3 Ways to Boost Fertility
In a little over a week I will officially be 6 months pregnant with a healthy baby boy. As this pregnancy was a completely happy surprise in the middle of a busy move from Iowa to Hawaii, I sometimes feel like the theme song of this chapter of my life is the Talking Heads song “
The conversations that come up with people when you are a pregnant nutritionist have made me acutely aware that for many couples nowadays, pregnancy is not a “How did I get here?!” moment but something they work and plan for which still may take years to achieve. Out of that I wanted to share with you some nutritional tips that I have learned through working with women in my practice (as well as what I have learned personally) to help boost fertility for those who are planning to conceive in the future or who are actively trying.
1. Drink more water. As obvious and non-scientific as this may seem, it is one of the most amazing and simple ways that I have seen women become pregnant when other interventions weren’t working. I usually tell people to aim for a gallon of purified water a day, and if this is too much (it was too much for me, a 5’3″ 120 pound person – 3 quarts was plenty) then adjust it down to what you can comfortably drink in a day without feeling like your eyes going to pop out of your head. For others, such as my husband, you may need more than a gallon a day depending on your size and activity level. A pinch of Celtic or sea salt added to each glass of water will help with absorption. I was only able to find one study on this topic which showed that properly hydrated cervical mucus is more likely to allow sperm to pass through, but from my own biochemical reasoning I would think that properly hydrated men will be more likely to make quality semen. And, from what I have heard from female friends and clients, when they increase their water intake as noted above, many of them experience the clear, glassy, stretchable cervical fluid that is a symptom of hyperfertility.
2. Reduce or eliminate gluten from your diet. Gluten is an allergenic protein found in wheat and also in other less commonly eaten grains such as barley and rye. Not everyone has an actual allergy to gluten, but due to modern farming practices and the genetic manipulation and hybridization of wheat, the gluten content of the wheat we eat every day is much higher than what our ancestors would have eaten. Gluten is a large molecule that is difficult for many to digest. This lack of digestion allows it to create inflammation in the intestines and in the rest of the body. In my opinion, Americans in general eat too much gluten so I think we could all benefit from a reduction in our diets. For couples having difficulty conceiving, especially those in which either partner has Type O blood, and for women who suffer from anovulatory infertility, going gluten-free may be a key to enlarging your family.
2. Do a Vitamin C flush. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that keeps sperm cells from being damaged by excess free radicals in the body (common in athletes and those under high stress). It also plays a part in keeping the consistency of cervical mucus “loose” to allow sperm to swim through to the egg. On a microscopic level, cervical mucus actually looks like a web with tiny channels to allow sperm through. If Vitamin C levels are too low, the web will be very “tight” so that sperm have a hard time navigating their way to where they need to go. I recommend doing a Vitamin C flush instead of giving an actual milligram amount because everyone has different needs for Vitamin C based on stress levels, dietary intake, and whether they have been exposed to cold or flu viruses recently. As an added side effect, Vitamin C flushes have a cleansing effect on the bowels which helps to get rid of stored toxins in the body that may be affecting fertility. As happy as that sounds, please don’t plan a Vitamin C flush on a day when you can’t make multiple trips to the bathroom or when a gurgling, rumbling gut would not be a welcome addition to the party.
With all that said, I have to end this blog by saying that nutrition is very important for conception but I think that being in a happy mental state and not letting stress overwhelm you is probably even more important. Maybe this is why so many people tell me that the key to them getting pregnant was deciding to put “trying” on hold and buying a puppy! Of course, the last puppy I had was a heel-biter and a compulsive basement-pooper, but you know what I mean – the puppy was a fun diversion that distracted them from the stress of their daily lives and/or the stress of not being able to get pregnant. If you’re having trouble conceiving, I hope the above tips combined with your own excitement and joy about the fact that your life is so happy that you want to bring another human into the world will help you find yourself in a “How did I get here?!” moment.
3 comments
Does anybody know where I can find more of this type of information? Very good post, but I’d like to learn more. Thanks anybody…
I’d suggest going to http://www.westonaprice.org. They have plenty of information on fertility and diet.
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Later!
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