Infertility is an emotional and heart-breaking issue to be faced with. It’s important to remember that you are not broken. The countless doctors’ appointments and visits to specialists can make you feel defeated at times, but it’s so important not to give up. Worrying puts extra stress on your body, which may make it even more difficult to conceive. Making positive changes in our diet can do amazing things for the health of our body, even when it comes to infertility. Following these simple dietary guidelines can be just the boost your body needs!
Increase Your Intake of Fruits and Vegetables
Make sure that half of your plate at every meal is comprised of raw, fresh fruits and vegetables. Produce such as asparagus and watermelon contain glutathione, which helps to boost egg quality. Kale contains nutrients that are needed for estrogen metabolism. If you’re not a fan of eating raw kale, juicing can be a great option – just be sure that your juice contains mostly vegetables. Consuming the fruits and vegetable in their raw state is important because many important nutrients are lost in the cooking process.
Reconsider Dairy
The dairy industry today is hormonally driven, which means the production of dairy has become controlled by chemicals. The extra hormones can disrupt the signals that the brain is trying to give the endocrine system, particularly your ovaries. Just be sure to boost your consumption of kale, collard greens, broccoli, and spinach to get you daily dose of calcium.
Consume Alkaline Foods
Attaining a healthy pH is essential for reproductive health. The ideal balance is to have 70-80% of your diet from alkaline foods. Some of the highest alkaline forming foods are string beans, dandelion greens, Swiss chard, bananas, and dried fruits such as prunes, figs, dates and raisins.
Cut Out Processed Sugar
Sugar leads to weight gain, a poor immune system, and can raise cortisol levels. This is bad at any stage of life, but it particularly troubling while you are trying to conceive. The fat cells in your body produce estrogen, which negatively affects your fertility. If you are dealing with cravings, reach for some fruit.
Indulge in Healthy Plant-Based Fats
Healthy fats, such as nuts, avocados, olive oil, and grape seed oil can help to reduce inflammation in the body. This can promote regular ovulation and general fertility. Studies have even shown that consuming avocados during the IVF cycle increased the success rate by three and half times, as opposed to women who don’t eat good plant-based fats during that period!
Limit Alcohol and Coffee
Alcohol mimics estrogen in the body, which will upset the balance of ovulation and hormone interaction. It is best to consume less than 2 alcoholic drinks per week. Coffee will contribute to dehydration and increases your cortisol levels. Both caffeine and alcohol are diuretics and prevents your mucus membranes from staying moist, which affects the consistency of your cervical fluid. Instead of coffee and alcohol, drink lots of water and herbal teas such as stinging nettle, red clover and red raspberry. Your urine should be a clear, very pale yellow – anything darker indicates dehydration.
As always, seek direct advice from your own doctor in connection with any questions or issues you may have regarding your own health or the health of others. Remember to stay positive, to treat your body with respect, and don’t forget to enjoy the journey!
