We are at a unique point in History in many ways, but the one I would like to expound upon today has to do with how we are preparing for our future; for millions of women over lifetimes of existence, pregnancy simply occurred. Through trial and error we learned to avoid certain herbs, foods and such during pregnancy, but more and more women and men of today are focusing on the health of their bodies before they get pregnant to ensure and enhance the lifelong health of their children.
As a species we are also experiencing a rise in infertility, which could be attributed to our lifestyle and environment; as many of the common chemicals we are exposed to everyday leave traces of themselves that often register in our bodies like hormones. Plastics, for example, have been proven to disrupt hormone function as its residue is absorbed in the form of Xenoestrogens. Researchers have reported that sperm counts have fallen almost 50% since the 1930s. Although some dispute these findings, it is generally accepted that sperm counts are indeed on the decline.
Excessive consumption of alcohol, while great for stimulating arousal, dampens both male and female ability to actually reproduce. It is said that 4 alcoholic drinks per day can cause defects in sperm behavior. All of the usual suspects like poor nutrition, too much or too little exercise (athletic women tend to have a harder time conceiving, due to a low percentage of body fat, and yet obese women have a hard time due to excessive body fat) smoking and prescription drug use are common baby blockers in both sexes, but there may also be more serious problems like fibroids, tumors, genetic defects or infection, all of which should be checked for at annual physicals.
At this point in history we are also waiting longer in life to have our babies. With early sexual education and the availability and choices of contraceptives, many of us are postponing pregnancy and planning for our future families by trying to build a successful financial foundation first. But even still, most households require two incomes, and that is exceptionally hard on parents and children of all ages.
It really is harder to get pregnant than one would think, especially considering how much traffic there is in the world! Timing plays a huge part in successfully fertilizing an egg, it is said the best chances are right before ovulation, which can be predicted with regular use of a calendar, thermometer or can be tested for quite easily. But it also depends on pH and temperature of the uterus, not to mention how healthy and how prolific the little swimmers are. But even healthy couples in their 30’s have only a 10% chance per month to concieve, so it seems that pregnancy truly is a miracle!
Every species has a natural tendency to procreate, so here are some natural supplemental choices to help you grow your own wee bundle of joy:
My favorite is Maca, good for both men and women; Maca is a root that grows high in the Andes that looks kind of like a turnip, but tastes infinitely better! Called the “South American Ginseng”, Maca was a common food for the indigenous peoples, and when the Spanish Conquistadors noticed that the livestock they brought with them seemed to be proliferating in the high mountain terrain, they took a closer look at what they were grazing on; Maca root. Maca can be found in pills, powders and liquid extracts, all are quite tasty. Maca has a malty-vanilla flavor that is sure to please, I like Healthforce Nutritionals Macaforce, for it’s spicy versatility; you can make smoothies with it or bake it into cookies (that’s what I do) which is a sure fire way to get ones persnickety male partner to enjoy getting healthy without even knowing it!
Dr. Tori Hudson, queen of women’s natural medicine and formulator for Vitanica Herbs, has a great formula called Pregancy Prep, which has herbs like Donq Quai, False Unicorn, and Vitex that stimulate proper reproductive cycles and enhance uterine strength. Also, an old Indian herb is making it big in the states; Shatavari, tones, cleanses, nourishes, and strengthens the female reproductive organs and so is traditionnaly used for PMS, ammenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, menopause and pelvic inflammatory disease like endometriosis. It also supports deeper tissue and builds blood and so it helps to remove infertility, prepare the womb for conception, prevent miscarriage and acts as a post-partum tonic where it helps to increase lactation and normalize the uterus and the changing hormones. Also good for the fellas, it acts like a nutritive tonic for their reproductive systems in a similar way.
Speaking of the fellas, a healthy baby also requires healthy sperm. Astaxanthin is an antioxidant derived from red algae that was also shown to increase sperm motility and strength in a Belgian study. Ginseng has been a male tonic in China for centuries, and judging by that countries population seems to do well. Saw Palmetto is commonly suggested as it acts as an anti inflammatory for the prostate gland and minerals like Zinc and Selenium increase testosterone (where it is low) and increase sperm motility.
Ideally, both parents should be taking multivitamin/minerals, (prenatals for the momma's, I really like Puressence Labs Mother to Be)for at least 3 months prior to conception. And these days, women should really take a DHA rich essential fatty acid supplement like Minami's MorDHA or MorEPA daily to ensure the baby's overall health.
Acupuncture for both partners has proven helpful in increasing fertility, as well as organic lifestyles-get this: in a study of Danish greenhouse workers, an unexpectedly high sperm count was found among organic farmers, who grew their products without the use pesticides or chemical fertilizers. The sperm count was more than twice as high in these men as in a control group of blue-collar workers. Although these findings are not definitive, they suggest that consuming organically grown foods may enhance fertility.
But probably the most important thing you can do is RELAX; stress is a libido killer, and when a couple is facing infertility, the stress of it all can be maddening. So, relax, do the best you can and love your partner, after all, love is the main ingredient in making a healthy family grow.
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