The Proof with Simon Hill
The Proof with Simon Hill

Fertility, Sperm Health, and Nutrition Before and During Pregnancy | Dr Federica Amati

July 13, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

In a 2017 consensus statement, a group of scientists raised concerns that paracetamol (Tylenol) might act as an endocrine disruptor during pregnancy, based on observational data. Dr Federica Amati, a public health nutritionist and researcher specialising in maternal and child nutrition, is careful to distinguish this from a proven causal link. The more widely publicised claim that paracetamol causes autism, she says, is "very much not a thing." The real risk in pregnancy is an uncontrolled high fever, which is genuinely dangerous for the developing baby, and paracetamol remains the safest tool to bring a fever down. The caution, she argues, is not against taking the drug but against overusing it—taking it at very high doses or for prolonged periods without medical need. This is the same principle that applies to any medication during pregnancy: use it appropriately, not to excess.

The Golden Window and Why It Matters

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What you'll learn

  • 1 (00:33) **The Golden Window of Opportunity** - Dr. Federica Amati defines the critical period from conception to age two, known as the first thousand days, and explains the DOHaD principle (Developmental Origins of Health and Disease)
  • 2 (03:13) **Why This Window Matters So Much** - The consequences of getting this period wrong, and the massive potential upside of getting it right for public health
  • 3 (15:33) **How the Body is Built in the Womb** - The staggering statistic that 48 of the 52 cell differentiations required to make an adult human are complete by birth
  • 4 (21:40) **The 90-Day Preconception Window for Both Parents** - Why egg and sperm health are equally important in the three months before conception, and what most people are never taught
  • 5 (35:48) **Specific Differences: Sperm vs. Egg Health** - The unique factors that affect male and female fertility during the preconception window
  • 6 (39:07) **Supplementation Before Conception** - When and how to supplement for both parents, and why more is not better
  • 7 (42:31) **The Truth About Declining Sperm Count** - Reconciling the global data on sperm count decline with what it actually means for individuals

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Show 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.

If you enjoy the show, please take a moment to rate and review The Proof on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It genuinely helps more people find these conversations.

  • 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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