ENVIRONMENTAL TOXINS: WHAT TO AVOID

Have you ever dived into something unknown headfirst? Unsure what exactly you are looking for exactly? That was me after my first miscarriage. I knew something wasn’t right, despite everyone telling me “it’s normal to lose your first one”. For me, I wasn’t giving that a pass for my heartbreak. I was relatively healthy, or so I thought.

My Journey to a toxic reduced life

After I lost my first baby, I began searching for ways to improve my fertility. Looking back now after over four years since that day, I barely scratched the surface in what I came across. I read about cleaning up our diets, changing our cleaners, using essential oils (because they were “better”). I had no real knowledge or science behind the reasonings to these changes other than the fact that I told my husband “there are chemicals in that stuff”. That was it. I didn’t know exactly WHAT I was supposed to be avoiding. So even though I made improvements, I’m sure I was not where I really should have been while trying to get pregnant.

I began making my own cleaning supplies with those essential oils, diffusing way too many at once and slathering them on myself. Hello, not enough education on that in the beginning! I have thankfully learned way more about those amazing essential oils and feel way more confident with them! My body probably wondered what in the heck I was doing to it. I was still using the chemical filled personal care products because I didn’t realize they were filled with all the things I should have been avoiding.

Over time, I searched the internet for all things related to fertility and learned more about what I need to be avoiding, as far as environmental toxins and chemicals. I was shocked at all the stuff that is in our consumer products that the government knows about and doesn’t place regulations on.

BPA

Bisphenol A is a well-known toxin that has been proven to cause many health concerns beyond just infertility struggles. Health problems have included liver toxicity, heart disease, and diabetes just to name a few. It has been classified as an “estrogen disrupter” and can bind to receptors and cause biological effects in our system. Due to the outcry from consumers, many companies have begun to switch to other plastics that do not contain BPA. They feel that by doing so and being able to say their product is “BPA-free”, they have won the consumers back. However, the plastics they are switching to are not always a better solution. Often, they are switching to a product that is not well known and thus, has not been tested or regulated.

How BPA affects your health

It has been studied by researchers that women with a higher BPA level during an IVF cycle typically produced fewer embryos and were less likely to get pregnant. They are more likely to have abnormal eggs, even with the medications. Even ladies who are trying to naturally conceive can produce more abnormal eggs and have trouble getting and or staying pregnant. This is startling, and we need to begin protecting ourselves. The FDA has performed their own research studies that were backed by plastic makers and their results have been skewed to show these toxins are not as harmful as we know them to be. 

BPA has been found in products ranging from baby bottles, toys, food storage containers, dishes, food and drink containers (including canned food), paper receipts and more. It is recommended changing to glass products when possible. It is especially important for kitchen products that come in contact with hot food as this can cause the plastics to break down and leach toxins into the foods. Avoid any plastic products containing the chemical Polycarbonate in particular. Handwash any plastic products you do have in cool water instead of hot. Purchase BPA-free canned foods.

Phthalates

Phthalates can be found in nail polish, fragrances, cleaning supplies, fabric softeners, food containers, soft plastics, and vinyl. They are virtually everywhere. They are classified as “endocrine disruptors” and have been banned in children’s toys in Europe since 1999. The United States followed behind in 2008. Many of the studies on phthalates are tied to male fertility issues showing damage to the sperm by causing hormone imbalances and causing oxidative stress. However, research is beginning to show that egg quality is being affected in women with high levels of phthalates in their system.

How Phthalates affect your health

It has been shown that phthalates affect estrogen production which then reduces the growth of the ovarian follicles. This is especially important for women who are going through an IVF cycle. It can mean fewer eggs to be retrieved and even affect the fertilization of them. If an egg can be fertilized, the next battle becomes ensuring the survival of the egg to make it to the five-day mark. To make it to the blastocyst stage, eggs undergo meiosis and cell division. For women who have high levels of phthalates in their system, they will have higher levels of inflammation and oxidative stress. This will mean most of the embryos are unable to divide properly.

Phthalates have also been linked to higher rates of endometriosis. Your endometriosis may still affect you as it may not prevent it, even if you reduced your exposure to phthalates. Women are also more likely to miscarry when exposed to high levels of phthalates. This typically occurs before she even knows she is pregnant most of the time.

Reduce your exposure to phthalates by changing your personal care products, avoiding perfume and nail polish, cleaning supplies and laundry products that are plant-based, and free of fragrances and phthalates. Reducing your use of plastics and processed foods.

Other Toxins

There are of course other toxins that can be harmful to you, especially while trying to conceive. Here is a list of other toxins to avoid. Many of these are found in foods, water, and pesticides used on fruits and vegetables.

• Lead
• Arsenic
• Mercury
• Fire retardants
• Atrazine
• Dioxin
• Perchlorate
• PFCs – Perfluorinated Chemicals
• Glycol Ethers
• Organophosphate Pesticides

Click here to download my 10 Things to Do Now, to learn how to reduce your exposure.  

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