Here are some general suggestions from my presentation “Toxic Timebomb: How everyday chemicals impact fertility & health” to help your body cope with the chemicals we are exposed to every day (please consult your healthcare professional for specific advice & guidance):

• Detox / address gut health (pref before pregnancy) – Probiotics, fermented foods or a gentle detox program.  Do NOT do a detox program whilst pregnant or breastfeeding.
• Diet is key to changing microbial makeup & genetic expression. No one diet suits everyone, but common factors to avoid are sugar, trans-fats, wheat & dairy (consider GAPS diet for longer-term healing of gut).
• Organic food (preferably certified organic or grow your own) to reduce chemical load & GMOs. Soaking produce in water & vinegar for 10 minutes will reduce the chemicals on the surface of non-organic foods.
• Exercise – sweat it out
• Regular bowel movements – Magnesium will help. Adequate water & 30g+ fibre/day
• Eat more cruciferous veg – broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, brussels sprouts, etc.
• Garlic & onion – prebiotics + sulphur to aid detox pathways
• Turmeric – methylation adaptogen – eat with fats &/or black pepper to improve bioavailability
• Chlorophyll – dark leafy greens, green powder like this.
• 1-4g Vitamin C per day (most brands made from GMO corn – look for non-GMO brands)
• Milk Thistle (equiv 600mg Silymarin/day) to support liver function.  I recommend this supplement.
• B vitamins
• Vitamin D – a few minutes of sunshine each day or a good D3 supplement
• Avoid folic acid (synthetic) – instead, eat dark leafy veg rich in natural folate or supplement with active natural folate
• Omega 3 fats
• Filtered water for both drinking & bathing.
• Sleep – 9pm-midnight the most important hours. Microbiota changes with sleep.
• Swap current household & personal care products for safer alternatives (see ‘Shop‘)
• Avoid non-stick cookware (stainless steel is the healthiest option)
• Remove shoes before entering your house to avoid tracking pesticides & herbicides over your floor (especially important if you have a young baby crawling around)
• Live in the moment, but be mindful of the future. What you’re doing right now matters!

Further reading:

First-borns more likely to be overweight

Alliance for Natural Health International