As a health professional for over 25 years I have noticed the definite decline in my patients’ overall health, wellbeing and fertility. Our modern society pushes us and conditions us in ways that undermine our sense of self. The more out of balance with ourselves we are the less fertile we become. This article discusses some of the modern challenges that face us in respect of our fertility and offers some helpful natural suggestions on how to support conception.

Our lifestyle does not support fertility

The push for women to be slim and model-like affects many aspects of our lives. By living on low-fat foods we deplete our bodies of essential lubrication for our joints, our digestive system, and especially the healthy medium that our nervous system needs to function well. Research shows that fertility is declining generally (Nature June 2006). It also shows that a combination of stress, a calorie restricted diet, and over-exercise actually magnifies the decline.

And it is both male and female fertility that is declining — not just the woman’s. So if you are trying to conceive, and especially if you or your partner are over 30 and then you need to address your lifestyle as well as your foods. This is even more the case if you are over 40.

Gentle exercise is helpful

Regular exercise to re-oxygenate, strengthen and reinvigorate the body and mind is important, but over-straining and over-pushing is actually depleting.

Diet is important

Avoiding junk foods like sugar-filled, salt filled, de-nourished, over-processed, and/or deep fried fatty foods is obviously a good idea. Eating friendly oils (vitamin E especially, but also Omega 3 and 6 rich foods) and whole unprocessed foods is important for optimal fertility. The ideal is to eat a balanced diet full of vegetables and fruit, and regular easy-to-digest proteins. A favourite protein for enhancing fertility is quinoa (pronounced kee wah), which is an easily absorbed, alkaline grain that is high in protein and also high in vitamins and minerals.

For nourishing your tissues to the deepest level, Ayurvedic medicine recommends unhomogenised (this is important as its less allergy causing) organic milk. This is best taken warm with a few spices like cardamom and cinnamon to aid digestion. Try it before bed.

Alcohol, cigarettes, and caffeine, reduce your fertility (again for both partners) so eliminate or at least limit these as much as possible. Stress is a major cause of reduced fertility too, so reassessing your lifestyle becomes a priority. Take some time out to nourish yourself more.

Common deficiencies

Common deficiencies which play a role in reduced fertility are as follows

• Vitamin E
• Essential Fatty Acids
• Calcium
• Magnesium
• Iron
• Zinc
• Protein

For many couples their fertility enhancement needs to begin by cleansing out old toxins first. A program could therefore begin with cleansing and then move on to more nourishing herbs.

Some wonderful herbs I have used with great success over the years are:

• Triphala — this gently cleanses and heals digestion and absorption.

And for nourishment:

• Shatavari
• Withania
• Chaste tree
• False Unicorn root
• Red clover
• Nettle
• Raspberry leaf

These herbs are wonderful sources of vitamins and minerals and they also re-balance hormone functioning. Often an organic herb is easier to absorb than a synthetic vitamin pill. To order our organic herbs online visit our herb pages.

Ayurveda and natural health care teaches us that our state during conception and pregnancy will influence both the mind and body of our child. Traditionally a woman was cared for and nourished in mind and in spirit, emotionally and physically. Emphasis was given to her emotional happiness and spiritual contentment as this was considered the greatest influence on the developing baby.

These days we may not be able to live the ideal but we can make conscious choices and take steps, on all levels, to live a more balanced and harmonious life. Educating yourselves and taking steps towards balance before conceiving will obviously benefit you, your partner, and your family. It will also encourage others to live more balanced lives and will therefore ultimately benefit us all.