View the Show Notes For This Episode\n\nGet Free Weekly Health Tips from Dr. Hyman\n\nSign Up for Dr. Hyman\u2019s Weekly Longevity Journal\n\nAre you, or someone you know, thinking about starting a family now or in the near future? Typically, the focus on reproductive health falls on the woman, and it begins after conception has already occurred, with minimal emphasis on diet and nutrition beyond prenatal vitamins.\xa0\n\nHowever, the pre-conception window is a foundational time for both partners to take charge of their hormonal, metabolic, and overall health to ensure the healthiest sperm and egg possible for a healthy pregnancy and, most importantly, a healthy baby.\xa0\n\nIn today's episode, we're discussing the essential steps both men and women can take to foster a nurturing environment for conception. We'll delve into lab tests and tools to support hormone and reproductive wellness, the challenges and insults of our modern-day lifestyles, and how we can use Functional Medicine to take a proactive approach by embracing diet, supplements, and exercise to prime couples for a successful pregnancy while safeguarding against developmental conditions like autism and ADHD that are doubling, or even tripling from one generation to the next.\xa0\n\nWhether you're just starting to think about having kids or already on your pregnancy path, this conversation is for you.\xa0\n\nIn this episode I discuss:\xa0\n\nThe importance of the preconception window (3:15)(5:05)\n\nHow epigenetics impact the preconception window (3:58)(6:01)\n\nHow parent\u2019s diet and lifestyle imprint their children\u2019s epigenome (5:03)(6:59)\n\nLimitations of Conventional Medicine during the preconception window (9:30)(11:26)\n\nThe Functional Medicine approach to preparing to conceive (12:12)\n\nBreakdown of essential nutrients and biomarkers to ensure a healthy pregnancy (15:27)\n\nSex hormone and bonus lab tests (21:00)\n\nOptimizing blood sugar and cardiometabolic health before and during pregnancy (22:40)\n\nFoods to eat and foods to avoid while gearing up for pregnancy (23:44)\n\nEat your foods in the correct order (protein and fat first, then carbs (36:28)\n\nTips for reducing exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (38:14)\n\nThe power of exercise, stress, and sleep for a healthy pregnancy (47:24)\n\nSupplement recommendations for men and women for the preconception window (51:35)\n\n\nThis episode is brought to you by Rupa Health and AG1.\n\nStreamline your lab orders with Rupa Health. Access more than 3,000 specialty lab tests and register for a FREE live demo at RupaHealth.com.\n\nGet your daily serving of vitamins, minerals, adaptogens, and more with AG1. Head to DrinkAG1.com/Hyman and get a year's worth of D3 and 5 Travel Packs for FREE with your first order.\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices