Yahoo Lifestyle Fact Vs Fiction: Conceiving Naturally
FACT OR FICTION: Soft drinks lower fertility
FACT In an eight-year study, (part of the ‘Nurse’s Health Study’) researchers found women who drank two or more soft drinks daily are 50 per cent more likely to experience ovulatory disorders than women who drank these less than once a week. Researchers believe the high-sugar content’s to blame. “Both the blood sugar roller coaster and the [subsequent] extra [kilos] can get in the way of becoming pregnant,” they explain. As for men, Danish research suggests those who drink one litre of soft drink daily have 30 per cent lower sperm counts than those who don’t drink any.
FACT OR FICTION: Low-fat dairy products can reduce your chances of falling pregnant
FACT Women who eat two or more servings of low-fat dairy products daily are 85 per cent more likely to experience infertility issues than women who don’t. Why? Full-fat milk contains a mix of female and male sex hormones such as oestrogen, progesterone and androgens. So skimming off the fat whisks away these hormones, leaving behind an uneven mix of male-dominated hormones, which can mess with your reproductive system. On the flipside, they found having at least one serve of whole-milk products daily does the opposite and can double your chance of falling pregnant. Pass the cheese!
FACT OR FICTION: Lube helps sperm swim faster
FICTION “The kind of lubrication that‘s beneficial to sperm motility is naturally produced and not a commercial kind,” advises fertility specialist and naturopath Emma Sutherland (www.emmasutherland.com.au). In fact, most lubricants alter the pH level in the vaginal canal and kill sperm trying to swim through to the fallopian tubes, she adds. However, if you need a lubricant, try a sperm-safe brand like Pre-Seed (www.preseed.com).
FACT OR FICTION: Soy products reduce your chances of falling pregnant
FACT “Soy (and other phytoestrogens) contain oestrogen-mimicking properties that toy with our regular hormone balance and mess with the reproductive workings of the body,” explains natural fertility expert and author of Fertilise Yourself Dr. Nat Kringoudis (www.natkringoudis.com.au) And while a ‘safe’ limit to consume is not yet known, it’s best to cut back your soy lattes to just one per day and reduce it wherever else possible.
FACT OR FICTION: Bisphenol-A plastic (BPA) damages human eggs
FACT BPA is a synthetic based oestrogen - often found in plastic food containers and drink bottles - that can leach into our food and drinks, especially when heated. Men who have high levels of BPA in their urine have 23 per cent lower sperm counts and 10 per cent more sperm DNA damage than men with less exposure; while a 2011 study showed women undergoing IVF who had high BPA levels had 24 per cent less eggs than women with the lower levels. To reduce your exposure opt for SIGG-style water bottles, glass cookware (especially when reheating) and avoiding plastic containers with a recycling code ‘7’ on the bottom as they are most likely to contain BPA.
FACT OR FICTION: It takes two to tango
FACT If you’ve been trying to fall pregnant for a while, it may not have anything to do with you – 30 to 40 per cent of the time the culprit’s low-quality or unhealthy sperm. Good news is men can turn this around in just 120 days through healthy diet and lifestyle changes, says Kringoudis. “The trick is to move out abnormal forms [of semen] by plenty of regular intercourse with the combination of changing bad habits. Coenzyme Q10 and zinc are great supplements; and stress-reduction techniques such as acupuncture can help too,” she adds.
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