do not come in contact with the scalp. If you are already pregnant, it is recommended that you wait until your fourth month before dying your hair. There are also wonderful all-natural hair dyes available at health food stores.

Nature Knows Best

For better or for worse, advancements in technology have created a lot of unnatural products and byproducts, but when you are trying to concieve nature is still knows best. Making a baby and becoming parents is one of the miracles of nature that connects you right back to the majestic organic world we live in. Stay one step ahead of the game by keeping your food, environment and lifestyle choices wholesome and natural.

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