How To Boost Fertility Naturally
NUNM students have many opportunities to explore topics, research and areas of practice that interest them. From broad elective choices to research study participation and self study, our students choose the doctor they want to become. Here, Rachel Peterson, naturopathic doctoral student, shares her research and perspectives on boosting fertility using natural medicine.
Whether youre planning to conceive in 15 years or hoping for a baby any day now, it is important to consider your fertility and hormonal health. The sad reality is that infertility is a nationwide epidemic today, and even when you feel like youre ready for a baby, your body might not be. To put it in perspective, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention states that 12.1% of women between the ages of 15 and 44 struggle with infertility, affecting over 7 million American women. It is crucial to prime your body, mind, and spirit for easeful conception and pregnancy. As an added bonus, the essence of fertility is hormonal balance, so establishing a strong foundation early-on incites a lifetime of benefits . Essentially, a healthy lifestyle now may save a world of difficulty later on.
Psychological Or Social Conditions
Numerous psychological and social theories have been proffered to explain why women may become depressed during perimenopause. Some of these are related to the following factors:
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Change in the childbearing role
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Loss of fertility, which may be associated with a loss of an essential meaning of life
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Empty nest syndrome
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Best Foods To Boost Estrogen
Flaxseeds
Flaxseeds are valued as a superfood owing to their impressive nutritional profile and umpteen health benefits. Being intrinsically rich in lignans, a group of chemical compounds that works as phytoestrogens play a vital role in decreasing the risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women. Moreover, flax seeds contain up to 800 times more lignans than any other plant foods and the regular addition of these wonder seeds is valuable in boosting estrogen levels.
Dried Fruits
Eating a fistful of nutrient-rich dried fruits delivers you with a host of health benefits. It serves as easy to enjoy healthy snacks to keep your hunger pangs and sweet cravings at bay. They are also a powerful source of several phytoestrogens that plays a vital role in balancing hormones and boost female sexual health. Dates, prunes and dried apricots are some of the dried fruits abundant in phytoestrogens.
Garlic
The powerful flavour of garlic livens up any dish and heals some of the common health anomalies due to its renowned health benefitting properties. Both garlic and garlic oil supplements are good sources of phytoestrogens that may help reduce bone loss due to estrogen deficiency.
Sesame seeds
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What Is Wheat Bran
A wheat kernel is made up of three parts: the bran, endosperm and germ.
The bran is the hard outer layer of the wheat kernel, which is jam-packed with various nutrients and fiber.
During the milling process, the bran is stripped away from the wheat kernel and becomes a byproduct.
Wheat bran has a sweet, nutty flavor. It can be used to add texture and a full-bodied taste to bread, muffins and other baked goods.
Summary
Wheat bran is the protective outer shell of the wheat kernel that is stripped away during the milling process.
Wheat bran is chock-full of many nutrients. A half-cup serving provides :
- Calories: 63
- Magnesium: 177 mg
- Phosphorus: 294 mg
Wheat bran also has a decent amount of zinc and copper. Additionally, it provides over half of the daily value of selenium and more than the DV of manganese.
Not only is wheat bran nutrient dense, its also relatively low calorie. Half a cup has only 63 calories, which is minuscule considering all the nutrients it packs.
Whats more, its low in total fat, saturated fat and cholesterol, as well as a good source of plant-based protein, offering about 5 grams of protein in half a cup .
Arguably, wheat brans most impressive trait is its fiber content. Half a cup of wheat bran provides almost 13 grams of dietary fiber, which is 99% of the DV .
Summary
Wheat bran is a good source of many nutrients and protein and relatively low in calories. Its a very good source of dietary fiber as well.
How Serious Are Side Effects Of Hormone Replacement Therapy
Most side effects of HRT are not severe. However, HRT can rarely cause more severe side effects, including double vision, depression, extreme weakness and fatigue, fever, and severe abdominal pain. If you experience these or any other concerning or persistent symptoms, call your healthcare provider immediately.
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Can Feminizing Herbs Really Increase Estrogen
I think it would be more than fair to say that much of what you read regarding the effects that feminization herbs have on the male body is purely anecdotal. There is not nearly enough clinical research nor scientific facts to back up the many claims.
Still, since there are so damn many reports of significant results among the MtF TG communityincluding myselfits hard to not take seriously.
Personally, I dont believe that feminizing herbs should be looked upon as an across-the-board replacement to traditional FHT. Treat them rather as a milder, gentler and a maybe healthier approach to a doctor-prescribed regimen of feminizing hormone therapy.
Or perhaps use them as a herbal-bridge to traditional FHT.
Because feminization herbs are naturally occurringno prescription necessarydoesnt mean that they should be taken lightly. On the contrary, some of the herbs Ive mentioned here are remarkably potent, and deserve the required amount or respect.
If you do choose to experiment with any of these herbs that increase estrogen, my advice would be to monitor your dosage carefully. It can sometimes take a week or two for your body to adapt to them.
Foods That Increase Estrogen Level
There are several estrogen-rich foods that may help boost your estrogen level. These foods contain phytoestrogen, which is a plant-based estrogen that mimics estrogen once it is processed by the body.
The following is a list of foods that are known for containing excessive amounts of phytoestrogens. It is important to keep in mind that estrogen rich foods may have unwanted effects in men.
Soybean products: Soy is a rich source of phytoestrogen and comes in a variety of easy to consume forms like soy milk, tofu, or edamame. Soy products are the greatest source of isoflavones, a class of phytoestrogen that can be easily consumed in your diet. Soy is also a great source of protein, making it an ideal meat substitute for vegans and vegetarians.
Flaxseeds: These little seeds contain up to three times the phytoestrogens of soybeans, but your body will not reap their benefits unless they are cracked or ground prior to consumption. Also high in fiber, flaxseeds will make you feel full and may aid in weight loss and in the reduction of cholesterol.
Sesame seeds: Whole seedsor even sesame oilcontain lignans that possess phytoestrogens. The seeds are also loaded with fiber and are a great source of minerals.
Beans: They are relativity high in phytoestrogens, but they dont get much attention. Beans are known for having a high fiber content, which helps to control cholesterol levels. Types of beans include peas, pinto bean, and lima beans
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Changing Your Lifestyle And Diet
How Low Estrogen Can Affect Your Body
Estrogen is a very busy hormone for women throughout their lives. Men have some too, but women have more. Estrogen is primarily active in reproductive development and health for women, but its role is far greater than that.
Estrogen is actually a group of sex hormones, each of them performing different roles in womens health and development. Estrogen helps make women curvier than men by making their pelvis and hips wider, and their breast grow.
Estrogen is part of your menstrual cycle, helps you get pregnant, and plays a role in helping you develop bones and grow hair. It also helps regulate your moods and impacts your brain development and structure.
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How To Increase & Boost Estrogen Levels
Why Should I Increase & Boost Estrogen?
Increase Estrogen Through Supplementation
Why Should I Increase & Boost Estrogen?
I was born with less of an ability to create the hormone that is so important to who I am!
Boost Estrogen Through Diet
Why Should I Increase & Boost Estrogen?
I began my journey of Estrogen Boosting through diet.
Increase Estrogen Through Supplementation
Increase Estrogen Through Supplementation
Increase Estrogen Through Supplementation
I quickly realized that I needed an Estrogen Booster to get the results I so desperately wanted!
Tips To Boost Estrogen Levels
What’s the root of your menopause symptoms? Many women, facing unpleasant symptoms such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness, confront this question. The answer though is hormonal imbalance and the gradual. This hormone, responsible for a variety of bodily activities, causes a medley of problems when it goes into decline.
Fortunately though the impact of menopause symptoms can be lessened by readdressing hormonal imbalance. While it might not be possible to eliminate menopause symptoms entirely, adopting a healthy combination of lifestyle changes and alternative remedies can go a long way towards alleviating the more severe effects.
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Eight Oestrogen Rich Foods For Menopause
Phytoestrogens are plant-based agents that naturally imitate oestrogen in the body. Due to their unique bioactivity, these compounds have received increasing attention for their beneficial health effects.Oestrogen falls sharply in menopause, causing a host of symptoms, such as hot flushes, mood swings, and fatigue. Phytoestrogens are thought to have a balancing effect on hormones, combating low oestrogen, and supporting your health during this time.We can categorise phytoestrogens into three groups: isoflavones, coumestans, and lignans. Consuming more foods with oestrogenic properties may be a helpful addition or an alternative to hormone replacement therapy .
How To Balance Hormones Naturally
1. Swap Carbs for Healthy Fats
Foods that balance hormones include a variety of fat-containing foods that provide short, medium and long-chain fatty acids. Your body needs various types of fats to create hormones, including saturated fat and cholesterol.
Not only are these essential fats fundamental building blocks for hormone production, but they keep inflammation levels low, boost your metabolism and promote weight loss.
Healthy fats have the opposite effect of refined carbohydrates, which lead to inflammation and can mess with the balance of your hormones.
My four favorite sources of anti-inflammatory, healthy fats include:
- coconut oil, avocados, grass-fed butter and wild-caught salmon.
- Coconut oil uses are plentiful for example, coconut oil has natural anti-bacterial and fat-burning effects.
- Avocado benefits include improving heart health, lowering inflammation, controlling your appetite and contributing to your daily intake of fiber and nutrients such as potassium.
- Salmon nutrition is also impressive: its one of the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids, which are known to lower inflammation and help with cognitive functions. Omega-3 fatty acids are a large component of brain-cell membranes and are important for cell-to-cell communication in the brain. Research shows that omega-3 fatty acids help protect against hippocampal neuronal loss and reduce pro-inflammatory responses.
2. Supplement to Fill Nutritional Voids
3. Address Emotional Imbalances
6. Get More Sleep
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Foods That Increase Estrogen Levels Naturally
Written byEmily LunardoPublished onJune 2, 2018
The transition into menopause has been attributed to the decrease of hormonal estrogen in the body, which is responsible for womens sex characteristics. The following are some of the physiological changes that are attributed to estrogen:
- Responsible for female puberty
- Control growth of the uterine lining during the menstruation cycle and at the beginning of pregnancy
- Involved in breast development and breast changes seen during pregnancy
- Play a role in bone and cholesterol metabolism
- Helps to regulate food intake, body weight, glucose metabolism, and insulin sensitivity
How Do Phytoestrogens Affect Your Health
Phytoestrogens have a similar chemical structure to that of estrogen and may mimic its hormonal actions.
Phytoestrogens attach to estrogen receptors in your cells, potentially affecting the function of estrogen throughout your body .
However, not all phytoestrogens function in the same way.
Phytoestrogens have been shown to have both estrogenic and antiestrogenic effects. This means that, while some phytoestrogens have estrogen-like effects and increase estrogen levels in your body, others block its effects and decrease estrogen levels .
Because of their complex actions, phytoestrogens are one of the most controversial topics in nutrition and health.
While some researchers have raised concerns that a high intake of phytoestrogens may cause hormonal imbalance, most evidence has linked them to positive health effects.
In fact, multiple studies have associated phytoestrogen intake with decreased cholesterol levels, improved menopausal symptoms, and a lower risk of osteoporosis and certain types of cancer, including breast cancer (
3 ).
Soy isoflavones can produce estrogen-like activity in the body by mimicking the effects of natural estrogen. They may increase or decrease blood estrogen levels .
One study found that women who took a soy protein supplement for 12 weeks experienced moderate decreases in blood estrogen levels compared with a control group.
The researchers proposed that these effects might help protect against certain types of breast cancer .
15 ).
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What To Do Before Taking Hormones Of Any Kind
It goes without saying that deciding whether or not to begin hormone replacement therapy is a decision that should not be taken lightly. We strive to provide you with all of the data necessary to make an informed decision, but we also understand that you may still have lingering questions. Even if you decide to consult with one of our BodyLogicMDs affiliated BHRT practitioners, we encourage you to ask any pertinent questions at your appointment that may help you feel better about your decision to mitigate the negative effects of the aging process through menopausal hormone therapy. Here are just some therapy-related questions for your doctor that you can bring in with you for further clarity:
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Spearmint Tea Can Boost Estrogen
Spearmint tea is also a viable tip that can be used by ladies who think about how to increase estrogen levels. This tea should be taken two cups all the time to raise the estrogen levels. Aside from the spearmint tea, supplemental sources such as fennel, unicorn root, sage, raspberry, and sarsaparilla can too be taken for the best results in raised estrogen levels.
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Learn More With Overcoming Estrogen Dominance
The body has an amazing ability to heal. We just need to give it the right resources.
In Overcoming Estrogen Dominance, my goal is to empower and give you the tools to take control of your hormones and health.
More than 70% of women experience estrogen dominance. The symptoms range from lumpy and fibrocystic breasts to thyroid nodules, hot flashes, fibroids, uterine polyps, painful, heavy or irregular periods to infertility and miscarriages, from mood swings to insomnia, weight gain to fatigue.
So many women have experienced the pain and frustration that comes when they feel their symptoms and complaints are dismissed or minimized. This is particularly true for women who are experiencing the symptoms of hormone imbalance. Even when doctors do offer treatment, its typically in the form of prescription medication or invasive surgical procedures.
In Overcoming Estrogen Dominance, I hope to show that those extreme interventions are often unnecessary, and to give women a roadmap to reverse estrogen dominance using food, herbs, supplements and natural protocols to rebalance hormones.
To get your copy of Overcoming Estrogen Dominance, go here.
Foods That Increase Estrogen In Males
A wide range of foods contain a class of substances called phytoestrogens, which are basically estrogens of plant origin.
Phytoestrogens are capable of mimicking the actions of estrogen when ingested by humans. In essence, when these foods are eaten, they increase the estrogen levels in the body.
As you probably know, estrogen is the hormone responsible for female sexual characteristics like developed breasts, curvy hips, high-pitched voice, etc.
Consequently, increased estrogen in males can result in the slowing of body and facial hair growth, fat redistribution in the female shape and boosted breast growth.
To increase estrogen in your body, include these foods in your diet:
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