Fertility, Sperm Health, and Nutrition Before and During Pregnancy | Dr Federica Amati
The Proof with Simon HillShow Notes
We tend to treat pregnancy as the starting line for a child's health. In this episode, Dr Federica Amati, Head Nutritionist at ZOE, makes the evidence-based case that the window opens earlier, in the months before conception, and that it shapes fertility and lifelong health in ways most of us were never told.
What I valued most is her balance. The science is striking, but she frames it as information to act on rather than a reason for guilt, and she is honest about how much sits with environment and policy rather than individual choice.
What we cover:
Why the first 1,000 days may be the longevity lever almost no one talks about
How a father's metabolic health links to his child's brain, and a mother's to their metabolism
The 90-day preconception window, and what both partners can do
What the decline in sperm counts really means for individuals
GLP-1 medications, fertility, and a contraception detail too few people hear
Protein, eggs, soy, and choosing a prenatal supplement, myths included
Whether you are planning a pregnancy, supporting a partner, or simply curious about how much of our health is set before birth, I think this one will stay with you.
To connect with Dr Federica Amati, follow her on Instagram and explore her work at ZOE.
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Intro (00:00)
Why Your Baby's Health Is Set Before Birth (03:13)
Dr. Federica Amati's Background in Maternal Nutrition (07:41)
What 48 of 52 Cell Differentiations Means for Your Baby (15:33)
How Egg and Sperm Health Drive Conception Outcomes (21:40)
Does What You Do Preconception Affect the Baby Too (26:09)
Sperm DNA and Placental Health: The Father's Hidden Role (30:39)
Heat, Laptops, and Sauna: What Kills Sperm Quality (32:56)
Is the 50% Sperm Count Decline Real (39:32)
Soy Foods, Testosterone, and Male Fertility Myths Debunked (44:30)
Foods to Avoid in the 90-Day Preconception Window (48:10)
GLP-1 Drugs, Fertility, and Unplanned Pregnancies (54:28)
First Trimester Nausea: What Actually Helps (59:42)
How to Choose a Prenatal Supplement (01:04:34)
How Much Protein Do You Actually Need in Pregnancy (01:07:30)
Can a Plant-Based Diet Work During Pregnancy (01:11:59)
Tylenol in Pregnancy: Is It Safe (01:15:55)
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This is part two of my conversation with Dr Federica Amati, Head Nutritionist at ZOE and author of the Sunday Times bestseller Every Body Should Know This. In part one we covered preconception, fertility, and pregnancy nutrition. Here we follow the first 1,000 days through to the end: birth, breastfeeding, weaning, and the environmental exposures behind all of it.