Food Toxins & Fertility: What Actually Matters with Nutritionist Courtney Swan

Food labels can make almost anything look healthy, but what is actually in the food we eat? With growing concerns about ultra processed foods, additives, seed oils, and pesticides, many women are left wondering what truly matters for their hormones and fertility.

In this episode of the As a Woman podcast, Dr. Natalie Crawford talks with Courtney Swan, MS, integrative nutritionist and host of Realfoodology. Courtney shares how she and her husband prepared for pregnancy before conceiving at 41, and they discuss how nutrition, inflammation, egg health, and sperm health can shape fertility. Together, they offer practical ways to make informed choices and reduce everyday exposures without fear or perfection.

IN THIS EPISODE:

00:00 Food Toxins, Hormones, and Fertility

01:08 Is the American Food System Broken?

05:25 Processed vs Ultra Processed Foods

08:33 Food Additives and Hidden Ingredients

12:05 Seed Oils and Inflammation

15:11 Environmental Toxins, Glyphosate, and Organic Food

18:11 How the Body Handles Everyday Toxin Exposure

19:10 Pregnancy at 41 and Preconception Health

22:43 Male Fertility and Sperm Health

27:42 Fertility After 35 and Metabolic Health

33:03 Where to Start Reducing Toxin Exposure

36:16 Fertility Testing Before Trying to Conceive

38:39 When to Consider a Semen Analysis

39:44 Egg Quality, Mitochondria, and CoQ10

40:23 Courtney Swan and Realfoodology

GUEST RESOURCES:

Website: https://www.realfoodology.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realfoodology

AS A WOMAN WITH DR. NATALIE CRAWFORD:

YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLveZDgg3_HZ9m7Wy3C6Vvyrj_NtEOwj_l 

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/as-a-woman/id1449553339 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/12IYOLH9liu60gk5D0bRPk 

HOST RESOURCES:

Order The Fertility Formula: https://www.nataliecrawfordmd.com/book 

Newsletter: https://www.nataliecrawfordmd.com/newsletter 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nataliecrawfordmd 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NatalieCrawfordMD 

Become a patient: https://www.forafertility.com 

Earn FREE CE/CME: https://learnatpinnacle.com/education 

This episode is brought to you by The Pinnacle Podcast Network.

ABOUT DR. NATALIE CRAWFORD:

Natalie Crawford, MD, is a double board-certified OB/GYN and reproductive endocrinologist, co-founder of Fora Fertility, and author of The Fertility Formula. She helps women understand their hormones, fertility, and reproductive health so they can make informed decisions about their bodies.

Disclaimer: Natalie Crawford, MD, is a doctor, but she is not your doctor. This content is for general education and is not a substitute for individualized medical care.

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