Having children (or not) is a big and important decision for most of us. And of course, we want to do everything we can to ensure that both we and our children feel as good as possible.
But what is most important to consider? What should you eat, do, or focus on to increase the chances of a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby?
In recent decades, involuntary infertility has increased in society. What is the cause? Can we influence this in any way?
The simple answer to both these questions is: If we take care of and strengthen our bodies and minds (both men and women), we can increase the chances of a healthy pregnancy and healthy children. In this article, we provide some basic tips and ideas on how.
What can cause infertility?
Infertility is a complex issue and there is no one answer that applies to everyone. The issue concerns both men and women equally; both eggs and sperm need to be healthy and vigorous for successful fertilization. Then the baby needs a nourishing and healthy environment to grow and become strong – both men and women can contribute in different ways here as well.
Here are four factors that can affect our ability to have children:
- Chemicals. Plastic residues, heavy metals, and chemical additives in food affect our health and also our reproductive systems. However, this can be addressed through a conscious lifestyle and detox.
- Nutritional imbalance. Some nutrients are essential for reproduction. If you have deficiencies or imbalances in your diet, it may be a good idea to review it before deciding to have children.
- Sedentary lifestyle or excessive exercise. Both a too sedentary life and excessively hard or frequent exercise are linked to reduced chances of becoming pregnant.
- Negative stress. Prolonged stress and worry related to career, finances, relationships, or other issues make it difficult for the body to create conditions for new life.
What can you do to increase your fertility?
How can we create the balance we need for the body and mind to feel ready for a child?
Increasing your chances of a healthy pregnancy is a good idea whether you and your partner find it easy or difficult to conceive. In some ancient cultures, people prepare for 1-2 years before having children to give the child the best possible conditions, something many of today’s naturopaths and nutrition therapists also advocate.
Here are some lifestyle considerations:
- Detox. A very good idea is to create as clean and favorable an environment as possible for new life. Couples can do one or more detox cures together and also consider how to optimize their lifestyle to have as few chemicals and other toxins as possible around them – in the kitchen, bathroom, and cleaning closet. There are many good resources on detox to explore. NOTE: Detox should be completed before you try to conceive.
- Nutrition. A fertility-friendly diet is rich in antioxidants, essential fats, chlorophyll, vitamins, and minerals. Nutrients especially important are zinc, selenium, folic acid, vitamin D, Q10, and omega-3. There are also herbs and superfoods traditionally used to prepare for a successful pregnancy (more on this below).
- Movement. Moderate physical activity is the best recipe for reproduction. Think of a healthy flow of blood and oxygen to all organs – but without feeling exhausted or needing several days of rest after exercise. Moving is also one of the best ways to boost the body’s own detox.
- Closeness & Relaxation. Perhaps most important of all; to signal to your body that this is a good time to create new life, you need both time for closeness and relaxation. Making love often and spending loving time together optimizes the hormone system and makes the body receptive to reproduction.
What is directly harmful to fertility?
There are certain habits and substances that are directly harmful to our fertility. Here are some of the most common recommendations to avoid in order to create conditions for a positive pregnancy test:
- Coffee. Caffeine is a strong stimulant that can have negative effects if you are sensitive to stress. It may be a good idea to avoid it if you want to conceive, even during pregnancy.
- Sugar. Refined sugar disrupts the hormone system and immune system, which drains energy from the reproductive system. Instead, eat naturally sweet carbohydrates from root vegetables, fruit, and berries.
- Trans fats. Cheap and refined fats disrupt, among other things, the hormone system. Focus instead on good fats from coconut, olives, avocado – as well as chia, flaxseed, or algae oil to get omega-3.
- Alcohol strains the liver and kidneys and also affects the hormone system. Besides, sex is better without alcohol!
Which products do we recommend for those trying to have children?
- Vitamins: The vitamins especially important for fertility are vitamin C, folic acid, B-12, Q10, and vitamin D.
- Minerals: For both women and men, it is important to have good levels of zinc, selenium, and magnesium.
- Tips: For women, there are so-called prenatal multivitamins that also provide good nutrition for those wanting to conceive. For men, a natural multivitamin can provide a good foundation.
- Omega-3: A good fatty acid balance is important for the health of both sperm and eggs, as well as for the child’s development during pregnancy. The absolutely purest and safest source of good omega-3 is algae oil, which is rich in both DHA and EPA.
- Herbs: In ancient cultures and in natural medicine, herbs have always been used as part of preparing for pregnancy. The most popular herbs in this category are:
- For both men and women: Maca, Ashwagandha, Gynostemma, Ginseng & Shilajit.
- Especially for women: Goji berries & Schisandra (traditionally used in Chinese medicine).
- Natural body care: As important as what we put into our bodies is what we use on our skin, hair, and teeth. Consider doing a bathroom detox to minimize the number of chemicals in your environment. Natural body care is an excellent alternative.
