This week, Joy chats with Shanna H. Swan, Ph.D., one of the world’s leading environmental and reproductive epidemiologists. She is a Professor of Environmental Medicine and Public Health at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City where she is also a member of the Transdisciplinary Center on Early Environmental Exposures. For over twenty years, Dr. Swan and her colleagues have been studying the dramatic decline in sperm count around the world and the impact of environmental chemicals and pharmaceuticals on reproductive tract development and neurodevelopment.

In this episode Dr. Swan shares her first hand research results on the impact of phthalate exposure during pregnancy on reproductive health. She is a wealth of knowledge on this topic and shares her top suggestions for avoiding exposure to these chemicals in everything from your food and drink to the air we breathe. You will be blown away by her extensive knowledge and clear communication. 

If you want to learn how common everyday chemicals can impact fertility and reproductive health you won’t want to miss this episode. So settle in with a cuppa delicious, liver-loving detox tea and get ready to be empowered to take simple steps to improve your health. 

 

Episode Highlights:

• The varied path Dr. Swan took from child actress to world-renowned epidemiologist. 

• An explanation of what reproductive & environmental epidemiology is. 

• A breakdown of her current epidemiological study on phthalates & pregnancy. 

• The suggestive conclusions found on the impacts of Tylenol and pregnancy. 

• What phthalates are and how they’re used across various industries. 

• The definition of non-persistent chemicals. 

• How phthalates consistently enter the body. 

• How phthalates leach out of plastics and into the environment. 

• The impact of phthalate ingestion during pregnancy. 

• What is phthalate syndrome? 

• The impact of phthalates on male reproductive organs. 

• The relationship between phthalates and fertility. 

• How phthalate exposure impacts sperm counts. 

• The connection between perineum length and reproductive function in males. 

• How phthalates may impact libido and sexual satisfaction. 

• Her top tips for avoiding phthalate exposure. 

• Other chemicals in plastics to avoid for optimal health.

• How to avoid phthalates in food shopping, storage, and cooking.

• The way Dr. Swan treats her water to remove chemicals. 

 

Resources:

Dr. Swan’s Website

Dr. Swan’s Instagram

Dr. Swan’s Twitter

Count Down Book

Helpful Resources

Million Marker Test Kits

 

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