CHOOSING TO BE TOXIN-FREE
We’ve discussed vaccines, but what are some of the other ways that you can minimize your unborn baby’s exposure to harmful toxins in the womb?
Organic Foods
This is one of the simplest and most effective ways to limit your exposure to pesticides. Studies demonstrate that organic foods provide significantly higher levels of vitamin C, iron, magnesium and phosphorus relative to their non-organic foods. They also contain higher levels of antioxidants such as flavonoids.
If you can, try to eat organic as much as possible, especially when it comes to the *dirty dozen, which according to the Environmental Working Group are the top 12 foods most heavily contaminated with pesticides.¹⁷
The Dirty Dozen food list (for 2019):
1 Strawberries
2 Spinach
3 Kale
4 Nectarines
5 Apples
6 Grapes
7 Peaches
8 Cherries
9 Pears
10 Tomatoes
11 Celery
12 Potatoes
(This list is from a USA study, and will therefore vary from country to country.)
One study found that women who consumed two or more servings of pesticide-laden food were 26% less likely to have a successful pregnancy than those who ingested fewer servings of these foods:
“Higher consumption of high-pesticide residue FVs was associated with lower probabilities of pregnancy and live birth following infertility treatment with ART. These data suggest that dietary pesticide exposure within the range of typical human exposure may be associated with adverse reproductive consequences” (Chiu et al. 2018).¹⁸
Glyphosate sold under the brand-name ‘Round-up’ is one of the most commonly used weed killers in Australia and many other countries. It is known to strip nutrients from plants and soil whilst embedding itself in food crops. In plants it binds to trace minerals and nutrients like manganese, magnesium, zinc and iron. A serious issue resulting from the use of glyphosate is its presence inside the food we are eating. Even the company who developed roundup admit that some glyphosate remains on and in food crops such as canola and corn (both of which are heavily sprayed).
Which foods contain glyphosate?
According to the latest research by FSANZ (Food Standards Australia & New Zealand), glyphosate has been detected in conventional almonds, biscuits, breads (both white and multi-grain, wheat, corn and rice-based cereals, oats, pasta, rice, tap water and infant rice cereal.
A study from the Environmental Sciences Europe Journal states the following:
“Since 1974 in the U.S., over 1.6 billion kilograms of glyphosate active ingredient have been applied, or 19 % of estimated global use of glyphosate (8.6 billion kilograms). Globally, glyphosate use has risen almost 15-fold since so-called ‘Roundup Ready,’ genetically engineered glyphosate-tolerant crops were introduced in 1996. Two-thirds of the total volume of glyphosate applied in the U.S. from 1974 to 2014 has been sprayed in just the last 10 years” (Benbrook, 2016).¹⁹
As consumers we have no idea just how much glyphosate is in the conventional foods we eat, but what we do know is that the herbicide is known to cause serious health issues. Whilst it is marketed as safe, court cases in the USA have proven that there are serious consequences of long-term exposure including cancer. As pregnant women it is important to limit exposure by choosing more organic foods.
For many families it may not be realistic or practical to eat organic food all the time, due to the high costs and limited availability of some foods. If it’s unaffordable to eat all organic, focus more on the dirty dozen list rather than all of your produce.
Clean eating hack for removing pesticides from your food;
Something I do when I can only get conventional fruits and veggies is to pre-rinse them in vinegar and/or bicarb soda (aka baking soda) prior to eating. This is an effective method for removing pesticide residue from the skin. I mix one-part vinegar (I use apple cider vinegar) to four parts water, along with a sprinkle of bicarb, and soak for 20 minutes before rinsing. Whilst some of the pesticides are absorbed into the flesh, this at least removes what is left on the skin.
Natural cosmetics and skincare products
Our skin is the largest organ of the body and being porous it absorbs whatever we put on it. A study in the American Journal of Public Health looked at the skin’s absorption rates of chemicals in drinking water. ²⁰ It showed that the skin absorbed more than 60% of total contaminants. (Brown et al. 1984). There are plenty of natural products on the market which use pure and organic ingredients that you can trust to use on your pregnant body. If you can, switch to a natural deodorant, as traditional deodorants contain aluminum. They also contain some other nasty ingredients that you want to avoid when pregnant, such as parabens which disrupt hormone balance. It really is quite simple to use natural products over toxic ones when there are so many natural brands available.
Environmental toxins have unfortunately become part of the world we live in. Toxic products, medications and foods are all part of clever, yet deceptive mass marketing campaigns aimed at parents from the moment we conceive and onwards throughout childhood. Thankfully, there are natural alternatives for most of these products. Commercial household products can easily be swapped for other items with safer, more natural ingredients.
Many people are becoming aware of how easy it is to avoid such harmful ingredients and are making the change to a healthier lifestyle. Toxic nappies, baby food, baby powder, nappy rash creams – the list is endless, but so is the list of conscious and ethical companies making healthy non-toxic alternatives.
What Your Skin Is Absorbing
If you are pregnant or have young children and haven’t yet made the switch, then I highly recommend beginning the gradual process of switching to natural chemical-free items. Commercial brands of makeup and skin products are often laden with chemicals and carcinogens.
These are just a few of the chemicals found in everyday beauty products:
Synthetic Formaldehyde
A volatile organic compound which is highly toxic to the liver, cancer-causing and often found in nail polish and hair products.
Aluminum
This known carcinogen and neurotoxin is widely used in commercial products and found in many items from antiperspirants to nasal spray and shampoo. Since aluminum-based compounds such as deodorants are applied to the skin near the breast there is concern that it may be absorbed and cause hormonal disruption or cancer.²¹
Parabens
Used in cosmetics and personal care products such as baby’s lotions, these synthetic preservatives have been linked to endocrine disruption and severe allergies. ²²
Synthetic Fragrance
These