Five foods to boost your fertility

Let's talk about baby-making foods. No, not the aphrodisiacs that will get you and your sweetheart in the mood -- that part's on you (though it wouldn't hurt to flip through the "chocolate Viagra" chapter of my book “Eat It to Beat It”) -- but the foods linked to increased fertility in both men and women. Infertility affects about 12 percent of couples, a statistic attributed partly by some studies to an increasingly Western-style diet, according to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Adding these five foods to shopping cart can help you to pivot away from heavily processed food choices, and find your path to optimal health, and perhaps, Babyville. Walnuts Fertility discussions usually focus on women's aging ovaries, but we all know it takes two to tango. And research suggests that for men, a couple of handfuls of walnuts every day may be the ticket to stronger, faster, even prettier sperm. The study printed in the journal Biology of Reproduction looked at the effect of added polyunsaturated fatty acids on the sperm health of 117 healthy men aged 21 to 35. Sure enough, those that ate 75 grams of Omega-3 rich walnuts (about 2/3 cup, or 2 man handfuls) experienced improvement in sperm vitality, motility, and morphology. The nut-free control group experienced no changes. Most of us, men and women, can benefit from additional Omega 3s, so consider making walnuts a staple on your weekly grocery list. Ice Cream Ladies, you can now add "reproductive health" to the list of reasons you need to keep the freezer stocked with ice cream. A study published in the journal Human Reproduction suggests full-fat dairy may increase a woman's chances of ovulating. Researchers found that women enjoying a scoop of full-fat ice cream at least twice a week had a 38 percent lower risk of anovulatory infertility compared with women consuming ice cream less than once a week. Low-fat dairy, on the other hand, had the opposite effect. The results may seem to contradict standard nutritional advice, but researchers suggest skimming the fat from dairy alters its balance of sex hormones in a way that could tip the scales against ovulation. Carrots A study by Harvard researchers printed in the journal Fertility and Sterility found that produce rich in beta-carotene can improve sperm motility (its ability to swim toward an egg) by up to 8 percent. Carrots were singled out for their sperm-boosting properties. Luteine, an antioxidant found in leafy greens, had a similar effect, according to the study. So make like Bugs Bunny and get snacking. When it comes to male fertility, that’s what’s up, doc! Lentils An inexpensive form of vegetarian protein and fiber, lentils are also a rich source of iron, a mineral known to play a key role in reproductive health. In a well-cited Harvard School of Health study, women who got most of their iron from plant sources reduced their risk of infertility by 40 percent. Moreover, the higher the dose of the iron supplements, the lower the risk. Women who took the highest doses, more than 41 milligrams a day, reduced their risk of ovulatory infertility by 62 percent. Iron from meat didn't show the same benefits. While researchers don't recommend popping iron supplements as an aid to becoming pregnant, supplementing a well-balanced diet with a whole-food multivitamin may improve your overall health and, consequently, your baby-making prospects. Spinach Get the man in your life to start channeling Popeye, and you may soon have a baby on board. A study published in the journal Fertility and Sterility found that supplemental folic acid and zinc to increase sperm counts in men with reduced fertility. You can find sperm-boosting folic acid, the B9 vitamin, in leafy greens like spinach and kale. And lentils are a good source of zinc; one more reason to add them to your shopping list! Article: 7th April 2014 www.abcnews.go.com

Does not getting enough sleep reduce your fertility?

Infertility is a disturbing problem that may leave your with sleepless nights. But, does sleep deprivation affect fertility? Of course Yes! You are making your condition even worse without a sound sleep. Getting enough sleep has great role in your health and beauty. Sleep is usually a factor that is generally overlooked while considering methods to improve fertility. So, if you are trying to improve your fertility, no matter through natural methods or artificial treatments, include a good sleep also in your regimen. FRUITS FOR IMPOTENCE Being relaxed is the best thing that you can do to make your hormones work in balance. Moreover, body needs proper rest to make its organs function to its fullest, including the reproductive system. Stress is always a bad companion for hormones. This will affect your overall fertility to a great extend. Sleep deprivation in women may affect ovulation, whereas in men, it will cause decreased sperm count. If you wonder does sleep deprivation affect fertility, here we may discuss some explanations that may clear your doubt. Irregular menstruation: Irregular menstrual cycle is the most evident and common symptom of sleep deprivation. If you want to know how does sleep deprivation affects your fertility, watch your menstrual cycle. Get enough sleep and you will notice the changes without even trying any medications. Interruption of Leptin Production: How does sleep deprivation affect ovulation is a common question among women. One of the major reasons for this is the effect on the leptin hormone, which plays an important role in proper ovulation in women. Sleep deprivation causes interruption in leptin production, which will cause irregular periods and infertility. Weight Gain: It is a clear fact that obesity is one of the major reasons for infertility among both men and women. Sleep deprivation will have a direct impact on your metabolism, which will result in obesity and eventually infertility. Those women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) must take more care on this matter. Disturbed circadian rhythm: Circadian rhythm controls the hormone balance of your body depending on the dark light cycle. Any disturbance in the sleeping pattern will affect the circadian rhythm, thereby breaking the hormone balance. Chronic Stress: Stress will cause sleep deprivation and sleep deprivation will result in further more stress. It is important to keep a balance between your mind and body for the proper functioning of the system. Sleep will keep you relaxed and will allow your hormones to do its work efficiently. Decreased testosterone: Does sleep deprivation affect fertility is a common doubt among men as well. It has been shown in many studies that lack of sleep will affect the functioning of your endocrine system, thereby keeping your fertility under risk. Decreased sperm count: Disturbed circadian rhythm will affect your body in many ways. While considering infertility, decreased sperm count is considered as a major problem. If you wonder does sleep deprivation affect fertility, the answer is unfortunately, yes. Article: 29th March 2014 www.boldsky.com

Boost your fertility | Five ways to get pregnant

1. Gluten-Free Diet Cut out the bread! or change to Gluten-free. Many women have sensitivity to gluten, which can lead to infertility in women. Findings published in the Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology, found that celiac patients — people who have a digestive disease that damages the small intestine and disrupts the absorption of nutrients from food — who did not adhere to a gluten-free diet showed signs of "delayed menarche, secondary amenorrhea, a higher percentage of spontaneous abortions, anemia and hypoalbuminemia." However, celiac patients who did follow a gluten-free diet had normal pregnancies. Screening for Celiac disease/gluten sensitivity is advisable for infertile couples. 2. Get tested for an STI or infection A sexually transmitted infection (STI) or any other infection that is undiagnosed can affect a woman's ability to conceive. Testing is easy and affordable! 3. Take folic acid Women who have a genetic mutation that does not allow them to convert folic acid into its usable form, 5MTHF, are susceptible to infertility. Not only does this genetic mutation increase women's risk of infertility, but may also lead to miscarriage. For women trying to conceive, taking folic acid in the form of 5MTHF is highly important to increase odds of pregnancy. 4. Exercise One study showed that three days of fitness a week for 30 minutes can increase ovulation more than a low-calorie diet in women with PCOS. The form of exercise does not have to be intense but it must be consistently done in order to be effective. 5. Keep stress levels under control Cortisol, the stress hormone, is one of the biggest factors that contribute to hormonal imbalance. For a woman to conceive, her hormones must be in balance, so when her stress levels are too high, especially chronically, she will have a difficult time getting pregnant . Cortisol throws off all of the hormones because it places the body in a flight or fight state so that the other hormones do not have a chance to do their own jobs. Focus on your body and find a place to sit at peace and take deep breaths to naturally relieve the tension and stress levels in your body. Article: 5th September 2013 www.prideangel.com

New Fertility programme, DuoFertility, is now available to American couples to help them get pregnant.

Over two million American couples are having problems getting pregnant.[1] The standard treatment which can help these couples conceive is in-vitro fertilization (IVF). IVF can change lives but can also be very emotionally, physically and financially draining. The DuoFertility programme is a highly effective method to help couples conceive. The programme is totally non-invasive and drug free, yet published studies have shown a pregnancy rate similar to that of a cycle of IVF after just six months of use[2]. It uses a revolutionary sensor to monitor a woman’s body 24 hours a day, indicating the couple’s most fertile days, giving couples the very best chance of getting pregnant. Fertility experts review the data with the couples regularly to provide feedback. Studies have shown that DuoFertility can help 8 out of 10 infertile couples, including half of all those seeking invasive clinical procedures such as IVF2. DuoFertility has helped hundreds of couples get pregnant in Europe. Now that same help is available to American couples for $795. In the US, a single cycle of IVF will cost on average $15,000 to the couple and is rarely covered by health insurance, leaving many American couples struggling to afford fertility treatment. At one-twentieth the cost of a single cycle of IVF, DuoFertility has the potential to help millions of American couples to turn their dreams of a family into reality. To find out if DuoFertility can help you get pregnant, you can use the DuoFertility suitability tool here. You can purchase DuoFertility, which is FDA cleared, from the US on the DuoFertility website or the Pride Angel website. [1] Centers for Disease Control and Preventio (CDC) :http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/fertile.htm [2] Chausiaux et al., “Pregnancy Prognosis in Infertile Couples on the DuoFertility Programme Compared with In Vitro Fertilisation/Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection”, European Obstetrics & Gynaecology 2011;6(2):92-4 online PDF: http://bit.ly/IfjFiY Article: 3rd July 2012 www.duofertility.com.us