This year alone, more than 9 million Americans will experience infertility. Infertility is big business–it’s a 3 billion-dollar-a-year industry that includes synthetic hormones, harmful interventions, and often extended emotional timeframes for families. The expense and stress of infertility, along with the side-effects of treatments, are driving health trends to discover alternatives that will boost fertility naturally.

Using functional integrative medicine, I always start with assessing the root cause of chronic conditions. To start, find a facility that can screen you for inflammatory and autoimmune conditions and hormonal imbalance, and micronutrient deficiencies. You also want to immediately remove the primary inflammatory foods from your diet, including gluten, soy, refined sugar, and corn. Emphasize a diet that is low-glycemic focused with many whole, single-ingredient foods. I also recommend sourcing organic ingredients, as the role of glyphosate residue from pesticides and chemical fertilizers has a strong correlation with infertility.

Factors that Influence Fertility:

• Being over or underweight, especially when combined with insulin resistance
• Exposure to toxins, which a medically-supported detox program can help
• Stress, including elevated levels of androgens and cortisol
• Hormonal Imbalance–PCOS, endometriosis, low progesterone, estrogen dominance
• Micronutrient deficiency–leading to insufficient hormonal response, cellular development, and DNA expression
• Dysbiosis or imbalanced gut bacteria is often seen as bloating, IBS, recurring UTIs, and yeast infections.

FOCUS ON THESE 5 FOODS TO BOOST YOUR FERTILITY!

1. Folate: Avocado, Leafy Greens

This essential B vitamin plays a role in DNA and RNA production while supporting healthy fetal brain development, preventing neural tube defects and miscarriage.

2. B-vitamins: Liver, Nuts/Seeds

Birth control and synthetic estrogen deplete B vitamins. Another primary contributor to leaching B’s out of your system is a diet high in refined carbohydrates and sugar! Getting foods rich in B-vitamins can support healthy estrogen metabolism, cellular health, and energy production. They also help to support a healthy weight and optimal response with insulin levels. Read this Liver Pills blog for an easy recipe!

3. EPA/DHA: Egg yolks from pasture-raised eggs, quality fish oil

These omega-3 fatty acids reduce inflammation, making the uterus a more welcoming environment. While aiding in hormonal expression. Flax seeds can also help detoxify excess estrogen through their lignans, which can aid in removing excess estrogen, allowing healthy hormonal balance.

4. Zinc: Red Meat, Pumpkin Seeds, Cacao

This mineral plays a role in PCOS-driving elevated insulin and imbalanced testosterone expression. Zinc also plays a role in fat metabolism and, ultimately, vitamin A status. This can lead to low antioxidant status, causing inflammation and unsuccessful fertilization or birth defects.

5. Stress Supporters: Maca Root

Maca stimulates the pituitary gland, which stimulates human growth hormone, oxytocin, and progesterone production. Progesterone aids in the healthy implantation of the fertilized egg and supports healthy placental production to prevent miscarriage. Maca also aids in a healthy libido, making the fertility process a lot more fun and removing the forced mechanical feel that can dampen the process!

Supplements that may help boost fertility:

1. Quality Prenatal: a sound multivitamin is an important foundation for optimizing fertility and supporting healthy fetal development. Look for a product that is free of dyes, fillers and is 3rd party assessed for purity. I also recommend ensuring your multivitamin has methylated B-vitamins; this is important as about 40% of the population have a genetic mutation where they cannot process synthetic folate. A good quality methylated form will be listed as 5-Methyltetrahydrofolate (also known as Nature Folate), and B-12 will be listed as methylcobalamin. Choline is another nutrient to look for in a quality multivitamin; it aids with fetal brain development and fertility.
2. Quality Fish Oil: omega-3 fatty acids are essential for healthy fetal brain development and maintaining an anti-inflammatory state in the maternal body, allowing for successful fertility and implantation. Look for a product that is 3rd party assessed for PCBs, mercury, toxins, and purity. Aim for at least 1 gram of EPA/DHA, some patients with high inflammatory markers may require a higher dosage. Note: fish oil is a natural blood thinner, and if taking a therapeutic dosage of 2g or higher, this will need to be reduced about 10 days before giving birth to avoid hemorrhage.
3. Maca: This Peruvian root has long been acknowledged for its role in boosting libido and fertility in women and men. It tonifies the brain’s pituitary gland, which is often imbalanced from stress response leading to decreased progesterone production.
4. Bioidentical progesterone: is often needed with infertility. This needs to be prescribed via consultation with your doctor following hormonal assessment.

CHOCOLATE BOOST SMOOTHIE RECIPE

INGREDIENTS:
8oz filtered water
1/4 cup raw almonds, soaked for 8 hours, and strained
1 tsp maca
½ cup crushed ice
2 dates
½ avocado (about ¼ cup)
2 tbsp raw cacao
1 tbsp flax seeds, ground
1 scoop grass-fed whey protein

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Blend water with almonds, maca, and crushed ice for 30 seconds until smooth.

2. Then add dates, avocado, cacao, and flax seeds.

3. Once mixed, whip in grass-fed whey protein for about 5 seconds just to incorporate, but not froth!