Eating fruits and vegetables laced with pesticides can impact your fertility

Fruits and vegetables are an important part of a healthy pregnancy diet because they provide vitamins and fiber. However, some may carry pesticide residues. Pesticides are substances used to resist, prevent, or destroy pests and are widely used on fruit and vegetable crops around the world. The consumption of conventionally grown (non-organic) fruits and vegetables is a significant source of pesticide exposure in the general population. Consumers have expressed concern about increased pesticide residue exposure from produce consumption that could be linked to acute and chronic health issues.

“Ingestion of conventionally grown fruits and vegetables contaminated with pesticide residues has been linked to poorer sperm quality and decreased fertility rates. Couples trying to conceive should probably be picky about their produce. Purchasing the organic version of a low-pesticide food, such as oranges or avocados, is not the best way to reduce pesticide exposure. A reasonable approach would be to limit exposure to pesticide-laden fruits and vegetables such as apples and strawberries,” says, Dr Sandeep Talwar, Fertility Expert, Nova IVF Fertility, Vasant Vihar.

According to a study conducted by Havard examined data on dietary patterns and pregnancy outcomes of 325 women undergoing fertility treatments. Their study concludes that Eating fruits and vegetables with high amounts of pesticide residue such as strawberries, spinach, peppers, or grapes reduce a women’s chances of conceiving and bearing children by 18% and 26% less likely to have a live birth than women who eat fruits and vegetables with least pesticide exposure. Pesticide-laced produce has also been linked to lower sperm quality in men.

While natural pesticides appear to be healthier, it all comes down to how much of a specific substance you consume. In organic farming, for example, a copper derivative is used as a fungicide. It can be toxic if consumed in excess. Pesticides act as endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and block ovulation similar to contraceptive pills.

Pesticide exposure has been linked to adverse reproductive effects such as

1. Decreased Fertility
2. Spontaneous Abortions
3. Stillbirth
4. Premature Birth
5. Low Birth Weight
6. Developmental Abnormalities
7. Ovarian Disorders
8. Ovarian Cycle Irregularities
9. Male reproductive toxicity
10. Direct damage to cell’s structure
11. Changes in DNA structure, leading to gene mutations that
12. May cause birth defects or inability to conceive

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• In order to steer clear from the negative effects of consuming high pesticide fruits and vegetables, they should be washed thoroughly.
• In addition, eating organic fruits and vegetables, either homegrown or purchased directly from the source, is highly recommended.
• Avoid selecting only dark-coloured fruits and vegetables as they often carry a higher concentration of chemicals and fertilizers.
• Moreover, avoid using pesticides within your homes or in gardens and lawns.
• Encourage friends and neighbors to urge pesticide reduction in schools, parks, playing fields, and other areas frequently visited by children and pregnant women.