Doing What
Comes Naturally
Many
couples struggle with conception. They
want desperately to have a baby and are very aware of the variety of treatments
that are available. Equally, they are
aware of the time investment, financial cost and too frequent disappointment
which takes a toll on them emotionally and financially.
Dr. Mary
Lake Polan, chair and professor of the department of obstetrics and gynecology
at Stanford University School of Medicine, says one of the most important
issues for couples who have decided to start a family is that of optimal
fertility health. "Over 15 percent of
couples in the US have difficulty conceiving a child," she says. "In about
one-third of cases, the male is infertile; in one-third, the female has
infertility issues. The balance is due
to both male and female infertility and unknown issues."
Conception
problems are both multifaceted and often correctable and the most common reason
for not being able to conceive may be hormonal or nutritional
deficiencies. "Nutritional and lifestyle
changes can play a major role in fertility health," says Dr. Polan. "Smoking, caffeine, drug use, alcohol
consumption, inadequate or ill diet and stress may all impact fertility. Reproductive organs are highly susceptible to
free radical or oxidative damage from environmental toxicants and natural
aging. We've known for years that good
nutrition is a prerequisite for getting pregnant."
The
traditional methods used to address conception issues and infertility problems
include IVF (in vitro fertilization), fertility drugs and hormone injections. While they have had a measure of success,
these methods are no longer the only treatments or options available to
increase the chances of conception.
There are
many benefits to using organic supplements for conception, according to Alana
Sugar, a nutritional consultant for Whole Foods Market in Alexandria, Va. Some of the effects of a hormone and
antibiotic packed diet can be reversed with organic supplements. The presence of drug resistant bacteria in
humans is encouraged by the overuse of antibiotics in raising meat
animals. By including an organic supplement
in the daily diet, a wide variety of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and
fibers which are important for both mother and baby are made available. Processed and packaged food can be balanced
to some degree and the effects of preservatives, chemicals and artificial
sweeteners and colors can be counter-effected by organic supplements as
well.
Dr. Lynn
Westphal of the Stanford University School of Medicine agrees that nutritional supplementation
may provide an alternative or complement to conventional fertility
treatments. "It is well established in
the literature that a healthy lifestyle is important in optimizing one's reproductive
health. Vitamins, minerals and specific
cofactors play a major role in fertility function," she says. "Good nutrition is a prerequisite for
fertility and childbearing and is particularly important for those deciding to
become pregnant at a more advanced age."
"The role
of nutritional supplementation in fertility health is an extremely important
area of research", says Dr. Westphal. "We
are just beginning to scratch the surface."
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