Raising Toxin-Free Children Part 1, PreConception and Prenatal Health

February 13, 2024 by Lakin Bayless

Updated September 14, 2024

It has become so difficult to avoid exposure to toxins. We have pesticides (which include herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, rodenticides and antimicrobials), PFAS, plus other endocrine disruptors (EDCs), carcinogens and neurotoxins. It’s enough to make your head spin.

I wasn’t always into understanding toxins in our daily lives, but when I got pregnant for the first time, it became a game-changer for me. Now, after having three healthy kiddos over the last decade, I’m all about sharing the knowledge I’ve picked up along the way.

What has helped me is to make small, but incremental changes over time, as we could afford and realistically do. Your kids will appreciate the efforts you made and continue to make to provide a toxin-free way of life for them, even if they show resistance in the beginning and throughout. My oldests’ are already starting to thank us!

Let’s start with preconception.

Did you know that both mom and dad’s health before pregnancy can make a big difference? Yep, turns out it’s not just about mom – dad’s preconception health matters too. It goes beyond just sperm counts. The father’s genes also are very important in the development of the placenta and how well the placenta is nurtured. Researchers are saying that this period is a key window for shaping the future health of our little ones.  Particularly, the last three to six months before you attempt to conceive should be focused on improving or ensuring you maintain good health. An estimated 10-20% of brain tumors in children are embryonic, meaning they begin to develop during pregnancy and are often linked to environmental toxin exposure.

So, what steps can you take to improve your health before attempting to conceive?

Apart from the usual advice like eating well, exercising, and catching those Zs, tackling toxins is on my radar.

Filtering water is a must. Cumulative risk analysis of contaminant occurrence in United States drinking water for the period of 2010–2017 indicates that over 100,000 lifetime cancer cases could be due to carcinogenic chemicals in tap water.

There are a bunch of options out there, but we swear by WaterDrop Filters – they are tankless, reverse osmosis systems, NSF and WQA certified, and even remove PFAS, according to a Duke University study. (Learn more about PFAS below.)

Should you eat organic? Just ONE week of an organic diet effectively reduces levels of the herbicide glyphosate in pregnant women’s urine, according to a study published in Environmental Health Perspectives. Now, imagine eating organic the rest of the 39 weeks! 

Glyphosate-based herbicides are linked to preterm labor, low sperm counts, placental abruption, and other adverse health effects. Glyphosate is widely used in U.S. agriculture, not only on GMO crops, but also as a desiccant (to dry crops out before harvest) on conventionally grown grains such as oats, wheat, barley, rye, etc., beans, peas, lentils, sugarcane and more. In fact, the highest levels of glyphosate in food have been detected in conventionally grown oatmeal. And since the American Academy of Pediatrics recently stated that kids shouldn’t eat GMO foods, organic is the best way to avoid both GMOs and pesticides.

What about Prenatal vitamins?

Oh, the heavy metals and glyphosate risks are real. MegaFood Baby & Me 2 Prenatal has been my go-to; they’re all about testing for glyphosate residues, plus they’re doctor-formulated and certified organic. For dads, MegaFood has a great multivitamin.

And don’t forget DHA oil – crucial for that growing fetal brain. Nordic Naturals DHA has been my personal favorite during pregnancies and breastfeeding. For a plant-based option, Nordic Naturals offers Algae DHA. They have tests from certified laboratories to prove their potency, purity, and freshness on their website for every product. Pretty cool, right?

Next, we need to address PFAS.

If you aren’t familiar with the acronym, per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are toxic man-made chemicals that contain chains of carbon and fluorine atoms, which together form one of the strongest bonds in nature. They do not break down easily, causing them to build up in the human body and the environment. Thus, they have come to be known as “Forever Chemicals.”

Not only are they carcinogenic, but they’re also linked to reproductive harm such as decreased fertility and higher risk of pre-eclampsia in pregnant women. Even at low levels, these toxic chemicals are endocrine disruptors and developmental toxins that cause delays and harms to children including low birth weight, accelerated puberty, bone variations, and behavioral changes. We did an in-depth report on what PFAS are and how to avoid them. In the report, you can download a free, printable infographic guide to help you avoid toxic PFAS “Forever Chemicals” in the everyday products that you shop for.

Now, let’s talk about endocrine disruptors (EDCs).

An EDC is a human-made chemical that may mimic, block, or interfere with the body’s hormones, which are part of the endocrine system. These chemicals are associated with a wide array of health issues.

The endocrine system is responsible for producing hormones that act as signaling molecules after release into the circulatory system. Hormones are essential for normal growth, fertility, and reproduction, so minor disruptions in hormone levels may cause significant developmental and biological effects. Females exposed to certain endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), whether in utero or childhood, may be more likely to start puberty early, according to new research published in Endocrinology. Early puberty is associated with an increased risk of psychosocial problems, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and breast cancer. The substance that specifically stood out in the study was musk ambrette, which is a fragrance used in some detergents, perfumes, and personal care products. Parents should avoid products that have musk ambrette and other synthetic fragrances on the ingredients label. It is important to note however that some products that use musk ambrette may only list it as synthetic or natural fragrance or flavoring. So, you may want to consider cutting back on scented products where the scent isn’t necessary, such as lotions, shampoos and body washes.

According to a WHO report, there are over 800 chemicals that are known or have suspected endocrine-disrupting properties. The list of substances suspected of having this type of effect is regularly updated in the light of new knowledge, but these are some of the most common: 

• Hygiene products (Triclosan) 
• Cosmetics (parabens)
• Pesticides (organochlorines, fungicides, herbicides)
• Plasticizers (phthalates, Bisphenols – BPA, BPB, BPS)
• Flame retardants (PBDEs)
• Non-stick, waterproof, stain-proof coatings (PFAs)
• Pain-relievers such as paracetamol, NSAIDs, Tylenol
• Products emitted by incomplete combustion from incinerators, the metallurgical and steel industries and the practice of eco-burning plants (dioxins, furans, PCBs)

For a more detailed list, you can read more here. 

Lastly, let’s get to neurotoxins.

Neurotoxins are substances that can harm the central nervous system. They are found in many processed and prepared foods, including those that contain artificial colors. Some of the most common neurotoxins found in everyday foods are aspartame, sucralose, diacetyl, monosodium glutamate (MSG), heavy metals such as lead and mercury, and artificial colors.

Artificial colors are added to food to make them look more appealing, but at a significant cost. Some of these artificial colors have been linked to health problems such as hyperactivity, especially in children.

Blue #1 and Blue #2 are two examples of artificial colors that have been shown to cause tumors in rats.

It is no secret that we are seeing a rise in diagnosis and treatment of ADHD for children. I am seeing it among my children’s peers and in my own extended family. One out of every 10 children in the United States is diagnosed with ADHD. This makes ADHD the most common mental health condition among children worldwide. 

If you’ve made it this far, it is my hope that you are more informed and empowered to take charge of your health and change the trajectory of your family’s health.

At GMO/Toxin Free USA, we want to provide you with safe product alternatives. You can visit our affiliates page and Amazon Storefront to shop from companies that are committed to protecting consumers from toxins.

And, you can sign the petition to tell your U.S. Representatives to co-sponsor and pass H.R. 6105 – the No Toxics in Food Packaging Act – comprehensive legislation that would phase out the use of many chemicals in packaging that harm your health. It only takes a minute to tell your Representative that you care!