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Health & Fitness

Building a Baby Foundation

Prepping your body for pregnancy

      When preparing for pregnancy, women are typically told to take a prenatal vitamin but that is about it. Attention is rarely given to the couple as a whole and the environment they live in.  Preparing for pregnancy should include a discussion about which nutrient-dense foods and environmental characteristics create a solid foundation for baby.  Everyday chemicals we are exposed to are also being exposed to the baby in-utero. More importantly, many providers aren’t trained in detoxification programs that remove these toxins from the body in a safe and healthy way.

     Why would couples planning for a baby care about this? The Environmental Working Group did a study testing the umbilical cord blood of ten newborns and 287 chemicals were found. Of these, 180 are known to cause cancer in humans or animals, 217 are toxic to the brain and nervous system and 208 are known to cause birth defects or abnormal development in animal tests. Of the more than 80,000 chemicals in our environment, only a few hundred have actually been tested. Therefore, we don’t really know how tens of thousands of chemicals are impacting overall health and wellness.

Exposure to chemicals in-utero is arguably the biggest concern because of the rapid nature of development of a baby. An entire human is made in less than a year! In addition, if there are alterations in a person’s genetics, it can require even more nutrients and resources to detoxify the chemicals. We now know this plays a role in those with ADHD and autism – poor detoxification by the body.

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So what can couples do?

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  1. Reduce and eliminate exposure to chemicals. Now.  Reducing the amount of chemicals in your household is an easy first step. This can include:  replacing non-stick pans with a chemical free variety; eliminating consumption of foods sprayed in pesticides; or switching brands of cosmetic and hygiene products. Check out www.ewg.org for lists of chemicals in the products you are using and suggested alternatives.
  2. Participate in a doctor-supervised detoxification program. Removing the toxins from the body before pregnancy reduces baby’s exposure to chemicals. When a detox is doctor-supervised, it is specific to the person as well as completed in a safe and healthy way. Specific nutrients and foods are “prescribed” to increase the detoxification pathway of the liver. It is best to complete a supervised detox program at least three months prior to conception, so start planning now!

 

Dr. Angie, Chiropractor and Functional Medicine Provider, is passionate about giving couples the tools they need to conceive, have a healthy pregnancy and a happy baby! Call (952) 474-1949 to learn more.  www.familyfocuschiro.com

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