What if insufficient and inappropriate nutrition and lifestyle are at the very core of infertility? Many women experience a dramatic boost in their fertility and are actually able to conceive naturally when they clean up their diet and become more mindful about the kind of products they use. The truth is that reproductive toxins are virtually omnipresent. But thankfully, these are easily avoidable by being informed. Here are three easy ways to get started on a fertility-friendly regime.
1. Avoid Plastics
Replace plastic with glass containers wherever possible. Plastics contain Bisphenol A, also known as BPA, an omnipresent and notorious endocrine disruptor.
While using plastic containers for food is bad in general, specific circumstances increase the contamination with BPA. Common in old or worn-out containers, plastic comes in touch with hot and/or oily food or is scratched. In such cases, BPA is released en masse and easily passes into our food and then to our bodies. Once inside the body, BPA behaves like estrogen, messing up the body’s hormones. Many researches have shown that BPA is associated with fertility problems and can also harm the growing baby during pregnancy.1
Be aware that many BPA-free plastics can actually be more dangerous than plastic loaded with BPA. The chemical that is used to replace BPA is found to be more toxic. So the only way to be safe from this toxin is to replace plastics with other, natural materials. Ditching plastic containers and utensils from the kitchen is a great first step towards long-term health and a sure way to safeguard or restore your fertility.
2. Avoid Conventional Tampons And Pads
Women’s Voices for the Earth published an independent report in November 2013, reporting that common feminine care products, such as tampons and sanitary pads, are commonly contaminated with toxic chemicals. Trying to understand why carcinogenic and hormone-disrupting dioxins and pesticide residues are present in feminine care products is definitely mind-breaking.
Other products, like feminine wipes, anti-itch creams, deodorants, and feminine wash contain a different kind of fertility-harming chemicals—a variety of unregulated ingredients and unknown fragrance chemicals—which are notorious for containing generous amounts of harmful materials like phthalates. Such products sabotage fertility and feminine health in general. As consumers, we assume that the products sold in supermarkets and pharmacies are adequately tested and therefore safe for use. But, as discussed, the reality is much different.
The solution is to use fragrance-free, organic cotton pads and tampons. Another very sustainable and increasingly popular choice is the silicon cup, which collects, instead of absorbing, menstrual blood.
3. Eat Plenty Of Healthy Fats
Fats are the most essential building blocks for all sex hormones, like estrogen and progesterone. Unless you get enough fats, your body cannot produce sufficient hormones that dominate and regulate your cycle and make conception and pregnancy possible.
But not all fats are the same. Some fats can harm instead of helping fertility. Margarine, trans-fats, and over-processed vegetable oils can be as harmful for our fertility as not eating fats at all. Even if you do not personally use these at home, they are in almost every processed, ready-made food. Vegetable oils with questionable nutritional value are also a staple for most restaurants, so beware if you are dining out often.
From a nutritional point of view, the best and healthiest oils are virgin olive oil, coconut oil, and real butter, the kind that comes from exclusively pastured, happy animals. With oils, aim for the highest quality, organic products you can afford. Many fertility toxins are fat-soluble and can easily sneak into conventionally produced fats. By buying organic, you make sure that you minimize the chances of the healthy oils containing these toxins.
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