What exactly does infertility have to do with nutrition? There are a few answers to that question.

1.    Toxic foods disrupt your genes. There’s a health epidemic that’s right in front of our noses, but still isn’t being met with much urgency. Toxic foods include those that are non-organic, over-processed, genetically modified, or radiated (in North America, virtually all of our food is now exposed to toxic levels of nuclear radiation from the disaster in Japan).

The thing to understand, especially if you waffle between organic and non-organic food choices due to the cost difference, is that toxic foods play havoc in your body and will impair your body’s fertility for as long as you eat them. If your body holds high levels of toxins from the food you eat, and you manage to get pregnant, you still run the dramatically heightened risk of cancer, chronic degenerative diseases, cognitive impairments, neurological disorders, etc.  

2.    Toxic foods leave you malnourished. Unhealthy foods simply don’t contain the nutrients your reproductive system needs to be supported. Think about it. When your body receives some nourishment, the first priority is to serve the major “staying alive” functions, like breathing. The rest of the nourishment/energy gets divided up between various “minor” bodily functions. But if your body is in a never-ending detoxification process because you are constantly consuming more toxins (fats, heavy metals, chemicals, preservatives, etc.), which requires a TON of energy, then you are always under-nourishing those minor functions (like reproduction). And after a period of time, that malnourishment will take a toll.

3.    When you’re malnourished, your body prioritizes detox. It’s a downward spiral. Once your body is malnourished, it has more and more trouble getting rid of toxins and waste. So the toxins build up, and the body finally gets to where it can’t keep up… You all know that coffee and alcohol are off limits when you’re trying to conceive; that’s easy enough for most of you (and if it’s not, that’s definitely a cue to seek support). But cleaning up your body – so there’s plenty of life-force energy available for your reproductive system – requires a more comprehensive exploration. Other MAJOR sources of toxicity? Restaurant meals, ready-to-eat foods, frozen foods, etc. But don’t stop there. Look at the chemicals you’re exposed to everyday in your cleaning supplies, your makeup, perfumes, soaps, carpets, bedding… all toxins drain your body’s energy and contribute to malnourishment.
 
4.    High glycemic diets throw off your “fertility” hormones. How does sugar fit in, specifically? Even if you don’t officially have PCOS, a sugar-heavy diet definitely hinders fertility. It increases cholesterol and triglyceride levels, which basically means eating sugar – don’t we all know it – creates extra fat. And when your blood sugar is imbalanced, an enzyme changes estrogen into testosterone in every one of those fat cells. So. Get that blood sugar level into balance by eating a low glycemic index diet is a huge priority if getting pregnant is important to you.

Some 12% of American women, ages 15-45, experience infertility, which actually appears to be a conservative number. Whether you realize it or not, it’s likely that someone you know is struggling to conceive… or else, perhaps, you are.

There are a lot of misconceptions floating out there about infertility. Perhaps the biggest half-truth or myth is this: Fertility is physical (that is, solely physical).  

It’s not. Fertility is more than just a physical phenomenon.

Of course fertility is measured physiologically. There are a variety of ways western and/or alternative doctors assess hormonal balance, implantation, ovulation, cervical mucus, sperm health, egg health, etc. Not to mention the fact that after “trying” for a certain amount of time you either do or don’t get pregnant (which for many of you is the first time you give your fertility any thought at all).  

So even though infertility is largely conceptualized physically, thinking, “My body either can or cannot get pregnant” ignores many pieces of the puzzle. Diet. Caffeine. Alcohol. Stress. Exercise. Environmental toxins. We can all agree, I’m sure, that these are all important outside factors to look at during preconception, because of their physical impact.

But there’s more. Which is good news – because it means that you can take even more action than you may have realized. Your emotions, your mindset, and your “family stories” (more on that another time) have a huge impact on your ability to conceive.

Take, for example, a woman who is violated sexually (20% of you ladies have been sexually assaulted at least once). She may have a variety of beliefs, conscious or subconscious, that her body is bad, she’s not safe being a woman, she’s better off in her career the less “womanly” she is, etc. If those thoughts are running for long, they will absolutely affect the way her body functions physically.

Stressors, depression, traumas… they all impact your body. Fear, ambivalence about becoming a mom, financial worries about the economy… these will all show up physically after some time.

It’s simple in a way: the body can only effectively process so much fear, and the accompanying chemical ripple-effect that’s set off every time a fearful thought pops up, before it starts being negatively affected.

So for some, chronic toxic fears might be associated with a heart problem. For others, reproductive issues. The point is, if you are struggling with infertility, it’s in your best interest to conduct an emotional exploration to see if there are any toxic thoughts or fears being held in your body. Then, find a way to clear them out!

Infertility isn’t just physical. Nothing is. Our bodies are immensely impacted by our minds and emotions. So think about increasing your fertility rates (healthier eggs, better circulation, normalized periods, whatever!) with a two-pronged approach. Attend to the appropriate physical interventions based on your specific symptoms. Then do as much emotional housecleaning as you can. And if you’re really invested in getting pregnant, hire a holistic counselor or therapist who specializes in fertility-related issues to support your emotional journey.

Your body will thank you. A little emotional support, after all, goes a long way.