Fertility & Vitamin E

Fertility & Vitamin E

There are so many supplements on the market that can improve and increase our fertility. I am going to share with you, what I find is important to improve and increase our reproductive health and wellness.

Our body and reproductive system is made up of million and millions of cells, including our sperm and eggs. Vitamin E is essential in protecting and improving our cellular health. It is an important antioxidant for reproduction and fertility.  Research has shown it can improve the overall health of Men's sperm and in Women can increase our overall egg health. This is great news!

The chemical name of Vitamin E is Alpha-Tocopherol, it comes from the Greek word Tokos which translates to "offspring" and Phero which means to "bear". It literally means to bear children. I love it when we can find naturally produced foods that contain these qualities. Vitamin E is found in foods  such as almonds and other nuts, sunflower seeds, spinach and apricots.

For the Woman!

Women under going IVF cycles who have been found to have  a thin uterine lining <8mm, Vitamin E has been shown to increase uterine activity and can aid in increasing  the thickness of the endometrial lining. A study published by Fertility & Sterility April 2010,  found that Vitamin E could increases uterine radial artery blood flow. Results showed vit. E given at 600mg a day increased uRA in 72% of patients and endometrial thickness (EM) in 52% of patients.
If you are starting an IVF cycle this may be something you might like to consider. It is always important when going for your scan to ask the thickness of your endometrial lining.

For the Boys!

Vitamin E has been shown to increase your overall sperm health and motility. Vitamin E when taken with Selenium increases live sperm rate. This is most important when having to give a sample for an IVF cycle.  Vitamin E has also been shown to reduce sperm defects. The numbers are actually really good, showing that men who take Vitamin E supplements for even just a few months, can see up to a 10% increase in fertility. I recommend you start now!

In another study, males enrolled in an in vitro fertilization program who had previously had low fertilization rates were treated with oral vitamin E for three months. Fertilization rates increased significantly from 19% to 29% after one month of treatment (Geva).

I would recommend a diet rich in Vitamin E foods and a daily dosage of 500mg.

Sources

Takasaki A, Tamura H, Miwa I, Taketani T, Shimamura K, Sugino N (April 2010). “Endometrial growth and uterine blood flow: a pilot study for improving endometrial thickness in the patients with a thin endometrium”. Fertil. Steril. 93 (6): 1851–8. doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2008.12.062. PMID

Geva E, Bartoov B, Zabludovsky N, et al. The effect of antioxidant treatment on human spermatozoa and fertilization rate in an in vitro fertilization program. Fertility and Sterility. 1996;66:430–434

Practice Breath - The art of Receiving and the art of Releasing...............

When we are born, the very first thing we do is take in a breath, inviting life force to fill out bodies and feed our vital organs. Breath is Life itself. The act of inhaling is the act of receiving. The act of conceiving is also an act of receiving.

BODY AWARENESS

Thought for today!  

Body Awareness

It is easy to judge your body for not supporting you or notice what’s “not working”. It is common to feel let down by our bodies when facing our fertility challenges. I encourage you to shift your awareness to what is working in your body and how your body is responding. Begin to notice how your body feels each day as you move through your day. Focus on the positive aspects. How is your body supporting you. What feels good? What can you do live a healthier life?

TOP 10 NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS & TIPS TO INCREASE YOUR FERTILITY

 

• Start taking your nutritional supplements at least 3 to 4 months before your IVF treatment or natural fertility cycle commences.  
•  Drink at least 2 liters of water a day. Water is vitally important for every cell in the body and helps to remove and eliminate toxins. 
• Vitamin C: 500 mg a day will help collagen production and is vital for wound healing following egg retrieval. There is some evidence to suggest that it may help to prevent miscarriage.  Reduce Vitamin C intake to 250mg before transfer.  
• Folic Acid: helps prevents spina bifida and produce DNA and RNA. 
• CoQ10: May improve blood flow, enrich endometrium, and improve fertilization rates, “mitochondrial nutrients” may improve egg quality and response to ovarian stimulation. Can improve sperm quality. 
• Bromalein: Using Pineapple & pineapple core can help to assist implantation: Pineapple contains bromelain. Bromelain is a proteolytic enzyme that breaks up proteins that inhibit embryo implantation. Consuming a whole pineapple (focusing on the core as it has the highest concentration of Bromelain) during a fertility cycle can be beneficial.  
• Magnesium: helps improve fertilization rates  
• Zinc: promotes cell formation and wound healing after surgery and is vital for hormone production and implantation, plays a vital role in cell division  
• Selenium: improve fertilization rates, prevents chromosome breakage
• Vitamin B complex: will help your body cope with the stress of invasive procedures

Chinese Medicine, Acupuncture & Labour Induction

Chinese Medicine and its role in pregnancy and birth

Acupuncture is an integral component of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), a wholistic system of healthcare continually practiced and developed throughout Asia for many thousands of years.  Traditional Chinese medicine has developed specialised treatment for women in promoting fertility, pregnancy care and postpartum recovery. Today TCM care is become increasingly valued in Australia, as it is in New Zealand, England, Germany and France where acupuncture is available in specialised antenatal clinics and maternity hospitals.

Pregnancy, child birth and postnatal recovery are viewed in Traditional Chinese Medicine as a window of opportunity to enhance and support the woman’s wellbeing. Conversely if adequate care is not taken the resulting problems may continue long after birth.  Value is therefore placed on offering preventive care to strengthen the mother and baby as well as dealing with problems as they occur during pregnancy.

Traditional Chinese Medicine offers a safe, effective alternative for treatment of pain and discomfort during pregnancy and a great alternative to western medicine drugs. Moreover, it provides an excellent compliment to midwifery, doula, and obstetrical care.

TCM effectively treats

• Morning sickness,
• Musculoskeletal conditions such as sore hip
• Threatened Miscarriage
• Fatigue
• Morning sickness
• Musculoskeletal pain (back, sciatica etc)
• Heartburn
• Pregnancy Induced Hypertension
• Stress and anxiety
• Insomnia
• Oedema
• Breech and Posterior presentation
• Labour preparation – Pre Birth Treatment
• Labour induction
• Pain relief during labour
• Post Partum Care

LABOUR PREPERATION

Pre-Birth treatment involves a series of four treatments weekly from 36 or 37 weeks to prepare for labour. Points are used according a woman's constitution and pregnancy history.

These include points to

• Cervical ripening
• Promote optimal energy and stamina for labour
• Help to shorten duration of labour
• Reduce the rate of caesarean sections and need for interventions 
• Reduce the need for pain medications or epidurals
• Greater satisfaction with birth experience
• Boost energy and help with pain relief

INDUCTION OF LABOUR

Acupuncture can provide a gentle inducement of labour when the baby is overdue.  It can be an effective alternative to Syntocinon drip or prostaglandin gel induction.  Acupuncture encourages the body to release hormones such as oxytocin and prostaglandins that instigate labour as well as encouraging the baby downward in the birth canal.

Many mothers find this treatment very relaxing, feeling calmer, more relaxed and have a more efficient labour.  One or more treatments are usually required.  As with the pre-birth treatment if you do not go into labour, you will respond well to medical induction.

PAIN RELIEF & SUPPORT IN LABOUR

Acupuncture offers drug free alternatives for pain relief during labour. 

Acupuncture in Labour can help with:

• Promoting efficient contractions
• Encourage baby into optimal positioning
• Aiding cervical ripening and dilatation
• Pain relief
• Promote endorphin release (primal state) rather that adrenaline release (fear state)
• Smoothing the transition between the 1st and 2nd stage of labour
• To promote delivery of a retained placenta

A Brazilian group has shown that electro-acupuncture (EA) can be used to promote labour as efficiently as the prostaglandin analogue misoprostol which is used to induce labour and cervical priming, but with fewer complications. 67% of woman... in labour were randomised to receive either EA or misoprostol. Woman who received EA experienced significantly fewer obsetric complications along with higher frequency of vaginal deliveries. This was taken from Arch Gynecol Obstet 2011: Electro- Acupuncture for cervial ripening prior to labour induction.

FERTILITY YOGA

Fertility Yoga

 

www.angeayoga.com.au 

Fertility Yoga

-->

This article is written about two passions of mine fertility and yoga.

The journey of trying to conceive is an emotional roller coaster. It brings with it, it’s own anxieties, stress,  confusion, questioning, doubt, frustration, anger, sadness, a sense of your body letting you down, isolation, regret, happiness. By the end of the journey you have completed a 360 degree circle of emotions, experiencing each and everyone of them. The magic of yoga is it helps to bring stability and support into your life, especially during life’s most challenging moments. The beautiful gift of yoga, whilst it offers so many health benefits is time devoted to yourself. For an entire hour you have the opportunity to give back to yourself.   A Fertility Yoga class is a place for women to come out of isolation and into a community of support. Fertility Yoga becomes a place to realize you are not alone and to connect with other woman who are experiencing similar emotions and challenges. 

Yoga and fertility are two passions of mine.  Firstly, I love working with woman and secondly I love yoga!  Some of you may think of yoga as stretching and postures. However, it is so much more than a physical practice. It is a way of living that brings about peace, calm and awareness. It has a wonderful way of working its magic off the mat into your daily life. When I first started yoga, I was working full time, running my own business and training to compete in triathlons. Of course, I thought I could do it all (as we do as woman) Realistically, something needed to give as I was constantly putting my energy into my work and training and neglecting myself. That’s when I discovered yoga

My first experience of yoga was amazing, it was one of those light bulb moments. I walked off my mat that day and as profound as this may sound, it changed my life. For myself personally, yoga transformed my relationships, my attitude towards life, it brought clarity, calmness, nurturing. And in my hardest times – my breakup of my thirteen-year relationship and the passing of my Mum it gave me peace and the space to feel what I needed too. 

Since I began living my yoga, I am better able to handle stressful situations by responding without reacting.  I am more calm, grounded and at peace with my life.  When challenges arise, I am able to face them directly and respond with love and compassion - most of the time!

"Connect with a community of support, relax and stay positive on your journey to conception.

Benefits of fertility yoga:

• Simulates and tones reproductive organs
• Helps you feel more in control
• Increases blood flow to reproductive organs
• Releases tightness in muscles
• Lowers blood pressure
• Reduces stress levels
• Increases sense of well-being
• Regulates menstrual cycle
• Releases emotional tension
• Releases tight fascia & connective tissue
• Renew physically, mentally & emotionally
• Balance your endocrine/hormones
• Calm your mind
• Re-connect mind and body

Why Fertility Yoga Yoga for fertility classes are designed to support women, those new to yoga or couples who are trying to conceive, either naturally or through assisted reproductive technology (IVF). Yoga for fertility uses specific postures to nourish and stimulate the reproductive organs, reduce stress and relax the mind and body.
Our Classes use special fertility balls in a series of poses to nourish the reproductive organs, calm the nervous system, relax the body and mind to help release accumulated anxiety and stress.

TIMETABLE
We run our fertility classes every Monday Night @ 7.30pm, Saturday mornings @ 8am and Sunday @ 9am.
To find out more you can contact our studio on 9510 3700 or email info@angea.com.au 

Detox Day 1

Chakra Fruit Salad with Enlightened Tahini Sauce

Serves 4

Fruit Salad:

currants – red / root chakra

oranges – orange / sacral chakra

plums – yellow/ solar plexus chakra

kiwi – green / heart chakra

blueberries – blue / throat chakra

blackberries – indigo / third eye chakra

grapes – violet / crown chakra

Enlightened Tahini Sauce

hemp hearts to garnish (optional)

Directions:

1. Choose fruits representing every colour of the rainbow.

2. Wash and prepare with love and gratitude.

3. Drizzle with tahini sauce and sprinkle with hemp seeds. Share and enjoy.

Enlightened Tahini Sauce

Makes about 1 cup

Ingredients:

¼ cup tahini

1 Tbsp. raw honey (or maple syrup)

2 Tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon or orange juice

¼ tsp. cinnamon

pinch dried ground ginger

pinch of sea salt (unless you are using salted tahini)

4-6 Tbsp. water

Directions:

1. Place all ingredients in a jar with a tightly fitting lid and shake well to combine. Add more water to thin if desired. Store leftovers in the fridge for up to a week.

To start my first day of my detox. How could I possibly go pass this amazing Chakra Fruit Salad. This recipe was taken from My New Roots. I have to say amazing. It has all the colours of the Chakras. There are 7 Chakras in the body in which energy flows. Chakras are centers of energy, located on the midline of the body. The first chakra begins at the base of the spine and energy moves up the length of the spine to finish at the crown of head chakra. This is a great way to bring balance into our energetic system through the foods we consume.

From a yoga perspective the endocrine system is linked to the Chakra system. Chakras functions as wheels, drawing in life energy prana. They circulate prana along the main channels and distribute it to the glands, organs, blood and nervous system. Each chakra corresponds to an endocrine gland, physiological function and specific region of the body. Asanas or yoga poses stretch and compress different parts of the body. By choosing different postures we stimulate different chakras or endocrine function. With regular practice we improve our endocrine function, by stimulating the production of hormones and correcting the imbalances. Hence, improving our emotional and physiological well-being.