In this episode of The Egg Whisperer Show, I’m talking with Karen Bloom, the founder of Natural Haven about how detoxing your home can help support fertility and overall health.
Karen’s passion for safe living was born from her own personal health challenges, including Lyme disease and mold toxicity. She shifted from working as a consumer protection attorney to becoming an expert in non-toxic living, and now helps families create safer home environments. In this episode, we talk about the toxins that may be lurking in your everyday life and how you can reduce your exposure and protect your fertility.
In this episode, we cover:
- Karen’s personal health journey and what led her to focus on non-toxic living
- The common toxins in your home that can impact fertility
- Simple, budget-friendly swaps to detox your living space
- How to spot and avoid greenwashing when buying products
- The lifestyle shifts that can help reduce chemical exposure
- What to expect from a personalized home detox consultation
- Resources to get started on your own non-toxic living journey
Resources:
Karen Bloom’s website: Natural Haven
Follow Karen Bloom on Instagram @naturalhavensb
Find Dr. Aimee’s Fertility Essentials & Supplements
Transcript:
Dr. Aimee: Welcome to the Egg Whisperer Show. Today we’re going to talk about detoxing your home for fertility: simple steps to a healthier space, with my dear friend Karen Bloom. Did you know that hidden toxins in your home could be affecting your fertility?
Karen Bloom, founder of Natural Haven shares how simple non-toxic swaps can create a healthier space for conception and overall wellbeing. Karen Bloom is the founder of Natural Haven, a business dedicated to helping families create non-toxic living spaces and reduce daily toxic exposure. Karen combines her personal experience with her expertise.
As a consumer products attorney to guide others in making safer choices through personalized consultations, she helps clients navigate greenwashing, select healthier household products, and create environments that support overall wellbeing. Karen, you’re not only an expert in non-toxic living, but have also faced a complex health journey.
Can you share a bit about your health journey and how that experience shaped your passion for creating healthier homes?
Karen Bloom: Sure. And first, I want to thank you so much for having me on. I’ve, I’m a huge fan of all the work that you do and you provide such important information for families that need your help. So, I’m happy to be here and help them as well.
I will start a little bit back on my journey. I started off as a consumer protection attorney.
In Washington, D.C. I brought cases against manufacturers that were creating products for consumers without telling consumers about the harmful chemicals that were in the products. And so, I tried to fight for more transparent manufacturing and change manufacturing practices in general. For example, I sued DuPont because of the PFOA at the time in Teflon, and not disclosing to consumers the harm of cooking with their non-stick cookware. I sued baby bottle manufacturers for BPA in baby bottles and baby formula manufacturers because the cans were lined with BPA. And we’ll talk more about what those chemicals mean and do later.
I have always had a focus on consumer information and health and then, several years ago, I had come down with a mysterious illness after backpacking in the mountains, and I broke my ankle at the time, and I became disabled. I couldn’t work. I was just debilitated, had chronic fatigue and pain and brain fog, and it took many years to figure out that I had Lyme disease.
I’d been bitten by a tick in Shenandoah while hiking. And I also had mold toxicity from some mold in my condo at the time. And then there were a couple of other issues. And it took me a long time to rebuild my health and gain my strength back, and calm down my nervous system. And one of the symptoms of Lyme and mold can be becoming hypersensitive to chemicals – chemical sensitivity – and I had that. So, I’d already been living a clean life knowing what I had known from my consumer protection career, but then also had to be super careful about what I was bringing into my home. And found that it can be hard to bring safe, natural, non-toxic products and find them and figure out what is being greenwashed and what is a truly non-toxic product?
Once I regained my health, I had a baby and was very concerned about what I was bringing into my home for her sake and what she was crawling on and putting into her mouth. It’s just a full-time job to research these safe products and find them.I wanted to help people who might be struggling to do the same thing. And so, I created a Natural Haven.
Dr. Aimee: Well, I appreciate you doing that because there’s no better time than now with all the toxins that are in our environment and many people don’t realize that common household products can impact fertility. What are some of the biggest hidden toxins in our homes that may affect reproductive health and how do they affect one’s health in general and reproductive health in particular?
Karen Bloom: On a macro level, just for the general population, everybody is bombarded with a myriad of chemicals every day, and most of them have not been tested for human toxicity. We bring them into our living space through what we buy and through the activities that we do, and they’re hidden everywhere.
So, some of the chemicals I’m talking about are BPA, as I mentioned, that’s bisphenol A. Now there are products that are claiming to be BPA free, but they substitute it with bisphenol S or bisphenol F, and they have basically the same issues. So today I’ll be talking about BPA, but including the whole umbrella and something called phthalates, parabens, formaldehyde, per fluorinated chemicals, which are PFAS, which a lot of people have heard of as forever chemicals, and that’s that “non-stick” quality. And these chemicals have been linked to serious health issues, respiratory issues, cancer, hormone imbalances, which can then cause reproductive issues. And our bodies can only detoxify so much before they become overwhelmed.
You know, the human species has historically not had to deal with detoxifying all these chemicals. In the past a hundred years, we’ve created about, I think, 80,000 to 90,000 new chemicals that our bodies are encountering, and our lymphatic system and our liver are working hard to get rid of these toxins.
I think of everybody’s capacity to detox like a glass and some people’s glasses are smaller – if you’re elderly, chronically ill, a baby… Or, genetically you might have a better system to detoxify, and have a larger glass. Everything we’re encountering – our everyday toxins – fill up your glass and if you can’t keep up, or come into an excessive amount, or you’re overloaded then your glass overflows and that leads to inflammation, oxidative stress, hormone imbalances, and so the toxins can trigger physiological effects. Specifically for reproductive issues, the everyday toxins all include a class of something called “endocrine disruptors” and they affect your adrenal glands and can impact your cortisol levels.
Those are for instance, like the BPA and phthalates that I mentioned, and they can create egg abnormalities, impact your cycle, affect male fertility count, quality, motility, and it can lead to miscarriages. And then also developmental issues for the fetus. A lot of what I’m talking about is excessive exposure, the studies have shown. We have a lot more research to do about the effects on humans. But so far what is being shown is there is an effect. And the good news is that we can make small and big changes that will have a significant impact and reduce the reproductive issues that might be stemming from these.
Dr. Aimee: Yeah, and I think that the everyday toxins are responsible for the rise in PCOS and endometriosis. And, taking care of these things even before pregnancy is so important because you don’t want to expose your baby to all these toxins for all the reasons that you just shared with us. So how can people determine if they have these items in their home?
Karen Bloom: So, they are all around us in the home. We spend about 70% of our time at home. And the EPA estimates that there are three to five times more of the most common indoor pollutants inside, than outside. So really it is what we’re bringing into our home.
And the things that we’re doing in our home. I’m going to talk about the cookware first, non-stick cookware first, because that’s the one that I’m most passionate about, but a couple of the categories I’m going to talk about can have a real effect.
If you’re cooking with non-stick cookware, that’s the PFAS, the forever chemicals, and the fumes off gas into your home when you’re cooking. And it can scratch easily, and those particles end up in your food.
So how we get the everyday toxins is through inhalation, ingestion, and even skin absorption.
The forever chemicals are also in stain resistant fabrics or water-resistant fabrics that you might have on your sofa and you’re sitting on there and you’re absorbing it through your skin. Even toilet paper has some low level PFAS in them. They are everywhere, your umbrella, things like that. All these wonderful convenient qualities do come at a price.
Before I get too much further, I do want to say we’re not looking for perfection here. There’s only so much you can do, but you know, swapping out your cookware is a good place to start. And in a little bit we’ll talk about some alternatives.
And the next thing is plastic. That’s a big one: it has the phthalates in it, the BPA and your it’s in your blender, it’s in your shower curtain, potentially your vinyl flooring. Fake leather. And if you just have less plastic in your life, that’s going to go a long way.
The other big one is off-gassing furniture. A lot of furniture is made of fake wood, synthetic fabrics, your mattress of memory foam, your dresser or cabinets are made of particle board or multi density fiber boards. These fake woods are like adhered together with formaldehyde infused glues. These are off gassing when you bring them in and then continue through for several years.
And for carpet, especially carpet that’s made with plastic, I’ve seen studies showing that carpet can off gas for 30 years. Unfortunately, these are in a lot of our everyday common household items and if you’re cognizant about it and consciously purchasing, you can avoid them. And I can talk a couple about some about some swaps too,
Dr. Aimee: I would love to, basically some of the easiest and most impactful swaps that people who are listening to this right now can make, what would those be?
Karen Bloom: So again, with the cookware, swapping that out for stainless steel titanium cast iron and purchasing furniture that is made from natural materials: cotton, wool, solid wood, fibers, that’s how we used to make things. And a big one is about purchasing an air purifier with a HEPA filter, so a good quality air purifier and running that.
And swapping in your kitchen: focus on your plastic storage glass containers and swapping out your cutting board. For instance, I use glass. It is hard on your knives, but there are alternatives that you can use metal and wood, which are going to be better than plastic.
Dr. Aimee: I’m thinking that there should be a furniture line called Fertility Friendly Furniture, right? I see that store as being a thing.
Karen Bloom: Let’s work on it.
Dr. Aimee: A lot of these things are expensive, but what if you don’t have the budget for swapping out all your products and your furniture? What can people do to change their environment, who are on a budget?
Karen Bloom: There are a lot of simple ways of cutting some things out and some very budget-friendly swaps, starting with your cleaning supplies. If you’re using conventional cleaning supplies, that probably have ammonia and bleach and harsh chemicals in them, and lots of fragrances, which again, probably are phthalates.
I recommend doing what my grandmother did, which is using vinegar. I use baking soda. I use Castile soap, and you might need a little extra elbow grease, but it works well and smells a lot better. Also, a budget-friendly item, if you have an HVAC unit and you have an air filter – get the highest quality one, like the allergen level one and changing that out every three months, and you’re going to be amazed at how much it collects. I’m always amazed.
And fragrances across the board: laundry detergent, cologne, perfumes, deodorant. All of these have the chemicals we’re talking about and aren’t going to be that expensive to swap out for the unscented version.
And even better finding the one that’s a little more non-toxic and doesn’t have all the ingredients that you can’t pronounce.
Dr. Aimee: Yes. And what is greenwashing? What does that mean? This is one of the first times that I’ve come across that term, and maybe other people haven’t heard it either.
Karen Bloom: Greenwashing is a marketing ploy by companies that want to attract consumers that are looking for natural, non-toxic, eco-friendly, sustainable, all those words, products, and claiming that their products are indeed that, when they aren’t. Companies are not only using toxins that we don’t know the health effects about, but they’re also using materials that they do know are harmful and then they’re misleading consumers about that, and that is what greenwashing is. You’re seeking the product, you’re trying to do the right thing, and you’re still duped. And that is incredibly frustrating.
Dr. Aimee: How can people cut through the greenwashing and make sure that they’re using safer products?
Karen Bloom: Companies throw around those words, but if you dig a little deeper and you go to their frequently asked question page (I email the companies often), look for what info they have to back up those claims, those representations of being “green.”
If a company is manufacturing it in accordance with those standards, they’re going to be transparent and tell you, “This is what we’re doing. Here’s what we don’t have in our products. Here’s how we’re doing it. Here’s what our values are, here’s why it’s important. Here’s how we’re doing it in the supply chain.” And another strategy is to look for certain certifications. This isn’t going to tell you, across the board what’s in the products, but it’s going to give you an indication that the company’s taking this seriously.
They’ve gone that extra step to get a third-party certification. And some of these certifications are, for instance, OEKO-TEX, which is OEKO dash TEX: they test for hundreds of different chemicals to make sure that the product doesn’t have that. GREENGUARD is another good one.
GOTS is a Global Organic Textile Standard. There are a couple of certifications you can look for that are going to be shortcuts to finding a product that you can bring in your home. And also, it can be overwhelming and frustrating, so hiring someone like me to guide you through it, is another way to give yourself peace of mind and get rid of the frustration in the process.
Dr. Aimee: Karen, what other lifestyle changes can people make? My mind is blown right now. I’m just thinking about what I am going to do as soon as I get home. But are there any other things that I should know about?
Karen Bloom: I have some examples that will still make a big impact and again, are probably easy to do. The number one thing that I’m surprised by all the time is when people are cooking, especially with gas, they’re not turning on their ventilation fan over their range, oven or stove.
Turn that fan on. You’re releasing a lot of fumes when you’re cooking, especially with gas – formaldehyde for one. Open your windows and doors and do that all the time, getting more airflow in your space and getting the indoor air pollutants out is very helpful. Drinking a lot of water can help your body with the detoxification process.
And eating antioxidant foods like blueberries and broccoli will help combat the oxidative stress that these chemicals can bring on. In general, good advice is to eat whole foods, non-processed foods, pesticide-free foods. When you’re buying processed foods, they’re coming in packaging, and that’s exposing you to more plastic, more BPA.
If you’re eating fast food or takeout, those cartons have the PFAS, the forever chemicals, in them that make them non-stick. And during the processing or manufacturing process for a lot of foods, they encounter the soft plastics that are made of phthalates, so they have a higher level of phthalates in them. So, cooking for yourself, knowing what you’re eating, can go a long way.
I want to mention one other thing that is a lifestyle tip, it’s not necessarily a toxin, but it is something that I think is important. I want to talk about EMFs for a second: electromagnetic fields. There needs to be a lot more science in this area, but some of it indicates so far that EMFs, which are electromagnetic fields from basically every electronic device we have, can affect male fertility, for one.
There’s been some studies, and you can probably speak more to this than I but doing simple things like turning your Wi-Fi off at night, putting your phone on airplane mode if it’s, if you’re keeping it in your pocket. Not sleeping with your phone next to you.
Once you have a baby, do not put a video monitor right above their head. Things to decrease the level of EMFs in your life, I think one is good for health in general and reproductive health.
Dr. Aimee: I don’t know that I can do the whole phone thing, but I’m going to try. Basically, it’s attached to my body 24 hours a day. But I think that’s very important and that’s very helpful information and good advice.
Karen Bloom: And, you know, it’s a relatively new technology, so we’ll find out, you know, years to come, what effect it’s having. But I feel being precautionary is the best medicine.
Dr. Aimee: I think you’re right. I had a patient maybe like 15 years ago. This was back when everything was paper in the office, and we would print out receipts for people. And she told my front desk assistant, “I’m allergic to paper.” And she even included paper on her allergies list.
And I was like, “I’ve never heard that before.” But she was worried about BPA because of the receipt paper. Now because of her, anytime someone tries to hand me a receipt, I’m like, just throw it away. Put it in the bag or just email it to me. I don’t want to touch it.
I would love for us to now dive into Natural Haven and the personalized consultations that you provide your clients to create a non-toxic living space. Walk us through what a home makeover looks like.
Karen Bloom: I provide in-home and virtual assessments. I go through all your products, personal care products, cleaning products, what you’re cooking with and help you identify problematic products that you might want to switch out. And then I will provide the recommendations, in a report of what you can swap for, so you don’t have to do all that research. I’ve done it for you.
Dr. Aimee: That’s great. And how long does that process take?
Karen Bloom: I have different options, and you can go room by room or you can do your whole house. For when people do get pregnant, I offer a nursery package and a baby registry list. You’re making sure everything is safe for your baby and once you’ve done all this work, you’re going to feel great about bringing home your baby into a safe environment where they can crawl and put things in your mouth without you going, no, stop that.
And I did that several times with my daughter. I’m like, “Oh, wait!” And then I’m like, “Oh, it’s perfectly fine that she sticks that in her mouth. I know it’s safe.”
And that is just one less thing you have to worry about.
Dr. Aimee: Oh, I love that baby registry list. Do you offer gift cards, like for someone who wants to buy them, and where can they find that?
Karen Bloom: My website is naturalhavensb.com. And I have free guides to download there: simple ways to reduce the toxins in your home, and then also some baby registry ideas as well.
And you can follow me on Instagram at NaturalHavenSB, and I provide a lot of tips there too. I also offer a complimentary discovery call so you can chat with me and, and we can figure out the best way to move forward and if I can help you.
Dr. Aimee: Oh, great. Well, I’m so glad you’re doing this work, Karen. I appreciate the fact that you took time out to talk to us, is there anything else you’d like to add today?
Karen Bloom: Oh, I just want to reiterate that you can’t be perfect and stressing about this is going to be counterproductive. So really doing a couple of things, making as big of an impact with more bang for your buck… a lot of the things that I listed, and these are going to have over your lifetime benefits, just like eating well and exercising. So, in general, these are all good things to do but also, especially if you’re trying to get pregnant and thank you so much for having me, this has been a joy.
Dr. Aimee: Thank you, Karen. I appreciate you.
