Fertility Challenges? How Can Food Help?
Food is medicine. Without proper fuel, the fetus cannot grow properly. Utilizing all the proper nutrients “builds” the best healthy baby. A recent study from Harvard Medical School, on diet and fertility shows that unlike other factors that you cannot control—such as age and genetics—eating certain foods and avoiding others is something you can do yourself to help improve your fertility function. “Eat as if you’re already pregnant. This is the “attitude” that can help prime your body for conception.” Do your best to dine deliciously on your way to a happy, healthy pregnancy by following a whole-food conception diet.
How to Improve Fertility:
• A balanced diet can help to correct hormone imbalances that may affect the ability to conceive.
• Avoid alcoholic beverages, they will decrease sperm count, and inhibit the absorption of nutrients such as zinc, a mineral for fertility.
• Limit the intake of caffeine. It will decrease fertility. Avoid colas, chocolate, and black teas.
• Avoid smoking for it can decrease sperm count and motility.
• Add nutritional supplements that are effective in re-balancing hormones and improving overall health.
• For Male infertility, avoid exposure to toxins known to increase sterility such as lead, PCBs, selenium compounds, and vinyl chloride.
• Marijuana may affect fertility in young men. Cannabis has been reported to reduce sperm count. It may inhibit the ability to fertilize an egg.
Hormonal Balance
If the hormones are not balanced or the menstrual cycle is off, pregnancy can not occur. Follow the “Seed Cycle” program, to naturally bring your cycles into balance with essential fatty acids that nourish your hormones. Nourishing the hormones with food is a natural and gentle way to balance the hormones. See more details here: “Seed Cycle” program
Herbal Remedies for Female Fertility
• Red clover
This is a very popular fertility treatment that is high in vitamins, calcium, and magnesium. Helps to supply nutrients to the uterus and relax the nervous system. Usually taken in the tea form.
• Raspberry leaf
High in calcium and aids in restoring hormonal balance.
• Lady’s mantle
Helps to build up the uterine lining and to regulate the menstrual cycle.
• False unicorn root
Helps to restore the hormonal balance stimulate the ovaries and motivate ovulation.
• Stinging nettle
Contains high levels of chlorophyll and minerals which help to regulate hormones, ovulation, and menstruation.
• Dong Quai
Promotes fertility.
Herbal Remedies for Male Fertility
• Astralagus
Improves sperm motility and concentration levels.
• Panax ginseng
Increases testosterone levels, sperm count, and sperm motility. Also recommended for cases of erectile dysfunction.
• Damiana leaf
Stimulates the reproductive system.
Suggested Nutritional Supplements (see a health practitioner for recommended dosages)
• Folate
• Zinc
• Essential Fatty Acids
• Vitamin E
• Vitamin C
• L-Arginine
• L-Carnitine
• Vitamin A
Suggested testing
DNA Testing: MTHFR
MTHFR is a very common genetic defect that affects approximately 1 in 4 people seriously and nearly 1 in 2 people mildly. The MTHFR gene has a simple, but highly critical, function surrounding how your body utilizes folic acid and other forms of folate. Those with the variant of MTHFR called C667T have a 40% to 60% decreased ability to produce the body’s most active form of folate called methylfolate. Methylfolate is a critical nutrient affecting neurotransmitter production, DNA regulation, immunity, and the cardiovascular system. Indirectly, methylfolate affects hormone levels and detoxification.
Folate Metabolism
People with slight impairments in folate metabolism are usually perfectly healthy since they consume enough folate in their diets to make up for their reduced ability to break it down. But there are situations — namely during pregnancy — when women with a particular variation in the MTHFR gene called C677T should consume more for early fetal development.
Please note: FOLATE – not folic acid. Folic acid is synthetic.
Nutritional Status
Having a nutritional deficiency can cause the menstrual cycle to become imbalanced. This may cause a lack of beneficial hormones to be produced, or the body to lack overall health. Use www.FitDay.com to record your daily foods. Or keep a diary handy for a week. I can review it and provide nutritional analysis to confirm your balanced nutrition is ready for pregnancy.
Nutrient-Dense Fertility Diet
Eating a nutrient-dense fertility diet is so vitally important. It is the foundation of any fertility program or journey. In addition to a whole foods fertility diet two supplements should be taken: A whole food multivitamin and Omega 3 Fatty Acid. Get started today!
See more details here: Get Started- Forms
Testing: www.23andme.com
Denver Nutrition, LLC is owned and operated by Debbie Allen, a Functional Nutritionist. As a Master Nutrition Therapist and Certified Natural Health Practitioner, Debbie provides services based on credible medical research and scientific evidence. This site offers health, wellness, and nutritional information and is designed for educational purposes only. Please Note: Working with a nutritionist should not and does not take the place of medical advice or care. Before starting any nutrition program, please seek the advice of a medical doctor.