As a naturopathic doctor, one of my greatest joys is helping hopeful parents live in closer alignment with what is truly natural. I often joke that we should take a few cues from our Neanderthal ancestors:
- Sleep in a cool, dark cave? ✔️
- Eat nutrient-dense, organic plants, nuts, seeds, and wild-caught meat? ✔️
- Sing with friends around a fire? ✔️
- Spend most of our time in nature? ✔️
When we ignore the laws of nature, there is a cost and fertility is no exception.
Infertility now affects about 1 in 6 people worldwide, a significant increase since 1990. While delayed childbearing plays a role, modern stress, inactivity, chemical exposures, and environmental toxins are also major contributors.
Declining fertility is the classic canary in the coal mine warning sign. We are exposed to more chemicals, additives, screens, and stress than ever before, while spending less time outdoors, cooking, moving, and resting. Something has to give and what’s giving is our health, fertility, and the wellbeing of future generations.
Environmental toxins most strongly affect three systems: the immune system, the nervous system, and the endocrine (hormone) system. Exposures before conception, during pregnancy, and after birth are linked to rising rates of autoimmune conditions and immune dysfunction causing conditions like allergies, eczema, asthma and certain childhood cancers (1). Endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) are linked to hormonal imbalances that cause reproductive challenges (2), menstrual irregularities (3), early onset of puberty (4) and cryptorchidism (testes that do not descend) among others.
Neurological development is often where the most profound and lasting effects occur. Toxic exposures during fetal development can influence health across an entire lifetime. Higher pesticide exposure has been observed in children with ADHD (5), and prenatal toxin exposure has been associated with behavioral challenges, autism (6,7, 8, 9) sensory issues, seizures, cognitive impairment, anxiety, and depression.
The good news is that there is so much you can do. Supporting your body before conception can improve fertility, reduce toxic burden, and give your future child a stronger foundation for lifelong health.
Detoxification is a key part of any preconception plan. By reducing exposures and supporting the body’s natural elimination pathways, we can prevent problems before they arise and set the stage for a healthy pregnancy.
If you’re thinking about conceiving, struggling to get or stay pregnant, or want to give your future child the healthiest possible start, let’s talk! Give us a call 970-963-6500 to schedule your free 15 minute discovery call with Dr. Casey.