Since the industrial revolution, our environment has become increasingly more polluted and toxic. In fact, the average adult has an estimated 700 man-made toxic chemicals in their body, while the average baby is born with over 200. This is alarming, especially for those thinking of getting pregnant or actively trying, because many environmental toxins have been linked to infertility, pregnancy loss, low birth weight, and preterm birth.
Toxins can impact fertility through:
- Endocrine disruption
- Damage to the female and male reproductive systems
- Impaired fetal viability
The developing baby is especially vulnerable to even low levels of toxins. Toxins can impact not only fetal development, but may increase the risk of baby developing health conditions later in life, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, allergies, infertility, cancer, hormone imbalances, autoimmune diseases, behavioral/mood disorders, neurological conditions, and even Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s disease.
Fortunately, we are here to tell you that there are many resources available to help equip you and your family with healthier, safer products and minimize your exposure to these unwanted chemicals. Here are some of our favorites:
- The Environmental Working Group – a non-profit organization that draws from the most current research to identify harmful chemicals and the best resources to help protect the public from unnecessary exposure. Two of the most useful resources they provide are the Dirty Dozen and Clean 15 lists, which are updated yearly. These lists provide the 12 fruits and vegetables that are most heavily sprayed with herbicides and pesticides, which should be purchased organic whenever possible, as well as the top 15 that are least reliant on pesticides and safer to purchase conventionally grown.
- Local Harvest – “Connects people looking for good food with the farmers who produce it.” Living a clean, fertility-boosting lifestyle is intrinsically linked to the food at the end of your fork. You are what you eat, and we believe that sourcing your food locally, in season, from organic farms (or those that practice organic principles) is one of the most important things you can do to protect your body, baby, and the environment.
- Organic Authority – Once you’ve picked up your organic produce, what are you going to use to cook it? Organic Authority outlines the healthiest cookware and non-toxic brands to use so that you can keep your healthy produce chemical-free from farm to fork!
- Mamavation investigates chemicals that consumers are regularly exposed to and recommends clean brand alternatives. We especially love this one because there is a lot of focus on the best non-toxic products for baby and toddler.
- Think Dirty – this easy to use app allows you to search or scan the barcode of cosmetic and personal care products from the U.S. and Canada. It then provides a breakdown of product ingredients, a toxicity score from 1-10, as well as recommended products.
