On This Journey: May 2008

Monday, May 26, 2008

Fertility tips and encouragement

Here are some fertility tips and encouragement from me to all the women out there who are TTC:

hey, it takes most couples 18 months or so to get pregnant (doctors won't even do anything until you've been trying over a year). You only have a 20% chance of getting pregnant once every cycle. And that number goes down the older you get. So don't worry about infertility until you've been trying for a couple of years. Also, a woman is only fertile 8 days of the cycle - the four days of cervical mucus plus the four dry days afterwards. Also, most women ovulate at 4 pm, and then the egg is only viable for about 12 hours after that. (that's why you see on tv shows when women are watching their ovulation of having lunchtime "quickies".) The sperm however can live for several days inside the ducts within the cervical mucus, and then when you ovulate, the sperm rushes out to fertilize the egg, which is why women are considered fertile for 8 days of the cycle. Also, the percentage of getting pregnant goes way down if you are drinking caffeine and soda during those 8 days, which is a bummer. I'm pretty much off caffeine right now, thank goodness, but it took awhile. :)
There are a lot of little "fertility tricks" that people can do to help along fertility. You can check out my webpage on fertility (its a work in progress) and I also really liked the book Natural Fertility by Nikki Bradford.
Hot baths are a big time no-no. Sperm has to stay at a 89.6 degree F temperature. The whole testicle/scrotum area is a lot cooler than regular body temperature, which I found to be interesting.
Also, at the doctor's office, there is a really simple test for men to make sure they have viable sperm (its a lot easier to check the men first, and then check the woman, their test is not as involved. ;). You can also find these tests on the internet, if you don't have a doctor.
Millions of couples have fertility issues, mostly as an environmental and food issue, as well as a biological one. So there's a lot of stuff to try out there, so don't feel like there's no hope or feel like the problems are insurmountable or something. :) Anyway, I didn't know any of the stuff I mentioned above until this year so I thought I'd pass on my info. :)

Friday, May 9, 2008

Eggs

Updated 5/9 & 5/11 - scroll down to see updates.

11/15/07 -So I've been thinking about eggs lately. They are one of those "brain power" power foods that are suppose to be super good for you. But not all eggs are alike. And some are super expensive. And some have way more in them than others (and what I mean by that is that the chemically eggs have way too much chemicals/antibiotics in them, and the good eggs have a different degree of Omega 3s and Lutein.) So here are some interesting varieties and facts on the eggs out there.

Recommended eggs:
Good Day! Naturals All Natural Eggs
Christopher Eggs
Pilgrim's Pride Eggs Plus
Eggland's Best

Some websites that tell more about eggs:
http://www.texasgrassfedbeef.com/eggs_too_.htm

Some facts about free-range vs. conventional:
They found that, compared to official U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) nutrient data for commercial, "conventional" (i.e., from confined hens) eggs, eggs from hens raised on pasture may contain:
• 1/3 less cholesterol
• 1/4 less saturated fat
• 2/3 more vitamin A
• 2 times more omega-3 fatty acids
• 3 times more vitamin E
• 7 times more beta carotene.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21675726/

http://food.yahoo.com/blog/thegreentable/482/which-eggs-should-you-be-eating

webblog in progress....check back later for more......

update: 5/09

I emailed a few months back the Christopher Egg company and asked where I could purchase their eggs, because I had been looking for them everywhere, and no grocery store carried them. They emailed me back saying that Krogers carried them. I went to 5 different Krogers in Arlington, Fort Worth and Dallas, and emailed them back saying No, Krogers does NOT carry them. Then I emailed the Kroger company and asked them to carry these eggs. I guess the two companies talked to each other because........

Long story short - Krogers now carries them! Hurray! They carry them under their Private Selection brand name. They are around $2.50 a dozen, which is a lot cheaper than most organic-type or natural-type eggs.
Christopher's Eggs are Amazing, and I will probably never buy a different type of egg again. They contain 660mg of Omega 3s PER EGG! Most eggs only contain about 60-130mgs per egg.

Here's the info on Christopher Eggs:
http://www.christophereggs.com/why.php

http://www.christophereggs.com/news2.php

From their website:
Christopher Eggs come from hens fed a natural diet that is so special it is patented. This diet allows them to produce eggs that are rich in Omega-3 unsaturated fats along with the protein, vitamins and minerals found in regular eggs. Research shows that Omega-3 should be a vital ingredient in a healthy diet. Omega-3 can't be "manufactured" by the body, so it must accessed from our food. Unfortunately, we do not eat enough of it.

The formula for Christopher Eggs was designed by Belovo, a Belgian egg processing company with expertise in developing health oriented food ingredients, oils and egg based powders.

In developing Christopher Eggs, Belovo researched nutrition and the human and animal diet, both historic and contemporary. The natural diet of the ancestors of our modern chicken was far more varied, including an extended range of seeds, pulses and green vegetation. This diet yielded eggs with a better nutrient content and a better balance of essential fatty acids.

Currently, many other eggs are from chickens fed primarily wheat and soya. This results in eggs that are much lower in Omega-3 than Omega-6 fatty acids, and does nothing to adjust the shortage of Omega-3 that is widespread in Western diets.

Good Fats and Bad Fats

All fats are composed of molecular building blocks called fatty acids. These fatty acids can dramatically affect human health depending on their blend, mix and balance.

The Bad

It is well known that saturated fats are bad for us. Found in many foods including meat, dairy products, and some tropical oils, saturated fat increases the risk of coronary artery disease, diabetes and obesity. Recently, another culprit has been identified - trans fatty acids, which are man-made molecules produced during the hydrogenation of vegetable oil. Studies show that trans fatty acids can be even worse for your cardiovascular system than saturated fat and may also increase the risk of breast cancer.

Unfortunately the typical Western diet is loaded with the types of fatty acids that seem to be linked with some of our most serious health problems, and significantly deficient in some that are essential for proper nutrition. It now appears that switching from butter to a vegetable-oil based margarine may not have been such a great idea.

The Good

Mono-unsaturated fatty acids, the type found in olive oil and canola oil, have properties that appear to help protect the cardiovascular system. They also seem to reduce the risk of certain metabolic disorders such as diabetes and have been linked to lower rates of cancer.

Polyunsaturated fats can be good for you as well. They contain EFAs, or "essential fatty acids." These EFAs are fatty acids that are necessary for normal growth and development, yet cannot be manufactured in your body. They must be obtained from our food.

The two types of EFAs in polyunsaturated fat are Omega-3 and Omega-6. For these EFAs to be produce maximum nutritional benefit they should be evenly balanced. Unfortunately the Western diet is overloaded with Omega-6, and very slim in Omega-3.

Belovo and Christopher Eggs are committed to providing a more nutritious option in eggs with an extraordinary level of Omega-3 and a proper balance between Omega-3 and Omega-6.

Over the last 20-30 years scientists have discovered more and more health benefits thought to be associated with diets rich in Omega-3. They include:

The Heart and Circulation
Consumption of Omega-3 appears to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke because it seems to:

Reduce the tendency for blood to clot
Lowers the level of fats circulating in the blood
Cuts the risk of an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)
Can reduce high blood pressure

The Joints

Omega-3 is believed to reduce the stiffness and pain in the joints of rheumatoid arthritis sufferers.

Growing Brain

Pregnant and breast-feeding mothers are believed to benefit from a high Omega-3 intake. It appears to be a vital component of the baby's brain, which grows rapidly in the last 3 months of pregnancy and the first 6-12 months after birth.

Behavior

Because of the apparent impact of Omega-3 on the brain, research is being concentrated on a wide range of behavioral problems, such as Hyperactivity in children, Depression and Alzheimers. Evidence supporting the beneficial influence of Omega-3 in this area is not conclusive, but is strengthening.

Additionally, research is beginning to show possible benefits in other areas, including some cancers (breast and prostate), type 2 diabetes and asthma.

5/11 - On the pregnancy level: From Dr. Mercola's site:

The Benefits of Omega-3’s

Not all news is bad news, however. There are some steps you can take during pregnancy which will greatly benefit your child’s future health. One of the best is increasing your intake of omega-3 fats.

A study published in the British Medical Journal clearly showed that omega-3’s are associated with lessening the risk for premature delivery. They dramatically reduce pregnancy complications, and do wonders to improve the health of all children.

A high intake of omega-3’s during the later stages of pregnancy can increase fetus growth (without extending the duration of the pregnancy!)

In fact, it can even increase your child’s intelligence.

To sum up, an awareness of which foods are good for your baby -- and which are harmful -- can reduce the risks of birth defects, protect your child from obesity, and even increase their intelligence.

From Braylock - an incredible article - an absolute must-read!!!

http://gareysimmons.com/rsq/images/stories/pdfs/omega3report.pdf

Depression

I was in the public school system for 6 years, from 2000-2006. When I got out, I suffered for several months with depression. I never want to go back to those zombie-like days again, and I am so grateful to my husband for helping/putting up with me!
I have felt so much better in the last few months, mostly because of:
I have found that what works for me for the best way to combat (and it is a fight!) depression is the following:

Lots of water
no soda (or at least limit it to once a week!!!)
Lots of Omega-3s (ck out my christopher's egg page) and
I take Carlson's Cod Liver Oil pills
Sunshine - extremely important - I need to walk at least 3 times a week or
I know I will suffer!
Green Tea - lots of anti-oxidants
A really good Multi-vitamin - I like Garden of Life Living Multi and
Nature's Way Alive!
Acidophilus pill - cause 80% of your immune system is in your gut
severely limit caffeine intake

now if only I could wean myself off of sugar........

Here's a couple of websites:
http://www.savvypatients.com/depression.htm
Dr. Mercola

I found this article to be interesting. If you are on medication, you can always do the above and take your pills. If you and your doctor carefully monitor your progess, you can try almost anything!

From the Dr. Mercola website: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2002/05/22/antidepressant-pregnancy.aspx

Clearly drugs are rarely the best choice for pregnant women who are depressed. There are so many better options.

Antidepressants are the top-selling therapeutic class, with $12.5 billion in retail sales. Depression is an enormously common problem and many people use a drug-based solution to address it.

Second generation antidepressants have traditionally been believed to be safe during pregnancy. However, this report shows that Paxil use may cause a withdrawl symptoms in babies once they are born.

While I am certain many women benefit in some ways from their use, these drugs are in no way shape or form ever responsible for improving the underlying cause of depression.

Sure seems to make a lot more sense to recommend the use of simple therapies which are far more effective and virtually non-toxic.

Now, what would those be?

First and foremost, especially with pregnant women, the use of omega-3 oils is an absolute must. It is also clear that omega-3 fat supplementation and restriction of omega-6 fats will profoundly improve the brain function.

Dr. Stoll is the director of the psychopharmacology research lab at Boston's McLean Hospital and assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. He discusses this extensively in his book The Omega-3 Connection. He reviews the new evidence supporting the use of omega-3 oils for depression.

I thoroughly enjoyed his book, but disagree with his recommendations to avoid using cod liver oil. It is my experience that as long as the dose is carefully monitored, cod liver oil is far more beneficial than traditional fish oil capsules.

In addition to treating the depression they will also do wonders for improving the intelligence of the child and protecting them from the epidemic of brain injuries such as autism, pervasive developmental delay and ADHD.

Secondly exposure to full spectrum lighting is key. In the summer this is a no-brainer, just spend one hour outside in the sunlight, not behind a window. The window will filter out many of the over 1500 wavelengths that are present in full sunlight. If the problem occurs during the winter then access to full spectrum fluorescent lighting will be very important.

If pregnant women only did the following three steps, the great majority would notice amazing improvement in their depression:

Omega-3 oils, specifically fish oil, is probably the single most important nutrient for a child with ADHD to take.
Next they should only drink water as their beverage, taking care to avoid fruit juices, soda and milk.
Restrict sugars and grains, which cause insulin levels to be elevated.

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Omega 3s

I have come to realize that Omega 3's are an absolute must in any health regime. They help with depression, with fertility, and they especially help pregnancy. Anyone who is not taking an Omega 3 supplement and eating eggs like Christopher's Eggs, is not doing all they can do to be healthy.

First, here is a fantastic report put out in March 2008 that is getting a lot of buzz on all the newswires. Please read the entire report. I have found this report in its entirety online at:
http://gareysimmons.com/rsq/images/stories/pdfs/omega3report.pdf

Here are some paragraphs from different websites that I found to be interesting:

Over the last 20-30 years scientists have discovered more and more health benefits thought to be associated with diets rich in Omega-3. They include:

The Heart and Circulation
Consumption of Omega-3 appears to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke because it seems to:

Reduce the tendency for blood to clot
Lowers the level of fats circulating in the blood
Cuts the risk of an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)
Can reduce high blood pressure

The Joints

Omega-3 is believed to reduce the stiffness and pain in the joints of rheumatoid arthritis sufferers.

Growing Brain

Pregnant and breast-feeding mothers are believed to benefit from a high Omega-3 intake. It appears to be a vital component of the baby's brain, which grows rapidly in the last 3 months of pregnancy and the first 6-12 months after birth.

Behavior

Because of the apparent impact of Omega-3 on the brain, research is being concentrated on a wide range of behavioral problems, such as Hyperactivity in children, Depression and Alzheimers. Evidence supporting the beneficial influence of Omega-3 in this area is not conclusive, but is strengthening.

http://www.christophereggs.com/news2.php

From Dr. Mercola's site:

The Benefits of Omega-3’s

A high intake of omega-3’s during the later stages of pregnancy can increase fetus growth (without extending the duration of the pregnancy!)

In fact, it can even increase your child’s intelligence.

To sum up, an awareness of which foods are good for your baby -- and which are harmful -- can reduce the risks of birth defects, protect your child from obesity, and even increase their intelligence.

From CBN news: http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/news/050928a.aspx

Again, on the positive side, probably the most basic brain supplement of all, one that kids (and adults) should be taking—are fish oils that feed the brain like no other substance. Fish oils contain omega-3 fats.

Recognizing the importance of those fats, supplement makers are producing more and more options designed for kids. Fruit flavors like lemon and strawberry make omega-3’s easier to consume.

The most crucial omega-3 fat is called DHA. Some products concentrate the DHA to make the fish oil even more powerful for kids' brains.

"People who consume more EPA, but particularly DHA, have a reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, macular degeneration -- these nerve disorders where they need that fat to make the nerves work," said nutrition analyst Bill Sardi.

For helping prevent ADHD in the first place, Blaylock says pregnant and nursing women should take omega-3s and avoid excitotoxins.

Blaylock said, "The brain undergoes rapid growth in the last trimester of pregnancy, all the way to age two. That's where 80 percent of all brain growth occurs. If they're exposed to these products, it severely interferes with the formation of these brain pathways."

Omega-3 oils are critical during this period, because the DHA provides the raw ingredients of the brain, and it blocks excitotoxins.

http://www.naturalnews.com/023072.html
http://www.jigsawhealth.com/articles/omega_fatty_acid.html
http://www.bullz-eye.com/furci/2007/daily_consumption_for_optimum_health.htm

Over 4000 visitors

This blog has now received over 4000 unique visitors in just a few months! I am thrilled with the thought of helping so many people. This site has really picked up pace in the last two months, usually averaging 30 unique visitors a day. I hope this site will continue to help people in their research and on their "journey of learning".........
I hope you bookmark this site, and come back often!

Thursday, May 1, 2008

Fertility websites

this is a work in progress, please leave a comment or contact me if you have anything to add to this page.......

Supplements that are suppose to help fertility:
For Women:
Maca
Vitex
Systemic enzymes
Essential fatty acids (omega 3s)
Manganese
Zinc
Vitamin E

Herbs That Can Restore Fertility
Here are a few herbs, listed in order of importance, that are often recommended by naturopathic doctors and herbalists to help restore female fertility.

Chaste tree berry (Vitex agnus-castus): This herb stimulates the release of luteinizing hormone (LH) from the pituitary gland in the brain. This, in turn, promotes ovulation. Chaste tree berry may restore normal periods in women with amenorrhea (lack of menstrual periods).
Dong quai (Angelica sinensis): Widely used for female complaints, including menstrual irregularities and infertility, dong quai can tone a weak uterus by promoting metabolism within the organ,¹² regulating hormonal control and improving the rhythm of the menstrual cycle.
Red clover blossoms (Trifolium pratense): These beautiful little flowers are categorized in many herbals as fertility promoters. Chemical analysis shows that the herb is rich in coumestans and isoflavones, estrogenlike compounds that may promote fertility, particularly in women who are deficient in estrogen.
Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra): This plant contains hormonally active compounds categorized as saponins.A Japanese study found licorice-based medicines improved menstruation in women with infrequent periods. The study also found that licorice helped women with elevated testosterone and low estrogen levels, as commonly occurs in polycystic ovary disease.¹⁶
Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus): This and other tonic botanicals can improve fertility by enhancing overall health and vitality. Siberian ginseng also acts on the brain to promote regulation of reproductive hormones. http://www.genderlabs.com/restoring_fertility_with_vitamin.shtml

For Men:
Maca
Zinc
Selenium
Vitamin E & C
Arginine
Pycnogenol

Things to avoid for women:
caffeine
large doses of vitamin C, a natural antihistamine that may in turn reduce cervical fluid. (According to nutrition expert Fern Reiss, it’s OK to take the small amount of vitamin C found in multivitamin formulas, but don’t take additional supplemental vitamin C.)
Wild yam (Dioscorea villosa) may interfere with estrogen function if used for extended periods of time.
Aspartame
Soy

Interesting Fertility websites that I come across along the way.
Please comment if you know of any that are interesting as well.

http://www.herbsforhealth.com/index.php?page=article&do=view&id=infertility

http://camstacey.blogspot.com/search/label/Miscarriage%2FFertility

http://fertility.amuchbetterway.com/2007/08/boost-fertility-naturally-with-maca.html

http://www.meltdown.com/infert.htm

http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_3553.cfm

Fertility supplement websites:

http://www.herbalremedies.com/female-fertility-information.html

www.sharkeyshealingcentre.com.au

Fertility Forum sites:
http://www.steadyhealth.com/Trying_to_Conceive___Women_s_Fertility-f101.htm