We are becoming more aware of our impact upon the environment but seldom think how this affects our fertility. We spoke to Dr (TCM) Attilio D’Alberto to ask him how we can optimise our environment to help our fertility. Here are his top 5 tips:
- Reduce your exposure to chemicals
Our bodies are surrounded by numerous chemicals from fragrances in soaps, shampoos and perfumes to make-up and cleaning products, as well as nail polish that act like oestrogens.
Unknowingly, we are overdosing on these chemicals, which cause irregular hormone levels in men and women causing infertility. It’s better to limit the amount of chemicals in your home and in your body.
- Know your plastics
The use of plastics is a growing problem, not only for the environment but also for male and female fertility as they too can act like oestrogens. There are many things you can do to limit your exposure to plastics.
- Keep all plastic containers out of the heat and sun as these can cause the chemicals within them to be released into your food and fluids.
- Always try to buy foods that are not prepacked in plastic and use paper bags instead.
- Don’t reuse clear plastic water and soft drink bottles.
- Don’t use cling film. Use wax paper or parchment paper to cover your food.
- Store food in glass, ceramic or stainless-steel containers.
- Don’t cook food or put hot food into polystyrene.
- Don’t heat foods in plastic containers.
- Air conditioning
Air conditioning can make you feel cold which weakens the body, as it needs to use up energy to keep you warm. The coldness also causes blood flow to slow down and this affects the regulation of fertility hormones which are moved around in the blood.
Whilst on the other hand, if the air conditioning is set at a high temperature it can cause irregular thyroid function, excessive sweating, agitation and irritability which can affect the menstrual cycle.
- Reducing your exposure to air pollution
It’s less well known that air pollution affects fertility. Exposure to air pollution can reduce the number of eggs a woman has.
Avoid walking next to busy roads, standing at junctions, using the underground system or breathing in any type of smoke (cigarette, BBQs, fires). If you can’t avoid being exposed to air pollution, you can protect yourself in two ways:
- Wear an air pollution mask.
- Change your car for one that is more environmentally friendly, i.e. one without a diesel engine.
- Reducing your exposure to 5G
We are now all being bombarded with 5G.
Research has shown a correlation between increased mobile phone use and reduced male fertility.
In women, mobile phones can affect thyroid function, causing irregular levels of thyroid stimulating hormone, which may also lead to infertility.
You can protect yourself from EMWs by either reducing your use of gadgets that emit EMWs or by neutralising them with semi-precious stones such as tourmaline.
Article by Dr (TCM) Attilio D’Alberto, acupuncturist and Chinese herbalist in London, author of My Fertility Guide: How to get pregnant naturally, out now, priced £13.49. Also available in Kindle and as an audiobook. www.attiliodalberto.com