The FIFA World Cup is well under way, but life on the ground goes on regardless of who wins or loses. Many pin their hopes on this or that team to win the cup, but deep inside the human breast, another kind of hope burns. One that has nothing to do with football.
Sunday is Father’s Day, and June is also Infertility Awareness Month. So let’s talk fertility and infertility today. The desire to have a child runs deep and can, at times, be overwhelming. The happiness of holding a child beats anything a sporting event can offer.
Around the world, infertility rates are soaring and no one seems to know why. The truth is that infertility usually has many different causes. Yes, in some cases there is one clear cause for infertility, but in most cases it is a little bit of this and a little bit of that. Reversing infertility requires a holistic approach that addresses all aspects of being human. Let’s look at some of these aspects.
STRESS
Nowadays everyone is stressed. This affects fertility in a number of ways. For one, elevated cortisol (the stress hormone) lowers the sex hormones (estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone). For another, cortisol elevates glucose, which in turn elevates insulin. Chronically elevated insulin levels lead to insulin resistance, which is the cause of type 2 diabetes. Insulin also downregulates ovulation.
Just Say No: There is no easy answer to stress. However, we put ourselves under a lot of stress when we make promises we cannot keep. The other word for that is “debt”. Being in debt has a major impact on mental well-being. If you can afford to go without something, go without it. Where possible, buy second-hand instead of new. You do not have to update your wardrobe every year. And, oh yes, you do not need to upgrade your mobile phone ever so often.
Calm Spaces: On the positive side, spending time with your spouse in daily prayer or meditation reduces cortisol levels drastically. Eating at a table, instead of in front of the TV also reduces cortisol. Spending time doing moderate exercise or out in nature will also reduce cortisol.
Be Honest: Lying is extremely stressful. Lie detectors are built upon this principle. One of the best ways to reduce cortisol is to be honest and speak the truth all the time. But your mother taught you that, didn’t she? She was right all along.
DIET
What you eat affects your fertility. In this regard, sugar and wheat are the biggest culprits. Eating refined sugar will increase insulin resistance and thus reduce fertility. Wheat contains substances that reduce male fertility. These effects are independent from the reality that modern-day sugar and wheat products are chock-full of glyphosate, the active ingredient in RoundUp. This chemical is well known as an endocrine disruptor.
The following diets may help reduce insulin resistance and thus enhance fertility: a whole food diet, a raw food diet, the paleo diet, the ketogenic diet and the carnivore diet. There are many variations on this theme, but the common thread is that they are all low in carbohydrates.
Vegan or vegetarian diets are generally bad for fertility.
Fasting: Although strictly speaking not a part of diet, fasting has to do with (not) eating, so let’s discuss it here. In cases of insulin resistance (obesity, high blood glucose, and hypertension), intermittent fasting can help a lot with restoring fertility. Start with a 16:8 fasting window 3–5 times a week.
TOXINS
Nowadays, we live in a soup of toxins of our own making. It is not possible to live free from toxins anymore, but you can “low tox” your life. Earlier this year, we spoke about endocrine disruptors in sanitary products (Link). The sad reality is that endocrine disruptors are everywhere. Educate yourself to protect yourself.
MEDICATION
Many medications can impact fertility. If you are on any of these and struggling to fall pregnant, ask your prescribing doctor for an alternative:
- Joint pain: Analgesics, Methotrexate, Sulfasalazine
- Contraceptives: Depot Provera’s effects may last for 18 months or longer.
- Antipsychotic medication: Most of them.
- Anti-depressants: SSRIs (fluoxetine, sertraline, paroxetine).
- Corticosteroids: All of them (reversible).
- Thyroid medication: If used incorrectly.
- Opioids: All of them.
- Anti-hypertensives: Calcium channel blockers may affect sperm motility.
SPECIFIC NUTRIENTS
Over the years, Doc Frank has found that certain vitamins and minerals need to be super-supplemented in order to boost fertility. Here is the recipe:
- Spirulina – 3 to 6 g daily
Buy Spirulina - Vitamin D – Average of 10,000 IU daily
Buy Vitamin D - Cancer Bush (Sutherlandia) – Men: 1–2 g daily. Women: 1 g daily (cycle-dependent)
Buy Cancer Bush - Zinc – 20–30 mg daily
Buy Zinc - Lava Dust – One pinch daily
Buy Lava Dust
In Conclusion
Improving fertility often requires many small lifestyle and diet changes. Using the right nutrients / supplements also helps. If you’ve been struggling with infertility, try the above tips and let us know how it works!
To your fertile health!
The Team at Integrow Health
