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