Nadia Moredo Archives - East Bay Acupuncture & Natural Medicine

By Nadia Moredo, LAc, FABORM

We’ve been hearing for years about BPA and phthalates in plastics having a negative impact on hormones and fertility. At East Bay Acupuncture and Natural Medicine we advise our patients to avoid plastics when possible, because not enough research has been done on each chemical substance in plastics to know how it is affecting our bodies.

Now, new research is showing that currently used flame retardants can have a negative effect on fertility and hormonal health. Some common items that have flame retardants added to them are sofas, carpet and mattress pads.The current flame retardants in use are PFRs, or organophosphate flame retardants, and the good news is that PFRs clear from our bodies quickly.

The prior chemical flame retardant PBDEs, or polybrominated diphenyl ethers, were longer lasting in the body, and thereby harder for our systems to eliminate when in our household items. There has been research showing a clear link between PBDEs and decreased fertility, so they were discontinued from household products.Now new research is showing that PFRs may be having similar effects.

The 2017 Harvard study cited below focused on women going through IVF, and the incidence of successful fertilization, embryo implantation, and clinical pregnancy. Researchers looked at PFR metabolites in the women’s urine, and those with higher concentrations had a decreased incidence of the events listed above.

More research needs to be done, but researchers believe that PFRs interfere with fertility by disrupting the endocrine system and affecting hormones, which could have more far reaching implications with regards to other diseases. Researchers also called for studies to be done on PFR’s effect on men’s fertility.

One of the main takeaways from this study is that more than 80% of women in the study had evidence of PFRs in their urine, but only the women with higher concentrations had lower fertility. Therefore, reducing exposure to these chemicals is key. Because there are so many types of flame retardants, and because the safety of most is controversial, we recommend playing it safe and avoiding them all when possible.

Here are some practical ways to minimize your exposure to flame retardants:

Always wash hands before eating! We often think about washing our hands if we have been outside or touched something dirty, but washing hands can also wash off chemicals that we have been in contact with around the house. PFRs in household items often migrate into dust in our homes. A simple soap and water wash can reduce the amount of flame retardants that come into our bodies.
Vacuum floors with a HEPA filter vacuum; mop and wipe surfaces down with a damp cloth to minimize dust contaminated with PFRs around the house. You can also check out our article on safe and effective household cleaning products here.
When purchasing new furniture, and especially baby items, inquire and ensure that there are no flame retardants in them. This is especially true for sofas, foam mattresses, baby changing pads, car seats, baby mattresses, and nursing pillows. Check labels on the items you buy, and:

1. Steer clear if you see “TB 117” on the tag. This definitely contains flame retardants. If your household items contain this label, consider replacing them.
2. Be aware if you see “TB 117-2013” on the tag. These items may or may not contain flame retardants, and the best way to investigate is to call the manufacturer directly.
3. California Senate Bill 1019 now requires a label that will clearly tell us whether or not flame retardants are used in the product. The tag you will find on furniture made and sold in California after 2014 contains the following message: “The upholstery materials in this product: ___ contain added flame retardant chemicals OR ___ contain NO added flame retardant chemicals. The State of California has updated the flammability standard and determined that the fire safety requirements for this product can be met without adding flame retardant chemicals. The state has identified many flame retardant chemicals as being known to, or strongly suspected of, adversely impacting human health or development.”

Finding furniture and other items made without flame retardants can be a challenge. Some stores that sell some flame retardant-free furniture are:

Ikea
Crate and Barrel
West Elm
Ashley Furniture

But keep in mind that you must still check tags, because many of the products sold at each store will not be free of flame retardants.

While this can feel like alarming news, there is a lot we can do to minimize our exposure to harmful chemicals, and more that we can do to recover once we find that our bodies are affected. Opting for glass and stainless steel food and drink containers can minimize our exposure to phthalates and BPA, using chemical-free beauty and cleaning products can reduce our absorption of chemicals, and eating fresh and frozen foods can reduce our exposure to BPA in tin can linings. Please check out our related articles on green living and detoxification here.

The cumulative effect of reducing our chemical exposure in different aspects of our lives can have profound effects on health and fertility. Keeping our bodies healthy can optimize eliminating the chemicals we will inevitably be exposed to. Moderate exercise, fresh, healthy food and water, managing stress and illness can all aid our body in processing and eliminating what we do not need.

Research:

Urinary Concentrations of Organophosphate Flame Retardant Metabolites and Pregnancy Outcomes among Women Undergoing in Vitro Fertilization,” Courtney C. Carignan, Lidia Mínguez-Alarcón, Craig M. Butt, Paige L. Williams, John D. Meeker, Heather M. Stapleton, Thomas L. Toth, Jennifer B. Ford, and Russ Hauser, Environmental Health Perspectives, August 25, 2017, doi: 10.1289/EHP1021

References:

https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/press-releases/chemicals-flame-retardants-pregnancy/

https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/doi/10.1289/ehp1021

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1367877/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18667224

Resources:

http://www.sixclasses.org

https://endocrinedisruptorsaction.org

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By Nadia Moredo, L.Ac.

Vitamin B3 during pregnancy Many of you have probably seen the recent news that vitamin B3, also known as niacin, can help prevent birth defects and pregnancy loss.

More research is needed before practitioners start recommending an increased dose of B3, and as with any vitamin or mineral, consuming it in its whole food state often results in better absorption. B3 is a water-soluble vitamin, meaning that excess niacin leaves the body through urination and needs to be replenished regularly.

Here are the top foods that you can include in your diet to make sure you are getting enough B3.

Fish is an excellent source of niacin. A portion of tuna per week, fresh or canned, can significantly increase your niacin intake. Tuna can be high in mercury, so limiting your serving to once weekly, and including other foods on this list can be a good way to increase niacin. Salmon is also a great source of niacin, and including bothe tuna and salmon in your diet can increase your omega-3 levels as well.
Poultry. Both chicken and turkey contain moderate to high levels of niacin. Adding poultry to your diet, along with other plant-based niacin-rich foods can give you a boost.
Meat. A serving of beef, pork and lamb all have moderate amounts of niacin. Liver has the highest amount. Including small portions of good quality, grass-fed meat in your diet can help prevent anemia in pregnancy, give a good sustained energy boost and increase niacin.
Mushrooms. Although the most niacin-rich foods tend to be animal based, mushrooms have a good amount of B3. The best varieties to add for niacin are shiitake, oyster and portabello.
Avocado. A great source of an array of vitamins and nutrients, fiber, and plant-based fats, avocados contain a modest amount of niacin. Adding half to a whole avocado to your diet daily can increase your overall niacin intake.
Sea veggies. An excellent source of trace minerals and iron, seaweed and other sea veggies contain small amounts of niacin. In addition to munching on nori, try wakame salads, sprinkling dulse on soups and salads, and cooking rice and other grains with kombu to up your daily niacin.
Whole grains. Brown rice and oats both contain moderate amounts of naturally-occurring niacin. Many pastas and cereals have been fortified with niacin, and these are fine to eat sparingly, while focusing more of your diet on whole grains.
Green peas. Including a cup of fresh or frozen peas in your salad or main meal can increase the amount of niacin you are getting.
Peanuts and Sunflower seeds. A great plant-based source of niacin. Eat as a snack, add to meals and include these nut butters to snacks to raise your niacin input.

If you are in your first trimester and nausea or food aversions make this list look impossible, don’t be concerned. Most good quality prenatal vitamins already contain a daily amount of niacin. Look on your label for vitamin B3, niacin, nicotinic acid or niacinamide. They are all forms of vitamin B3 and are easily absorbed.

If you are interested in supplementing your niacin intake, eat from the list above, and talk to your primary care practitioner to see if you should take a higher dose in vitamin form. In higher doses, niacin can cause flushing: redness, warmth, itching or tingling. Your practitioner can recommend a non-flush vitamin B3, a time-release vitamin B3 or increasing slowly to avoid this irritating side-effect. As always, the best way to get optimal nutrients is to eat a well-rounded, whole foods diet.

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Flame Retardant’s Effect on Hormone Health and Fertility

By Nadia Moredo, LAc, FABORM

Here are some practical ways to minimize your exposure to flame retardants:

Vitamin B3 during pregnancy

By Nadia Moredo, L.Ac.

Here are the top foods that you can include in your diet to make sure you are getting enough B3.

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& Natural Medicine

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