Reducing Toxins
Chemicals and pollutants are all around us. In our food, cooking utensils, air, water, beauty products, furniture, carpets, cars. It’s everywhere. Including in our brand newborn babies. Our pure, brand new little babes who you just welcomed into the world- yes they could have hundreds of chemicals and pollutants in their blood. This is why when you are TTC or currently pregnant- it is SO important to really take a look at the products you are using and consuming. There is a reason people say not to get your hair done, or nails painted, or pump your own gas when pregnant.
In a study completed by EWG (Environmental Working Group) in 2009, they tested the umbilical cord blood of babies born around the United States and the results were shocking. The results showed 287 chemicals found within the blood of ten different babies. These toxins ranged from heavy metals to pesticides, toxins from burning coal and gasoline as well as consumer product ingredients. Out of these toxins found, “180 of them cause cancer, 217 are toxic to the brain and nervous system, and 208 cause birth defects of abnormal development in animal tests”.
In another US study, researchers looked at cord blood samples from 77 pregnant women to see how many pollutants showed up in maternal and baby blood. The results again showed that chemicals and pollutants do in fact transfer to the fetus. In some samples, the baby’s cord samples showed even higher levels of PCB’s( toxic chemicals produced by Monsanto and found in industrial insulators and lubricants which have been banned since 1976) and OCP’s (pesticides) than in the maternal blood samples.
Chemical exposures when in the womb or during infancy is way more harmful than later in life. Developing babies do not have their detoxification pathways established yet to rid their bodies of harmful toxins. Their developing organs and brain are also more susceptible to these chemical exposures. Exposures to toxins can have severe implications like birth defects, preterm birth, and childhood (or later in life) cancer. It is also thought to play a role in autism, impacts the thyroid and can cause learning and behavior problems later in life. We need to recognize the important of childhood sensitivity to these toxins and take action to reduce our exposure.
This information can be scary and overwhelming. It’s a very real fear to have. The good news is there are plenty of ways to make REAL changes in your life to reduce the toxins you are exposing you and your baby to. You can begin by starting to:
· swap out personal care and beauty products with cleaner options once you run out of your current one.
· Buy organic foods and looking at labels to watch out for different food ingredients that are not the best for your
health (artificial sweeteners, artificial dyes, gmos, high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated vegetable oil) . Even
avoiding pesticides in foods for a week showed a 60% decrease within the body.
· Investing in a high quality water filter.
· Swapping out those harsh cleaning products for safer ones.
· Avoiding using ANYTHING with artificial fragrance.
· Buying furniture and bedding that is flame retardant free. They even sell flame retardant free car seats (Hello NUNA rava) as well as mattresses, cribs and more.
The bottom line is that there are always going to be chemicals, pollutants and toxins that are unavoidable. Chemicals in the fabric of our cars, chemicals in the air we breathe or the water that we shower in. But by making small, manageable changes you can create a safer environment for yourself and your future babies. To read the full studies click the links below.
:)
Meg
Sources:
https://www.ewg.org/research/body-burden-pollution-newborns
https://obgyn.ucsf.edu/news/toxic-chemicals-pregnant-women-and-their-newborns
