Thinking of Having A Baby? Here are 3 Reasons Why you Should Do A Detox First

You may have heard the saying “you are what you eat”, but have you heard the saying “you are what your mother ate?”

Chronic illness among children is on the rise. Incidences of asthma, obesity, type II diabetes, autoimmune diseases and even cancer have increased among the next generation, resulting in an even shorter life expectancy than our own.  While genetics do play a role, diet and environmental toxins are a major contributing factor. Scientists estimate that at least 30% of childhood asthma and 5% of childhood cancers are a result of chemical exposures.

This exposure to chemicals begins long before the child is born, in the mother’s womb.

While avoiding all exposure to toxic chemicals would be nearly impossible, there are ways to minimize exposure to yourself and your future children.

One of these ways is a pre-conception cleanse. Health professionals will often discuss what a woman should eat while they are pregnant, but after conception is not a time to try to cleanse the body of toxins.

A woman should never embark on a detox diet once she is already pregnant. The release of toxins can actually cause more damage to the unborn. If possible, though, a preconception cleanse can be very beneficial for both partners.

If you are planning on starting a family soon, here are the top three reasons you and your partner should follow a detox before trying to conceive:

1. Get rid of any accumulated environmental toxins

A few sources of daily chemical exposure include: pesticides in food, pollutants in the air and water, household cleaners, and beauty products. By buying organic produce, investing in a good water filter and using natural products for the home and body, we can reduce our exposure to environmental toxins. However, reducing all exposure is difficult.

The environmental toxins of particular concern when it comes to fertility are endocrine disruptors. Endocrine disruptors are any chemicals that interfere with the body’s hormone system. Endocrine disruptors have been associated with increased rates of miscarriage, preterm birth and decreased quantity and quality of sperm. Endocrine disruptors can be found in our air, drinking water, perfumes, cookware and plastic Tupperware, just to name a few. For more information on endocrine disruptors check out Environmental Working Group’s Dirty Dozen of Endocrine Disruptors.

The good news is our body can eliminate these environmental toxins, if we give our body the tools it needs. The purpose of a detox diet is to, first and foremost, give the body a “break” and time to eliminate bioaccumulated toxins.  A detox diet also means adding in specific nutrients (through foods, herbs and some supplements) to aid in the detoxification process.

2. Balance hormones

Did you know that the body’s own natural hormones can be considered a “toxin” as well?

Only if they overstay their welcome.

The body eliminates hormones through the liver and out the bowels.

However, if the liver and bowels are backlogged or backed up, these hormones will be reabsorbed into the blood stream and throw off our delicate endocrine (hormone) balance.

This is particularly true for estrogen.

One of the simplest ways to avoid estrogen dominance is to ensure proper fiber intake. In short, a healthy liver and healthy digestive system mean healthy-balanced hormones for optimal fertility.

Therefore, a liver cleanse will naturally help to balance the hormones in our body.

3. Get a fresh start

All parents want is healthy, happy children. You can’t expect your children to adopt healthy habits If you don’t eat healthy yourself. It is important to make healthy eating a habit prior to starting a family. If you aren’t used to cooking before you have kids, learning to cook and prep healthy meals when you have a newborn baby will be next to impossible.

Take this opportunity now to assess your current diet and where some improvements can be made. A cleanse that you embark on as a couple is a great way to make a fresh start with your health. You will learn healthy habits that will last you and your family your whole life.

For more information about our detox Pre-conception Cleanses and Fertility Programs click here.

To learn why you should cleanse with us click here.

If you are already pregnant or have children, don’t panic! Check our programs for healthy families here.

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