We all strive for long, healthy lives, and for many, that includes the dream of having children. But could your daily habits be quietly sabotaging your fertility? Here’s what you need to know:
WANT TO RAISE STRONG, HEALTHY, JOYFUL CHILDREN?
Fertility challenges affect both women and men. If you’re planning to have children—now or later—steer clear of these four damaging habits.
You might not realize this is one of the sneakiest threats to reproductive health.
Many women—and some men—avoid weight training, believing endless cardio is the key to fitness. That’s a myth. While cardiovascular health matters, excessive cardio can stress the body, strain joints, and spike cortisol levels. Elevated cortisol disrupts hormones, which in women can throw off menstrual cycles and complicate conception.
Beyond hormonal chaos, cardio-only routines are inefficient. They burn calories only during the workout, while strength training keeps your metabolism revved for up to 48 hours afterward. That’s energy burned long after you’ve left the gym.
Tip: A smart strength training plan takes just 25–45 minutes and boosts stability, coordination, strength, and endurance.
Cortisol also surges when we’re mentally overwhelmed. Between demanding jobs, perfectionism, and packed schedules, chronic stress wreaks havoc on our health.
SHORT BURSTS OF STRESS? FINE. CONSTANT STRESS? DANGEROUS.
Cortisol interferes with sex hormone receptors and depletes progesterone, a hormone essential for regulating the menstrual cycle.
Tip: Start your day with five deep belly breaths—in through your nose, out through your mouth—naming something or someone you’re grateful for with each breath. Repeat this throughout the day to stay grounded and reduce stress. Chronic stress is a major fertility saboteur.
Another major culprit? Processed foods.
They’re engineered in labs with chemicals to create irresistible textures and flavors. But these artificial ingredients confuse our bodies and often do more harm than good.
Take sodium benzoate, for example:
This preservative, found in many processed foods and soft drinks, is made by combining benzoic acid with sodium hydroxide. It’s linked to numerous health issues and is more toxic than processed sugar or high-fructose corn syrup. It’s even used in industrial products like paint strippers and rubber cement. Though present in small amounts in food, repeated exposure adds up.
Now imagine a woman consuming these toxins since childhood. She struggles to conceive, and when she does, continues eating the same processed junk. Her fetus relies on that “nutrition” to grow. It’s no wonder today’s children face so many health challenges—they’re affected before birth.
IT’S OUR DUTY TO NOURISH OURSELVES WITH REAL, WHOLE FOODS FOR THE SAKE OF OUR CHILDREN.
Tip: Drink more water, skip the soda. Load up on vegetables, healthy fats (like coconut, lard, and avocados), and fresh proteins. Keep carbs minimal—especially the packaged kind.
Lastly, let’s talk about alcohol.
Binge drinking is normalized in our culture, but it’s linked to heart arrhythmias, strokes, and even death. It also damages the liver and pancreas, increasing the risk of pancreatitis and cancer.
When it comes to reproduction, alcohol is a major disruptor. It can cause erectile dysfunction, impair sperm development, lower testosterone in men, and reduce fertility in women.
If you’re trying to conceive, ditch the booze.
FORGET THE “EVERYTHING IN MODERATION” EXCUSE. WOULD YOU SAY THAT ABOUT COCAINE? HOPEFULLY NOT.
This mindset is harming us. Choose to be the healthiest version of yourself—for your sake, your partner’s, and your future children’s. Start now.
